A Joint Arab Army?

20th March 2026
News and Prophecy Staff


In retaliation against Israel and the United States, Iran is attacking European assets in the Middle East and even its Arab neighbors. As a result, Iran’s Arab neighbors seem to be considering tighter cooperation and even joint military action.

7 Symbols in Revelation: Their Prophetic Meaning Explained

Whiteboard: 7 Symbols in Revelation: Their Prophetic Meaning Explained

Watch this video on YouTube

You could guess at what Revelation’s symbols mean—but the Bible already explains them. Step by step, we’ll explain seven prophetic symbols in the book of Revelation. No speculation. No guesswork. Just Scripture.

Downloadable Revelation Symbols Infographic

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World whiteboard.]

The Prophetic Meaning of 7 Symbols in Revelation

From the seven golden lampstands and the seven stars to the Lamb of God and the beast that looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon—all of these symbols can be found in the book of Revelation and can be clearly understood simply by using the Bible to interpret them for us. And that’s what we’ll do in this video.

And as we do it, we’ll build a chart showing the symbol, the passage where it’s found, and then the passages used to interpret that symbol.

1. Seven Golden Lampstands and Seven Stars in Revelation

The first set of symbols we’ll explore are in Revelation 1:12–16. It says:

I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man… [and] He had in His right hand seven stars….

So, what do these lampstands and stars represent? This is actually an easy one. All we need to do is go down to verse 20 and it tells us exactly what they picture. It says:

The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

The seven churches are then described in detail in chapters 2 and 3.

They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Each with its own unique characteristics and challenges.

In fact, back in verse 11, John was told to “write in a book” what he saw in his vision, “and send it to the seven churches” (Revelation 1:11).

So on our chart, we’ll write “lampstands,” “Churches of God (eras and attitudes),” and “Revelation 1:20” for the passage giving the interpretation.

And for the “Stars” we’ll write, “Angels,” and “Revelation 1:20” again.

2. The Lamb of God (Revelation 5)

The next symbol we’ll examine is the Lamb mentioned in chapter 5 and verse 6.

Now you might think this one is easy, and maybe it is, but there is another lamb mentioned later in the book that we’ll also cover in this video that you would not want to confuse with the one here in chapter 5. So let’s just nail it down.

The Lamb took the scroll with seven seals from “the right hand of Him who sat on the throne” (Revelation 5:6). Then the heavenly creatures bowed down before the Lamb. So we see He was worthy of worship. We see in verse 9 this Lamb was slain and redeemed us to God by His blood. Obviously, there is only One who has redeemed us to God by His blood.

And we read in John 1:29 when:

John saw Jesus coming toward him, [he] said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

So, the Lamb referenced in Revelation 5 is none other than the glorified Jesus Christ.

This is why we read in verse 12:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12).

Back on our chart, we’ll write “Jesus Christ” for the meaning, and Revelation 5:9 and John 1:29 for the key for interpretation.

3. The Woman Clothed with the Sun (Revelation 12)

Now, as we continue deeper, our next symbol is the woman described in Revelation 12 and referenced again in chapter 19.

Revelation 12:1 introduces this woman, and in verse 5 we see she:

...bore a male Child who was to rule all nations… And her Child was caught up to God and His throne (Revelation 12:5).

This Child was clearly Jesus Christ (as He was the only One who was born and resurrected to sit down at the right hand of God the Father).

Then we see in verse 14 that the woman would go into protection for three-and-a-half years.

So how can we know who or what this woman pictures? Well, we’ll use three passages that help us understand.

The first is in verse 17. It says:

The dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17).

Clearly a group of obedient people covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

And the next verse that is even clearer is in Ephesians 5, known as the marriage chapter. Verses 22–33 describe how husbands and wives should treat each other.

And in verse 32, Paul states bluntly that he was not only discussing marriage between a man and a woman in the previous verses.

But I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32).

Then in 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul tells the Church at Corinth:

For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ultimately, the woman in Revelation 12 pictures both the Old Testament “Church,” or Ancient Israel (pictured in the first 5 verses), as well as the New Testament Church of God that Jesus built, pictured in the remaining verses.

The male Child, or Jesus Christ, would come from Ancient Israel, or the Old Testament Church.

This woman, representing the Church of God, is the one who will marry Jesus Christ shortly after the resurrection as we read in Revelation 19:7–8.

For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

So for the meaning of the Woman in Revelation 12 and 19, we’ll write, “the Church of God,” and the key scriptures for interpretation.

