Las Vegas, Nevada, Near Moses Mountain: A Modern Reflection of the Sinful City of Tyre in the Bible

A Biblical Warning About Wealth, Pride, Pleasure, and Spiritual Corruption

In the Bible, the ancient city of Tyre was known for its extraordinary wealth, international trade, luxury, and prosperity. Yet beneath its riches, the prophets exposed a dangerous spiritual condition: pride, arrogance, materialism, and the belief that wealth and power could make people greater than God.

Today, when we look at Las Vegas, Nevada, a city famous for gambling, extravagant entertainment, nightlife, and the pursuit of worldly pleasures, we can draw a striking spiritual comparison to ancient Tyre.

The mountains of southern Nevada, including the area associated with Mount Sinai in the nearby Spring Mountains, create an interesting geographical contrast. Mount Sinai in the Bible represents God's holiness, commandments, and covenant, while the entertainment culture of Las Vegas can symbolize the temptation to pursue pleasure without spiritual restraint. The Nevada mountain is not the biblical Mount Sinai, but the comparison offers a powerful spiritual illustration.

1. Tyre and Las Vegas: Cities Built on Wealth and Luxury

In Ezekiel 27, the prophet describes Tyre as a wealthy trading city filled with precious merchandise, expensive goods, and powerful merchants. Its economic success became a source of pride.

Ezekiel 28:5 (KJV):

"By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches."

Las Vegas also represents enormous wealth generated through casinos, luxury resorts, entertainment, and tourism. Visitors come from around the world seeking excitement, pleasure, and the possibility of becoming rich.

The spiritual danger is not wealth itself but allowing wealth to become an idol.

When people begin to worship money, pursue greed, and measure their worth by possessions, they risk falling into the same spiritual condition condemned in Tyre.

1 Timothy 6:10 teaches that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

2. The Sin of Pride: When Humanity Exalts Itself Above God

In Ezekiel 28, the ruler of Tyre becomes so arrogant that he declares himself a god.

Ezekiel 28:2 (KJV):

"Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God."

Las Vegas presents an interesting spiritual contrast.

Its massive buildings, illuminated casinos, luxurious hotels, and artificial attractions demonstrate humanity's ability to create extraordinary things in the middle of a desert.

There is nothing inherently sinful about building a beautiful city. However, when human achievement encourages people to glorify themselves rather than their Creator, pride becomes a spiritual problem.

Tyre's mistake was believing its prosperity made it untouchable.

The lesson for Las Vegas, and every wealthy city, is that material success does not make a society righteous before God.

3. Sexual Immorality, Temptation, and the Pursuit of Pleasure

Las Vegas is often called "Sin City" because of its reputation for gambling, adult entertainment, excessive drinking, and indulgence.

These activities are not practiced by every resident or visitor, and the city is also home to families, churches, and people who live faithfully. Nevertheless, its commercial image provides an opportunity to examine the biblical warning against temptation.

Galatians 5:19–21 warns against the works of the flesh, including sexual immorality, drunkenness, and other destructive behaviors.

Ancient Tyre was condemned particularly for its pride, commercial arrogance, and hostility toward God's people. Scripture does not describe every sin associated with modern Las Vegas as a specific sin of Tyre.

However, both can illustrate what happens when material prosperity becomes more important than righteousness.

When a society promotes pleasure without responsibility, money without compassion, and personal freedom without moral accountability, it risks losing sight of God's commandments.

4. Moses, Mount Sinai, and the Contrast Between Holiness and Sin

The mountains near Las Vegas provide a powerful visual illustration of two different ways of living.

In Exodus 19 and 20, Moses receives God's commandments at Mount Sinai. The mountain represents holiness, obedience, reverence, and the covenant between God and His people.

Las Vegas, by contrast, can represent the worldly temptations that pull humanity away from obedience.

This reminds us of another event involving Moses.

While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving God's law, the Israelites created a golden calf and began worshiping it.

Exodus 32:6 (KJV):

"And the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play."

The golden calf represented the people's willingness to exchange devotion to God for an idol.

Today, that idol does not have to be a golden statue. It can be money, fame, power, sexual pleasure, or entertainment.

A modern golden calf can be anything that receives the worship and devotion that belong to God.

