TEXT: MARK 6: 16- 28 16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is john, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. (KJV)

Today I would like to deliver a message entitled “WIFE OF THE BROTHER.” It is the famous description in the Bible that John the Baptist was beheaded.

Well, this event concerning John the Baptist may have relation to the end time. For, he is likened to Elijah, and Elijah has relation to the two prophets on Revelation chapter 11. As John the Baptist was beheaded to martyr, there will also be the martyrs on Revelation of the end time.

Therefore, it seems that if we learn the story we will get suggestion why the martyrs of the end time die of martyr.

We would like to learn this. Let’s look at the text.

16 “But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is john, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.”

Many believers came out in the Gospels and Letters, but isn’t John the only one who was beheaded?

This is the special way to die. Accordingly, his life surely gives a hint on the mystery of the beheaded martyrs in the end time.

Well, this John was beheaded by King Herod. Herod was the king of southern Judah, which was separated from northern Israel. I guess that Judah should be the type of the Protestant in the present church age. So, the Protestant churches will be persecuted and have martyrs.

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.”

Well, the reason why this anointed one of the end time, John, is taken in prison was a little strange. He was taken to prison because of the king’s wife. Marriage issue in the Bible often represents the relation between Christ and the Church, believers. This description may possibly refer to it.

18 “For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.”

He was taken to prison, because he said to the king of the God’s people, “It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife” and made him angry. Well, Herod was the king of Judah. If Judah is the sign for the Protestant, what his brother refer to? This is not difficult question. The brother of the Protestant refers to the Catholic. Then, what does it refer to, “to have thy brother’s wife?”

It will make it easier to answer this question, if we think of the church in Thyatira. There was a woman called Jezebel in the church in Thyatira that is considered as the prophecy for the Catholic. This is the woman who was reproved as, “to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,” and so seems to refer to the Catholic people who promote their errors and lies. So, it is not God’s will for us to come near her.

Likewise, the day will come in the end time when those who follow the false teachings and deceptions of the Catholic that is the wife of the brother are unified with the Protestant. This is the lie that is named “Ecumenical Movement” which is now promoted by WCC and so on.

In this movement the Protestant are unified and walk together with the Catholic, and as a result, they will marry the wife of the brother. That is to say, they will receive saints worship, teaching of false spirit of Mary, hearing Pope, addition Apocrypha and so on of the Catholic to the Bible.

But, as John spoke, risking his life, it is not lawful before God, “for thee to have thy brother’s wife,” that is, to marry the false teaching of the Catholic.

19 “Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not.”

Naturally, the wife Heroldias had a quarrel against him, as she was said such a thing. Likewise, the Catholic that is opposed this marriage will have a quarrel against the opponents.

20 “For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.”

Do pay attention to that there is a delicate difference in attitude to righteous John between the husband and wife.

Herod “feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him.” Likewise, respect and fear to the anointed ones who are signed by John will occur in the Protestant church in the end time. It is written, “He heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” So, the words of warning of these anointed ones will never be like the teachings of the orthodox Christian church but rather be like very perplexed ones to people. But the people will hear them gladly.

21 “And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.”

Well, later, a convenient day came. Herod promised to give reward to the daughter of Horodias, the people who are enthusiastic about the false teachings of the Catholic, even to the half of his kingdom. This day, half of the Protestant may be influenced of this false teaching.

24 “And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.”

Horodias’ desire was the head of John the Baptist. This desire will be repeated in the days of Revelation of the end time. On that day as is written on Revelation 20: 4, some will be caused to be beheaded.

26 “And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.”

As Herod was exceedingly sorry on the day, the Protestant people will be sorry to behead the just men among them. But eventually they will agree with it. For, they fear men more than God and place conciliation with their people above everything.

They will later reap what they have done.

As I repeat, the conciliation with the Catholic that is now enthusiastically spoken in the Protestant church, the Ecumenical Movement, will be their last journey.

Those who fear the Lord should now hear of the Lord what the right things are.

Let’s do the will of the Lord in the end time.

End.