Now, there is another woman mentioned in chapter 17, and we’ll get back to that in a bit.

4. The Fiery Dragon in Revelation 12

But first let’s talk about the dragon of Revelation 12.

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon (Revelation 12:3).

This is our next symbol. Verse 4 says:

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born (Revelation 12:4).

Now, well get back to this verse shortly to tie in some of the symbols we’ve already learned, but first let’s read the verse that clearly explains who or what this dragon is so we’re sure not to lean on our imagination.

Verse 9 states it clearly.

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old [likely referring to the serpent we see in the Garden of Eden], called the Devil and Satan (Revelation 12:9).

Now, remember it said, “He drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth”? And remember, we learned that the stars can represent angels (Revelation 1:20)?

Well, listen to the remainder of verse 9. It says:

He was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:9).

The dragon clearly represents Satan and we don’t need to lean on our imagination to know this, because we read it clearly in verse 9.

5. The Beasts of Revelation 13 and Revelation 17

Next on our list is the symbol of the beast. There are two major beasts in Revelation, one in chapter 13 and the other in chapter 17.

In Revelation 13 we see “a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns” (Revelation 13:1).

This beast corresponds very closely with the beasts in Daniel 7, where we learn a lot about what [these] Beasts represent. For example, verse 17 says:

Those great beasts, which are four [mentioned earlier in the chapter], are four kings [or kingdoms] which arise out of the earth (Daniel 7:17).

So these beasts represent kingdoms or empires that have or will come to pass on the earth. Then we read in verse 24:

The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom (Daniel 7:24).

And back in Revelation 17:12, we read:

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings….

In other words, the beast represents a kingdom or empire, and the horns represent the kings or kingdoms those kings reign over.

Now the heads of these beasts often picture kingdoms as well, or even successions, or dynasties, of a larger kingdom as we see in Revelation 17.

The seven heads are seven mountains…. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come (Revelation 17:9–10).

So, we’ll capture all this on our chart.

If you want an in-depth explanation, watch our video about the Beast of Revelation.

6. The Harlot of Babylon in Revelation 17

The next symbol we’ll cover is the woman who rides the beast in Revelation 17.

In verse 2 we see a “great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication…” and she sat on the beast we just read about (Revelation 17:1–2).

Verse 5 highlights that she is:

Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth (Revelation 17:5).

Now, we already learned from the third symbol we covered that a woman often represents a church.

The one here in chapter 17 is definitely not the Church of God we read about earlier, pictured as a chaste virgin and the bride of Christ. Rather, this is an adulterous and fornicating harlot.

So we’re talking about a church that is deeply involved and intertwined with the kingdoms of the world.

In fact, the imagery of her riding the beast indicates she has a great deal of control over these kingdoms. In verse 15 we read:

The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues (Revelation 17:15).

In other words, this church has sway over people all around the earth, something much different than the “little flock,” as Jesus called His church (Luke 12:32).

And then in verse 18 we read that:

The woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth (Revelation 12:18).

Now there is one church, the church at Rome, with its own city, which has a history of ruling over kingdoms and which carries on with much of the Babylonian teachings and traditions.

In fact, it was this same false church that persecuted the Bible believing faithful saints of the true Church of God through the years, and we see this described in verse 6.

I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (Revelation 17:6).

Again, labeled as the “Mother of Harlots,” she has many daughter churches that have come out from her who also are not faithful to the word of God and Jesus Christ.

And as we get these details on the chart, we’ll highlight that it is this great and powerful false church that brings us to the seventh symbol we’ll discuss in this video.

7. Lamb with Two Horns That Speaks Like a Dragon (Revelation 13:11–18)

And that is the beast that looks like a lamb back in Revelation 13. In verse 11 we read:

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

With this one, we can simply put together much of what we’ve already learned.

The beast pictures a kingdom or institution that looks like it represents Jesus Christ on the surface, but speaks the good-sounding deceptive teachings and doctrines of Satan the Devil.

In Matthew 12:34 we learn that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

We’re talking about a false Christian church that “deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast” (Revelation 13:14), and insists that all give their allegiance and loyalty to the first beast in Revelation 13 that we’ll identify in another video as the Holy Roman Empire.

Jesus Himself warned that:

Many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many (Matthew 24:5).

And that:

False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24).

So again, the beast that looks like a lamb and speaks like a dragon is a great false church.

So, we’ll add these details to our chart.

But why does this beast have two horns?