5. The Judgment of Tyre: A Warning to Wealthy Cities

God's judgment against Tyre was not simply because the city possessed riches.

It was because pride and wrongdoing had corrupted its leadership and society.

Ezekiel 28:17 (KJV):

"Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness."

This passage reminds us that beauty, prosperity, and worldly success cannot protect anyone from the consequences of unrighteousness.

Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, or any other modern city can learn from Tyre's example.

The comparison does not mean that Ezekiel specifically prophesied about Las Vegas or that God has announced the same judgment against it. Rather, Tyre provides a biblical warning that applies to every generation.

God calls people to humility, repentance, justice, and holiness.

6. Two Kingdoms: The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Worldly Desire

The greatest spiritual lesson in comparing Tyre with Las Vegas is the difference between living for the world and living for God.

The world often teaches people to chase riches, fame, excitement, and temporary satisfaction.

Yeshua teaches something different.

Matthew 6:24 (KJV):

"Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

And in Matthew 6:33, Yeshua commands His followers to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

This is the choice facing every person, whether living in Las Vegas, ancient Tyre, or anywhere else.

Will we pursue temporary pleasures, or will we pursue eternal life?

Will we worship the things humanity has created, or will we worship the Creator?

Will we follow the crowd, or will we walk the narrow road of righteousness?

Conclusion: Las Vegas and Tyre — A Spiritual Warning for Our Generation

Ancient Tyre was a city of tremendous wealth and influence, but its prosperity could not excuse its pride and wrongdoing.

Modern Las Vegas is a city of bright lights, expensive attractions, gambling, and entertainment. Its reputation as "Sin City" makes it a compelling illustration of the temptations described throughout Scripture.

The contrast between the mountains of Nevada and the lights of Las Vegas can remind us of Moses standing before God while the Israelites turned toward the golden calf.

But the message is not that everyone in Las Vegas is wicked. The message is that no city, no nation, and no individual should place wealth, pleasure, or pride above the holiness of God.

1 John 2:15 (KJV):

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

The lights of Las Vegas may shine brightly in the desert, but worldly lights cannot replace the light of God.

The riches of Tyre eventually faded, and the lesson of its pride remains.

Choose holiness over sin, humility over pride, righteousness over riches, and the Kingdom of God over the temporary pleasures of this world.

For the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17).

The biblical comparison is a moral interpretation, not a claim that Las Vegas is the literal fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy against Tyre.

The City of Tyre and New York City: Are They More Similar Than We Think?

Ancient Babylonian-Style Wealth, Modern Financial Power, and the Biblical Warning Against Pride

Introduction: Two Powerful Cities Separated by Thousands of Years

What does the ancient city of Tyre have in common with modern-day New York City?

At first glance, they appear to be two entirely different cities. Tyre was a powerful Phoenician seaport located along the Mediterranean Sea, while New York City is one of the world's most influential centers of finance, commerce, culture, and international trade.

However, when we examine the biblical descriptions of Tyre in Ezekiel chapters 26–28, some remarkable parallels emerge.

Both cities became known for their wealth, international influence, commercial activity, maritime trade, and impressive achievements.

Tyre attracted merchants from numerous ancient nations. New York attracts investors, businesses, tourists, and people from virtually every part of the modern world.

Both cities demonstrate how commerce can transform a location into a center of extraordinary economic power.

But the comparison raises a deeper spiritual question:

Could the warnings God delivered against ancient Tyre also serve as warnings to modern financial centers such as New York City?

The purpose of this comparison is not to claim that New York is literally Tyre or that Ezekiel specifically prophesied about New York. Rather, it is to examine recurring patterns of wealth, pride, power, and human dependence on material prosperity.

1. Tyre Was an International Trading Center — New York Is a Global Financial Capital

In Ezekiel 27, the prophet describes Tyre as a prosperous commercial city with trading relationships extending across many nations.

Its merchants exchanged silver, iron, precious stones, fine fabrics, livestock, and numerous other commodities.

Ezekiel 27:3 describes Tyre as a city that considered itself perfect in beauty.

Its wealth was closely connected to its position as a maritime trading center.

New York City shares a comparable international economic role, although its financial system is vastly more complex.

New York is home to Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, major financial institutions, investment companies, and multinational corporations.

Like Tyre, New York connects people, products, and financial interests across national boundaries.

The similarity: Tyre was an important commercial gateway in the ancient Mediterranean world, while New York serves as a major gateway for international finance and commerce today.

Both cities demonstrate how trade can produce wealth, influence, and international recognition.

2. Tyre Was Surrounded by Water — New York Is Also a Maritime City

One of Tyre's defining characteristics was its relationship with the sea.

The ancient city developed as a major Phoenician port, and its island location contributed to its maritime identity and defensive strength.

Ezekiel 27:4 states:

"Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty." — KJV

New York City also developed around important waterways.

Manhattan is an island, and New York Harbor played a major role in the city's rise as a center of international trade.

The Hudson River, East River, and Atlantic Ocean connect New York to regional and global transportation networks.

The Port of New York and New Jersey remains a major center of maritime commerce.

Both cities benefited from their geographic access to the sea.

The similarity: Waterways helped Tyre and New York become powerful commercial centers, attracting goods, merchants, workers, and wealth from distant places.

3. The Wealth of Tyre and the Riches of Wall Street

Ezekiel 28:4–5 describes the ruler of Tyre as someone whose wisdom and commercial activity had produced extraordinary riches.

The passage also connects those riches to the growth of pride.

Ezekiel 28:5 declares:

"By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches." — KJV

This warning raises an important question about modern financial culture.

New York is home to enormous concentrations of wealth. Its financial institutions influence investments, businesses, employment, and economic decisions around the world.

Financial success can create opportunities for innovation, philanthropy, and economic development.

But wealth can also become an object of misplaced trust.

When people begin measuring their value entirely through money, possessions, and financial status, they risk losing sight of humility, compassion, and righteousness.

The problem is not the existence of Wall Street or financial prosperity.

The spiritual danger begins when money becomes more important than truth, justice, and obedience to God.

4. Tyre's Pride and New York's Impressive Skyline

Tyre was known for its beauty, craftsmanship, and commercial accomplishments.

Ezekiel 27 portrays a city whose people took great pride in its appearance and prosperity.

New York City is similarly recognized for its extraordinary architecture.

Its skyline includes the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, and numerous other towers that symbolize modern engineering and economic ambition.

These buildings demonstrate human creativity and achievement.

However, Scripture warns that accomplishments can become dangerous when they lead people to glorify themselves rather than recognize their limitations.

Proverbs 16:18 teaches:

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." — KJV

The biblical lesson is not that skyscrapers are sinful.

It is that human achievement should never become an excuse for arrogance.

A society may build enormous structures while still neglecting the spiritual and moral foundations necessary for justice and peace.

The similarity: Both Tyre and New York illustrate how impressive commercial achievements can become symbols of human greatness.

5. Merchants, Luxury, and the Influence of Materialism

Ezekiel 27 contains an extensive description of Tyre's commercial relationships.

The city traded in valuable goods, fine clothing, precious materials, and luxury products.

Its merchants helped establish its reputation as a wealthy international marketplace.

New York City also contains major centers of luxury commerce.

Fifth Avenue, high-end retail districts, expensive real estate, luxury hotels, and exclusive shopping establishments attract wealthy consumers from around the world.

There is nothing inherently wrong with producing beautiful goods or operating successful businesses.

Nevertheless, materialism becomes spiritually dangerous when people begin believing that possessions determine their worth.

Yeshua warned in Luke 12:15:

"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." — KJV

This warning applies to wealthy individuals and ordinary people alike.

The similarity: Both cities became associated with the exchange and enjoyment of valuable goods, reminding us that material prosperity should never replace spiritual wisdom.

6. Tyre's International Influence and New York's Global Reach

Ancient Tyre was connected to numerous kingdoms and trading communities.

Its maritime merchants helped distribute products and commercial influence throughout the Mediterranean region and beyond.

New York City also has an international identity.

The United Nations headquarters is located in Manhattan, and the city is home to diplomatic missions, multinational businesses, international media organizations, and communities representing many cultures.

Decisions made by institutions located in New York can influence people far beyond the city's boundaries.

This global importance creates both opportunities and responsibilities.

Economic and political influence can be used to support cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and development.