As we saw earlier, the horns represent rulership and authority. Well, the Church of Rome is both an ecclesiastical and a civil government. The pope is both a religious leader and a civil head of state. Bible prophecy shows that the church-state union of the Middle Ages was a forerunner of end-time events whose scale will be far grander.

And from other prophecies, this beast that looks like a lamb and speaks like a dragon not only represents the false Christian system itself, but also the end-time prophet himself known as the Antichrist.

You need to know all you can before he comes on the world scene, and you can by watching our video: “Who Is the Antichrist: Two Critical Facts to Know BEFORE the Final One Shows Himself.”

This video puts together the passages throughout the Bible that mention this false prophet and paints a picture to help you avoid deception.

Would Jesus Call You a Christian?

Current Air Date 25th March 2026
Wallace G. Smith

What does it mean to follow Jesus Christ? Rediscover the biblical definition of a true Christian (how to live with Christ in you) using these 5 steps from the Bible. Go beyond being a good Christian—become a TRUE Christian.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Are You Truly Following Jesus Christ?

Over the last 2,000 years since it was first used, the word “Christian” has taken on many meanings. And, as it has done so, the word has become almost meaningless—to the point that many today who call themselves Christian would not be recognized as such by the founder of true Christianity Himself, Jesus Christ.

What about you and me? When Jesus looks at us, does He see someone who claims His name but isn’t actually following Him like a disciple?

If you have the courage to ask yourself this question—and the integrity and humility to answer it—it has the potential to completely change your life.

Our question today is whether Jesus would recognize you as a Christian—or, even, would He recognize me, for that matter. And before we jump into answering that question, I should warn you—some of the points we’re going to discuss today might make many of you uncomfortable, maybe even angry. They made me uncomfortable and angry the first time I heard them. The sort of truths that move us forward in life and in our relationship with God often do.

But I hope you’ll stick with me for the whole program and hear me out. It might take some courage on your part, but seeing the Bible’s own answer to this question may very well be the most important thing you’ve ever done in your life.

What Is a Christian?

At the heart of our discussion today is the word “Christian.” It’s an interesting word—a simple word that seems like it should be obvious in meaning, and yet a word that is the source of so much confusion today.

The Bible itself reports on the first time it was ever used in history. We see this in the book of Acts in chapter 11.

This was early enough in the Church’s existence that the Apostle Paul wasn’t even an apostle yet—and he still went by the name of Saul.

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:25–26).

We see here that there were disciples of Jesus Christ in Antioch, and they numbered enough that people began calling them Christians—identifying them as disciples of someone named Christ.

Some have speculated that the name Christian might even have originally been meant as an insult. But whether it was intended as an insult or not, the early followers of Jesus seem to have accepted it.

In chapter 4 of Peter’s first letter, the Apostle uses the word to encourage his brothers and sisters in the faith who were being persecuted.

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter (1 Peter 4:16).

In the New Testament letters, we see the disciples referring to each other as brothers and sisters.

Biblical Definition of Christian

But in contrast with the world, the word “Christian” helped to identify them as those who believe in, follow, and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ.

However, that was a long time ago. And things have changed a great deal since then.

Of the two billion people on earth claiming to be a Christian, there are a maddening number of different doctrines, different practices, different traditions, different beliefs about creation, different understandings of prophecy, different beliefs about the afterlife, different beliefs about what God is like and the purpose of man—even different understandings of who and what Jesus Christ really was. The list goes on and on.

Frankly, as the executive editor of the Tomorrow’s World magazine, I’ve seen how the word “Christian” is a real challenge. It’s come to mean so many different things that the word is a source of confusion. When we say the word “Christian,” many of our hundreds of thousands of subscribers think different things—just like our hundreds of thousands of viewers do.

How to Follow Jesus Christ: 5 Steps That Matter

So let’s get down to the basics and frame today’s question this way: If a TRUE Christian is a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, then what does that mean? How can we know whether Jesus would recognize us as one of His disciples? And if He wouldn’t, how do we need to change?

We’ll cover five key points about being a real disciple of Jesus Christ that most do not understand.

Get to Know the Real Jesus Christ of the Bible

The first point might seem like the most obvious, but don’t be fooled.

  1. A disciple of Jesus believes in and follows the real Jesus Christ.

Now, that might prompt you to think, “Excellent! That’s me. I believe in Jesus.”

But the Bible would push back on that conclusion and ask you: Which “Jesus” do you believe in?

Because many believe in a “Jesus Christ,” but it is not the real Jesus Christ. Don’t take my word for it—take the Apostle Paul’s.

In his second letter to the Corinthians in chapter 11, Paul discusses this very real possibility.

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it (2 Corinthians 11:3–4).

Yes, “another Jesus.” Jesus Himself warned His disciples that, right after His resurrection, many would come in His name, proclaiming Him as Christ, yet they would be false teachers who “deceive many” (Matthew 24:5). And they did.

Even in the first century, writers of the Bible were warning their readers to:

Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).

While so-called “Christianity” is the largest religion on the planet, Jesus says that His true disciples would make up a “little flock” on the earth (Luke 12:32).

In fact, after someone asks Jesus if many or few would truly follow Him, He answers with a warning that we should all take seriously.

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity’” (Luke 13:24–27).

Jesus is warning us not to take for granted that He even knows who we are. Many think they know Jesus Christ, but the “Jesus” they are following is, in Paul’s words, “another Jesus.”

So, how do we know we are following the REAL Jesus?

True Christians Repent and Turn Away from Sin

Our next points will give us some clarity. For instance:

  1. A disciple of Jesus repents of sin.

You know, “Just as I Am” is one of the most popular Christian hymns in history. And yet, it is also a lie. One of the very first steps one takes to become a disciple of Jesus Christ is to repent of one’s sins—to turn away from disobeying God and to begin obeying Him.

Again, don’t take my word for it—take Jesus’.

Mark 1 records the beginning of His earthly ministry. Let’s see it there for ourselves.

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14–15).

Repentance and turning from sin is fundamental to being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. So much so that the need to repent was emphasized in the very first sermon of the Church Jesus founded. We read of that in Acts 2. There, we see that after being convicted by Peter’s sermon of their guilt in the death of the Messiah, the people are moved to take action.

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37–38).

Now, I’ve heard some so-called Christian preachers say that repentance was only for the Jews, and never a requirement made of the non-Jewish Gentiles.

Well, let’s just say that those preachers must have purchased a defective Bible, because such claims are deceptive hogwash. For instance, look at Paul’s statement to King Agrippa in Acts 26:19–20.

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”

In fact, in Athens Paul told the assembled Greeks that:

[God] now commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

Far from saying we come to Christ like the old hymn says, “just as we are,” being a disciple requires repenting of our sins—a necessity for anyone to be a true follower of Christ.

But what does that mean, repenting of sin? Most people don’t understand the most basic definition of sin—even though it’s right there in the Bible under their noses.

Let’s look at it in 1 John 3:4. In the New King James Version, we read this:

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

The meaning is even plainer in the old King James Version.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).

Jesus Christ Said to Keep the Commandments

That brings us to the next point about being a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

  1. A real disciple keeps God’s commandments.

Many so-called Christian teachers will tell you just the opposite—claiming that God’s law and commandments are not required of Christians. But if you want to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, ignore them and listen to Jesus.

In Matthew 19, we read of a rich young man who came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus’ answer was simple.

“If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:7).

The young man asked Him which ones, and Jesus listed several of the Ten Commandments.

Many like to cast commandment-keeping and obedience as if it is somehow foreign to Christianity, claiming that you need only to believe—and cherry-picking verses here or there to prop up their ideas. But all such arguments always fail when the whole of God’s word is taken together.

For instance, how important did Jesus think obedience is? Let’s read it ourselves in Matthew 7:21–23.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Notice that. Those who profess Christ’s name and even work wonders in His name—if they practice lawlessness and will not obey God’s law—are told by Jesus Christ Himself that He does not know them.

If Jesus HIMSELF does not recognize us as one of his followers, how does the word “Christian” apply to us?

John, the last of the Twelve Apostles, understood this. Let’s look in 1 John, which he wrote near the close of the first century.

John is often called the “Apostle of Love” because of his great emphasis on the need for Christians to love others. But He could also just as well be called the Apostle of Law, because he also emphasized obedience to God’s commands. Again, don’t just take my word for it, let’s look in 1 John 2:3–4.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

My friends, read that in your own Bible as many times as you need to in order to take it in and believe it! If we believe that we know Jesus and are His followers, yet we do not seek to keep the Commandments, then the Apostle John, the Apostle of Love, says we are liars.

And those who say we do not need to keep the commandments to be Christians are liars, as well—lying in ignorance, perhaps, but lying all the same.

That lie is rooted in the doctrines and traditions of men, who have warped the truth of God for almost two millennia.

Be Doers of the Word, Not Substituting Man-Made Traditions

And understanding that leads us to our next point about true disciples.