It can also be misused when personal gain is placed above fairness and human dignity.

The biblical account of Tyre reminds us that power should be accompanied by humility and accountability.

7. The King of Tyre and the Danger of Thinking Like a God

One of the strongest warnings in Ezekiel 28 concerns the ruler of Tyre.

Ezekiel 28:2 declares:

"Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God." — KJV

The central issue was self-exaltation.

The ruler had become so impressed with his wealth and position that he imagined himself to possess divine authority.

This passage offers a lesson for every generation.

Modern business leaders, wealthy investors, influential institutions, and powerful individuals can face the temptation to believe their success places them above moral responsibility.

But no human being becomes divine through financial achievement.

No corporation, institution, or government possesses unlimited wisdom.

And no amount of money can eliminate human mortality.

The message of Ezekiel 28 is that wealth and intelligence do not make human beings equal to God.

This warning is relevant in New York, but it is equally relevant in every other city and nation.

8. Can New York Be Compared to the Babylon of Revelation?

The similarities between Tyre and New York may also lead readers to consider Revelation chapters 17–18.

Revelation 18 describes the fall of Babylon, a symbolic center of wealth, corruption, luxury, and commercial influence.

The chapter portrays merchants mourning the loss of a powerful trading system.

Revelation 18:11 states:

"And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more." — KJV

The language of Revelation 18 contains notable parallels to the lament over Tyre in Ezekiel 27.

Both passages describe merchants, valuable commodities, maritime commerce, and the sudden loss of economic prosperity.

Because New York is an influential financial and commercial center, some readers may see thematic similarities.

However, Scripture does not explicitly identify New York City as Babylon the Great.

Christian interpreters differ in their understanding of Revelation's Babylon, including whether it primarily refers to ancient Rome, a broader system of worldly power, or a future fulfillment.

Therefore, comparing New York with Babylon should be presented as a symbolic or theological reflection, not an established prophetic identification.

The more important lesson is that no commercial system should be treated as greater than God.

9. Could a Modern City Experience the Same Kind of Downfall as Tyre?

The biblical prophets warned Tyre that its prosperity would not protect it from judgment and historical upheaval.

Tyre subsequently experienced major sieges, conquests, and political transformations.

The ancient city did not simply disappear without a trace; modern Tyre remains inhabited in present-day Lebanon.

New York, like every major city, faces challenges associated with economic change, infrastructure, public safety, environmental risks, and social inequality.

Yet the existence of these challenges does not prove that New York is under the specific judgment described in Ezekiel.

No biblical passage establishes a date or prediction for New York's destruction.

The proper spiritual lesson is broader.

A society should never assume that financial power guarantees permanent security.

Economic systems can change.

Political influence can decline.

Human institutions can fail.

But righteousness, humility, compassion, and truth remain essential.

10. The Real Warning Is About the Human Heart

The greatest similarity between Tyre and New York is not simply their wealth, buildings, or international commerce.

It is the human temptation to trust material power more than spiritual truth.

Ancient Tyre demonstrates how commercial prosperity can become connected to pride.

Modern New York provides an opportunity to reflect on the same danger within a global financial economy.

Yet we must also recognize that New York is home to millions of ordinary people, including families, workers, religious communities, and individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others.

A city's financial reputation does not define the moral character of every person who lives there.

God's call to righteousness is personal.

Whether someone is a wealthy executive on Wall Street, a construction worker in Manhattan, a small-business owner in Brooklyn, or a visitor passing through the city, the same spiritual principles apply.

Seek truth.

Practice humility.

Treat others with kindness.

Reject greed and corruption.

Walk in love.

And never place material wealth above God.

Conclusion: Ancient Tyre and Modern New York — A Warning Across Generations

The ancient city of Tyre and modern New York City share several striking characteristics.

Both became important centers of international commerce.

Both developed around maritime access.

Both attracted wealth, merchants, and people from distant places.

Both became known for impressive achievements and economic influence.

And both illustrate how prosperity can shape the identity of an entire city.

But the biblical message goes deeper than economic similarities.

Ezekiel's warning against Tyre reminds humanity that pride, greed, and misplaced confidence in wealth can lead to spiritual destruction.