  1. A disciple of Jesus believes the Bible over traditions of men.

Many so-called Christian organizations will pay lip service to God’s word, but in practice they put their own human traditions and council decisions above Scripture time and time again. They do not keep the biblical festivals like Jesus, His apostles, and the first-century Church did. They keep holidays intermingled with pagan symbols and practices, which God condemns in multiple places in His word. They do not keep the seventh-day Sabbath—the only weekday set apart in Scripture for rest and worship, often choosing instead Sunday—a day taken from pagan worship practices and enforced by Roman decree, long after the Apostles’ deaths.

Yes, there is a real human, organized, and ordained authority in the REAL Church Jesus founded, which persists today. Many passages make this plain. Christianity is not a “lone wolf” religion, in which everyone interprets the Bible based on his own, individual ideas.

But did Jesus ever think human beings could OVERRULE the Bible with their own traditions? We see His own answer in Mark 7.

There, talking to the Pharisees, who had used their legitimate authority to make God’s word of no real effect through their traditions, Jesus had harsh words.

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Mark 7:6–7).

In verse 9, He continues His condemnation.

He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9).

No, Jesus is not interested in all the fancy arguments and theological traditions that various denominations use to justify their commandment-breaking idols in their cathedrals, Sunday meetings instead of observing the biblical Sabbath, and pagan-tainted holidays instead of biblically-commanded Holy Days.

For the disciple of Jesus Christ, God’s word is just that: God’s word. And it outranks any traditions that effectively contradict it and make it of no effect.

Disciples of Jesus Put God First | Luke 14:26-33 Explained

The last point we’ll discuss today is this—and it’s a big one:

  1. A disciple of Jesus yields his or her whole life to Christ.

This might seem like something obvious. But it is far from clear to most who call themselves Christian.

This requirement of Jesus’ disciples is probably best explained by Jesus Himself—like most of our points have been! We read His description of it in Luke 14. We don’t have much time, but let’s look at portions of that passage together. We can start in verse 26.

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.”

Now, don’t misunderstand. Jesus isn’t saying you must truly hate your family. If so, He’d be contradicting Himself, because He also says to love each other and to keep the commandment to honor your father and mother.

Rather, He is speaking of loving Him more than them. He must come first in the lives of His disciples—before their own parents, siblings, spouses, or children—yes, even before their own lives.

Note His words there. He doesn’t just say this priority is a “good idea.” He literally says that those who will not put Him first above all “cannot be [His] disciple.”

That means that if following Jesus, repenting of our sins, and beginning to obey God’s commandments and living according to the Bible means going against the wishes of our family, then that’s what we do. Even if it costs us our lives, Jesus expects us to do just that, to give up our lives. As He says toward the end of this passage:

“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33).

Those are powerful words, not to be taken lightly. “All that we have” literally means all that we have. Our work and business connections, our personal or political preferences, our hobbies and pastimes—all that we have must be laid at Christ’s feet and seen as tools for His purposes, sacrifices we are willing to make for the sake of His Kingdom and His righteousness.

Now, the good news is that, in many ways, the reward for doing so is often immediate. For instance, it’s remarkable how much better and happier a marriage can be when both husband and wife put Jesus Christ truly first in their lives, even over each other. Yet, I would be lying if I didn’t say that a commitment to Christ never entails instead the sacrifice of these things.

Yet being willing to go further than comforting, but ultimately confusing, labels like “Christian” and strive for the reality and commitment of true discipleship under Jesus Christ makes available rewards so much more profound than anything we would ever have to give up in this life:

  • A real and living relationship with our Creator and our Savior
  • The forgiveness of sins and the gift of God’s indwelling Spirit
  • The power of divine purpose as we seek membership in the Family of God
  • And the hope of unending glory, love, and joy, with our Father, the Son of God, and our fellow disciples, as we enter eternity at the return of Christ.

High-Tech Chemicals Found in Dolphin Brains

16th March 2026
News and Prophecy Staff


Each year, over 62 million tons of waste generated by discarded or broken electronic devices are generated globally (The English Chronicle, February 26, 2026). That amounts to “enough waste to fill 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks, which lined up bumper-to-bumper would encircle the equator” (Oceanographic Magazine, February 25, 2026).

Iran and the World Order

13th March 2026
News and Prophecy Staff


On February 28, Israel and the United States began a major bombardment of Iran. Initial strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader and many top Iranian government officials and generals. In response, “Iran and its proxies have sought to counter the intensive joint US and Israeli offensive with more than 1,000 strikes against targets across almost a dozen countries spread over 1,200 miles” (The Guardian, March 3, 2026). The countries attacked are hosts of U.S.

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