New York is not explicitly named in Ezekiel's prophecy, and there is no biblical basis for declaring that the city must experience Tyre's exact fate.

Nevertheless, the moral warning remains relevant.

The danger is not being wealthy. The danger is allowing wealth to become your god.

Yeshua teaches in Matthew 6:24:

"Ye cannot serve God and mammon." — KJV

And in Matthew 6:33:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." — KJV

The buildings of Tyre were impressive in their time. The skyscrapers of New York are impressive today.

But neither ancient commercial greatness nor modern financial power can replace righteousness.

Final Message:

Do not be blinded by wealth, luxury, influence, or human achievement. The riches of this world are temporary, but the truth of God remains.

Whether you live in ancient Tyre, modern New York, or anywhere else on earth, the call is the same:

Be humble. Be holy. Walk in love. Treat others kindly. Do not worship money, power, or the works of human hands.

Remember that the greatest kingdom is not built through financial markets, commercial empires, or towering skyscrapers.

It is the Kingdom of God.

And that Kingdom cannot be purchased with silver or gold.

Biblical References

• Ezekiel 26 — Prophecy against Tyre.

• Ezekiel 27 — Tyre's international commerce, wealth, and downfall.

• Ezekiel 28:1–10 — The pride of the ruler of Tyre.

• Ezekiel 28:11–19 — The lamentation over the King of Tyre.

• Revelation 17–18 — Babylon, wealth, commerce, and judgment.

• Matthew 6:24 — No one can serve both God and money.

• Matthew 6:33 — Seek first the Kingdom of God.

• Luke 12:15 — Life does not consist in material possessions.

• Proverbs 16:18 — Pride comes before destruction.

• 1 Timothy 6:10 — The spiritual dangers of loving money.

At first glance, the prophecy in Ezekiel 28:11–19 seems to refer to a human king. The city of Tyre was the recipient of some of the strongest prophetic condemnations in the Bible (Isaiah 23:1–18; Jeremiah 25:22; 27:1–11; Ezekiel 26:1– 28:19; Joel 3:4–8; Amos 1:9, 10). Tyre was known for building its wealth by exploiting its neighbors. Ancient writers referred to Tyre as a city filled with unscrupulous merchants. Tyre was a center of religious idolatry and sexual immorality. The biblical prophets rebuked Tyre for its pride brought on by its great wealth and strategic location. Ezekiel 28:11–19 seems to be a particularly strong indictment against the king of Tyre in the prophet Ezekiel’s day, rebuking the king for his insatiable pride and greed.

Trey Knowles: Risala 20 – Asia (Listen)

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Peace to you, my brothers and sisters in Asia.

You have heard that it was said to those of old: “You shall not murder,” and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. The soil of the innocent—those who died—cries out to the blood of their families: “All we wanted was a life, a God-given life.” The colonizing devil has taken life from us.

Japan (1945): Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, plus extensive conventional bombing.
Korea (1950–1953): Extensive bombing during the Korean War destroyed most towns.
China (1950–1953): Strikes during the Korean War.
Vietnam (1961–1973): Intense bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War.
Laos (1964–1973): Over two million tonnes of ordnance were dropped, making it the most bombed country per capita.

Cambodia (1969–1970): Extensive bombing during the Vietnam War era.
Indonesia (1958): Strikes occurred.

Middle East/West Asia: Ongoing campaigns in Iraq (1991, 2003–2015), Afghanistan (1998, 2001–2015), Pakistan, Yemen, and Syria.

In Leviticus 24:17, it reads, “Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death.” But we give mercy to this colonizing devil. It is written in Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image.” And you, Asia, are made in God’s image.

I know that my Lord sees everything. So I tell you, Asia: everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. So do not be like the colonizing devil. Put down your guns, put away the likeness of the colonizing devil, and turn away from your sins, so that our God can distinguish you from the colonizing devil. I know in my heart that you are nothing like them.

Remember Mahatma Gandhi, who practiced nonviolent resistance and helped you gain independence from your colonial oppressor. Gandhi rebuked the colonial oppressor, and he fled. So I tell you: defeat your enemy with righteousness, so that your enemy will have no cause to strike against you, because you have distinguished yourself as nothing like the colonial demon. Do not do evil, and do not do evil against your own brothers and sisters, because if you do, the colonizer devil will use it against you as a reason to attack you and come against you. He will accuse you on matters of your civil rights and violations of his doctrine.

Understand that your enemy, the colonizer devil, pretends to be like an angel of light, but you will know him by his character. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, waiting to steal, kill, and destroy. Brothers and sisters of Asia, remain in your nature and culture, and to those who are still indigenous in Asia, stay as you are and do not follow this enemy. Believers are to avoid conforming to worldly, materialistic, or sinful patterns of the colonizing enemy and instead focus on the glory of God, for everything is freely given to you.

Grace and peace,
Sincerely,
Trey Knowles 

Trey Knowles: Risala 19 – Mexico and South America (Listen)

“Poner buena cara al mal tiempo” — to bad weather, a good face.
You have been oppressed, yet our Lord sees everything.

The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and they have taken advantage of Spanish and Indigenous people without justice. For I, Trey Knowles, tell you: trouble is coming for those who create unjust laws, and for the officials who continue to enforce oppression—those who block the poor from receiving justice, who steal the rights of the vulnerable, who treat widows as easy targets, and who exploit children who have no one to defend them.

But you, mi gente, do not follow paths of violence, dishonesty, or mischief. Those ways do not belong to you, but to the Diablo—the world colonizer—who came with guns. Do not take up his ways. I want you to know that you are from God also. Abstain from every form of evil. Do not be like the world that lies in the power of the evil one.

Turn away from idols and from statues. Turn your children away from gangs. Protect your daughters from abuse and sexual immorality. I say this: you must no longer walk as those who colonized and abused your brothers and sisters. Their thinking has become futile, and their hearts hardened. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance within them. They have become callous and given themselves over to sensuality, practicing every kind of impurity.

But that is not the way you learned Yeshua—assuming you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Yeshua. Do not be like those who follow destructive ways. Rebuke such paths, because they bring destruction to homes and to children.

Repent, therefore, to our Lord and turn back, so that your sins may be blotted out. Mi gente, te hablo con amor.

Busquen a Dios mientras Él aún se les ofrece; clamen a Él mientras está cerca. Que los malvados abandonen sus caminos corruptos y que los injustos dejen atrás sus pensamientos perversos.
Que regresen al Señor, pues Él está dispuesto a mostrar compasión. Que vuelvan a nuestro Dios, porque Él perdona libre y plenamente.

El camino del Señor es una fortaleza para el íntegro, pero destrucción para los malhechores.

¡Oh, vosotros que amáis al Señor, odiad el mal! Él preserva la vida de sus santos; los libra de la mano de los impíos.

Veo lo que hacen tus enemigos: aquellos que te llaman inmigrante, pero que ellos mismos son inmigrantes que mantienen cautivos a los inocentes.

En su arrogancia, los malvados persiguen a los pobres; pero que caigan en las mismas trampas que tendieron para otros. Los malvados presumen de sus deseos egoístas, y los codiciosos maldicen a Dios y le dan la espalda. Cegados por el orgullo, nunca buscan a Dios; sus pensamientos son, básicamente: «No existe Dios».

Todo lo que hacen parece prosperar, y tu justicia les parece muy lejana, fuera de su alcance. Se burlan de cualquiera que se les oponga. En su interior se dicen a sí mismos: «Nada podrá conmoverme. Nunca enfrentaré problemas: ni ahora, ni jamás».

Sus pies corren hacia el mal y se apresuran a derramar sangre inocente; sus pensamientos son pensamientos de iniquidad; la desolación y la destrucción están en sus caminos. No conocen el camino de la paz, y no hay justicia en sus sendas; han hecho tortuosos sus caminos; nadie que los transite conoce la paz.

Diles a tus hijos que no se unan a sus ejércitos ni a sus fuerzas del orden; si los pecadores los incitan, que no consientan. Si dicen: «Esta es la tierra de los libres y el hogar de los valientes; acechemos para derramar sangre; embosquemos al inocente sin motivo».

Se confabulan contra la vida del justo y condenan a muerte al inocente. Pero el Señor se ha convertido en nuestra fortaleza, y nuestro Dios, en la roca de nuestro refugio. Él hará recaer sobre ellos su iniquidad y los aniquilará por su maldad; el Señor, nuestro Dios, los aniquilará.

Gracia y paz.
Atentamente,
Trey Knowles

Trey Knowles: Risala 18 – Africa, It's Time

To Africa and all the Islands that be...

A faithful witness does not lie, and victims are not meant to remain silent. I encourage you to bring evil into the light, allowing victims to voice their agony. Fear no more. What can man do to you? What can mere mortals do to you? Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Yet for our Lord’s sake, we may face death all day long; we may be regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. At times, we may feel abandoned, even while remaining faithful. But our Lord will never leave us nor forsake us.


Africa, my Lord, has seen the deeds of your colonizers. Our Lord sees everything, and He has seen the oppression placed upon you. The only debt you owe them is to love them. My Lord also sees their witchcraft and sorcery—manipulation and the misuse of medicine and supernatural practices meant to destroy and harm and make you sick, though such things are often disguised as good...

Africa, be wary of their tactics against you.

Do not allow your colonizers to turn you against your brothers and sisters, causing you to destroy one another. Do not allow them to place wicked men to govern you—kings who take the people’s best fields, vineyards, servants, and livestock, along with a tenth of their grain, reducing the people to slavery. Those wicked rulers serve their colonizers.

Whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him.

Africa, put your guns down, for these are the weapons of those who do wickedness in the sight of God. They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Turn away from every evil practice that comes from the colonizer. Uneducate yourself from their Shakespeare. Turn away from colonizer magical stories and fairytales, and demonic practices come from under their doctrinations.

The works of the Colonizer devil in your life, oh Africa, caused you to gratify the cravings of the colonizer's flesh and follow their desires and thoughts.

Do not do business with the land of the colonizer. Learn from experience that a lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth brings ruin.

The robbery of the wicked will destroy you, Africa, because you refuse to practice justice. I tell you: to do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Hear the wisdom of Solomon—getting treasures by a lying tongue is vanity, tossed to and fro by those who seek death. Those who chase wealth through wicked means pursue their own destruction.

It is a joy for the just to do what is right, but destruction awaits the workers of iniquity. Therefore, Africa, do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and go your own way.

Love one another with devotion and brotherly affection. Set examples in showing respect and in building one another up. Grow and multiply, for the righteous shall inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked Colonizer come to an end, but establish the just. For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is in God, who saves the upright in heart.

Behold, the wicked bring forth iniquity; they conceive trouble and give birth to falsehood. They make a pit and dig it out, only to fall into the ditch they themselves have made. Their trouble returns upon their own head, and their violent deeds come down upon their own crown.

Africa, sing praise to the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High, Yahweh.

Grace and peace,

Sincerely, Trey Knowles

Trey Knowles: Risala 17 – House of Jacob (Listen)

Listen to me, House of Jacob, so that you will not be deceived, and know that my Lord loves you. Whoever steals a man and sells him, or is found in possession of him, shall be put to death, as it is written in Exodus 21:16. If a man is found stealing one of his brothers among the people of Israel and treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, as it is written in Deuteronomy 24:7.

For my Lord does not change, as it is written in Malachi 3:6: “I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”

For I, Trey Knowles, tell you to look at your oppressor and pay attention to his history and his character. If he were righteous, he would not have enslaved you and mistreated you.

We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for slave traders, liars, and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.

I tell you this so that you will not be upset with my Lord. Those enemies who came in my Lord’s name are deceivers. My Lord loves you; He will not do anything to harm you, for this is not His character. O House of Jacob, come away from your sin.

Listen to me, and do not be stubborn-hearted, you who are far from my Lord’s righteousness. My Lord brings His righteousness near; it is not far away, and His salvation will not be delayed. My Lord grants salvation to Zion and His splendor to Israel. Remember how my Lord parted the Red Sea and rescued you from the house of bondage. Remember the former things, those of long ago:

He is God, and there is no other; He is God, and there is none like Him.

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom my Lord has upheld since your birth and carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs, He is the One who will sustain you.

He has made you, and He will carry you; He will sustain you, and He will rescue you.

“With whom will you compare Him or count Him equal? To whom will you liken Him, that we may be compared?

O House of Jacob, my Lord is not willing for you to perish but to come to repentance. If my Lord is for you, who can be against you?

O House of Jacob, have you considered why your enemy targets you and persuades you with payment to promote unrighteous behavior to others? You know that your colonizer controls and empowers much of the media. Yet this is what I have against you, House of Jacob: you volunteer yourselves for these deeds. You do not flee from evil; instead, you walk toward it and become workers of iniquity. This is why it is said that you worship the need for money, placing your faith in the hands of your enemy, and forgetting your God. Return to God, and He will return to you. 

If your oppressor devil is willing to face the consequences of destruction, would you not consider that he is also willing to draw you in with him? Stop hating your own people. For your struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. O House of Jacob, when will you awaken?

Sincerely,
Trey Knowles
Grace and Peace

Trey Knowles: Risala 16 - Open Judgment

Trey Knowles: Risala 15 - Separate and Distinguish

O House of Jacob, even though they may slay us and give us no reparations, we forgive them. We hold no hostility toward them; instead, we love our enemies, because this is who we are. This is what separates us from the wicked.

There is no death within us who are the remnant. But as for the wicked colonizers, they carry an inward death within themselves—an internal destruction of their own making. We show no anger toward them, but joy. Salvation is not for the wicked, but for those who do the will of our Father who is in heaven.

Mercy means nothing to the wicked colonizers; I say this plainly. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this very reason: to destroy the works of the devil.

Yet this is why we love our enemy. This is why we do good to those who oppose us, overcoming evil with love and kindness and bringing no harm. Let our enemies bring torment upon themselves, as it is written in Psalm 37:13, that the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming.

“I also will laugh at their calamity; I will mock when your fear comes.” Oh, how great that day will be. I forgive the wicked colonizers. Though they have colonized the earth, a day is coming when my Lord will take back what is His. On that day, justice will be fulfilled, and righteousness will stand.

Let the wicked colonizers give themselves over to their own hearts and desires—to what they love most, their unrighteous deeds—remaining unwilling to change.

The wicked colonizers follow their father, the devil, and their will is to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. For every land he has colonized, he bears responsibility for the destruction across the earth.

My Indigenous people, be sober-minded and watchful. Your adversary, the colonizer, prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The wicked colonizer disguises himself as an angel of light, even advertising Christianity. Be on guard so that we are not outwitted, for we are not ignorant of his tactics.

We know that the colonizer, like a thief, comes only to steal, kill, and destroy—taking resources from your land and attempting to reshape you into his likeness. When these colonized men appear, indigenous brothers and sisters give no opportunity to the devil. We know that we are from God, while the world that follows the colonizer’s way of life loves destruction. They are blind and empowered by the evil one.

You see, wisdom is too high for fools; therefore I will not become upset with evildoers or be envious of the wicked.

For the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked colonizers will be burned out.

I will not gloat when my enemy falls; when they stumble, I will not let my heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn His wrath away from them.

O Lord, let us be distinguished, that we may heap burning coals upon our enemy’s head. Let our righteousness of love convict them. O Lord, set us apart, that through patience, mercy, and steadfast love we may overcome evil with good.

We have separated ourselves, and we are nothing like the wicked colonizers. O Lord, let us be distinguished. We do not come to deceive others or take life by placing stumbling blocks, creating destruction, or stealing resources from other lands. We do not lead people to idolize what has been stolen, nor do we kill your people, enslave nations, or delight in weaponry. These are the works of the evil one.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers. Our sins were made with a blind eye. With your mercy, O Lord, we are nothing like the evil one. Let us be distinguished. 

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًۭا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ ٢١

Surah An-Nur - 21

O believers! Do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Whoever follows Satan’s footsteps, then ˹let them know that˺ he surely bids ˹all to˺ immorality and wickedness. Had it not been for Allah’s grace and mercy upon you, none of you would have ever been purified. But Allah purifies whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

We have awakened, and we see that the great dragon has been thrown down—that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was cast down to the earth, and his children with him, seeking to deceive and dominate.

If God is for us, who can be against us? O Lord, let us be distinguished. We are nothing like they are, even though they try to alter us. They cannot change what God has created.

Sincerely,
Trey Knowles
Grace and peace.