Prophecy of Pride
“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”
– St. Augustine
June 2019 was the worst “Pride Month” in recorded history in the United States and in westernized cultures. I know, as I left homosexuality and all the chaos surrounding it in 1983. I have observed closely the LGBTQ+ pride movement from the ’70s through our current realities of pride worship in our day. Beloveds of God, historically there has never been a more decadent display of pride, perversion, pedophilia, transgenderism, sadomasochism and now, even the pride of beastiality is marching down our streets in major cities in the United States. There is a banner that is waved over this culture of flamboyant and blatant worship of Baal, Jezebel, and pride. It is called the “Rainbow Flag” by some; however, it is rightfully being called by a new and increasingly popular name – “Pride Flag” or “Pride Banner.” I want to share with you what I believe the Lord has shown me in the last several years concerning the “Prophecy of Pride” from Scripture and an understanding of the meaning behind this “Pride Banner.”
Vexillology
Before getting into the prophecy of pride, I want to give some background to writing this article. I started my journey of the study of flags several years ago. Most people that I have approached with the subject of Vexillology, (1) have not heard of it, or smirk or laugh at the sound of the word. Have you ever heard of the study of flags or banners? Vexillology is the interesting study of flags, banners, the history behind the flag, the symbolism of a nation, state, people or political group. There is symbolism in the colors and designs placed on a flag. In the study of flags, one will find that the flag represents a people group, a country, a subset group or a cause in many different ways. It is relevant to this article, “Prophecy of Pride,” to know that a flag has meaning. However, because of space and because of what needs to be addressed concerning this article, I will not go into any more detail about Vexillology.
Nineteen years ago, after my father passed away on Christmas Day, I started to pursue an interest in Vexillology. Not long after, I visited the International Flag Store in Norman, OK where another Mr. Black promoted this interest. He reminded me of my father and gave me a gift set of flags as a memorial to my father. I was there to purchase new flags to fill up the stand I purchased from him. We were visiting about flags as I was filling the stand with the flags of the states I had visited as a new hobby. We discussed how others collected flags. I told him I was hoping one day to have all 50 states of the United States collected. We talked about visiting some of the 16 amazing territories of the United States as well, and to collect a flag from those visits. He loved the idea. Mr. Black was very knowledgeable and encouraged me to get a textbook, one he described as the very best book written on this subject. He had been a student of Vexillology his entire life, so he knew a lot. He provoked me to also look into the history and study flags. I have thoroughly enjoyed the textbook he suggested, FLAGS – Through The Ages and Across the World. (2) There is much to learn about the history of and understanding of the symbolism of flags and banners from this book. It is important to understand that flags have meaning as we study to understand this ironic “Prophecy of Pride.”
Banners in The Bible
Banners and flags in the Bible is also a subject to consider in this “Prophecy of Pride.” There is powerful meaning behind a banner from scripture as revealed in one of God’s covenantal names. He is called “Jehovah Nissi” which means: “God Our Banner,” “The God of Our Victory” or “God Who gives His people the Victory Banner” and the final meaning, “God Our Freedom.”(3) God gives a victory banner over sin and death for those who love Him. There are other banners in scripture of love, of salvation and of victory described in the Bible(3), and God desires His name to also be recognized as “The Lord is My Banner” – “Jehovah Nissi” in Exodus 17:15. The Bible reiterates that flags and banners have meaning and represent something significant, mainly, the people groups they represent. This is important to know that the Bible refers to flags with prophetic meaning.
Introduction to the “Prophecy of Pride”
Now to the subject at hand—the “Prophecy of Pride” as revealed in our day. This prophecy parallels with end-time prophecies as is revealed throughout the Bible. My writing today will focus primarily on New Testament passages found in the words of Jesus and in Peter’s epistles and from Genesis.
I have been cringing for years at the sight of any pride banner and at what some naively call a “rainbow banner”. Ever since knowing Christ and leaving homosexual sin, I’ve had disdain when I see pride flags flying. It is a recoiling idea to me that this pride banner supposedly communicates ideas of diversity, love and God’s rainbow. This so-called “Rainbow Flag” or “Rainbow Banner” or “Pride Flag” or “Pride Banner” is the symbol of the sin of pride. The Creator of the Universe sees it as a symbol of sinful pride and rebellion.
It’s important to know some history about this “Pride Banner.” It is said to be created by the ‘Gay Betsy Ross’ (4) – Gilbert Baker, a known drag queen and flamboyant homosexual from Chanute, Kansas. Gilbert Baker was inspired by the known pedophile, Harvey Milk. Milk encouraged Baker in 1978 to create the flag for a symbol of “gay rights” and as a prideful display of homosexuality for the San Francisco “Gay Freedom Day Parade.” Both Harvey Milk and Gilbert Baker are known in the gay community for their outrageous promiscuity and for their prideful display of their homosexual activity.
Baker loved his “Pride Banner” while alive. He made much noise about being full of pride as an author, and was a very visible spokesperson for his banner saying that it was rightfully renamed as the “Pride Banner.”(4) Knowing some of this history helps us to understand what is behind this banner and why I believe it is an ironic display of coming judgment to a people group and to their advocates who love pride, sexual promiscuity of every kind, and who promote the demand that the entire world accept everything masquerading as LGBTQ+. The political arm of the LGBTQ+ agenda demands that their LGBTQ+ behaviors be normalized. There is a decadent demand for gay couples to have prideful recognition of their marriages and unions, their surrogate birthing processes, and that cemeteries must display pride banners along with military flags. Today, the LGBTQ+ narrative is that you must accept LGBTQ+ as good and normal, and take pride in it, love their banner, or you will suffer greatly for any form of opposition or disagreement.
Pride Banner / Pride Flag
The six-colored banner of pride is NOT God’s rainbow. The natural rainbow in creation on planet Earth has seven (7) to twelve (12) colors visible to the natural eye, yet the rainbow around God’s throne is believed to have millions of colors. Very important to note that the “Pride Banner” has six (6) veins of striped color. This banner is not an accurate display of the colors of the natural rainbow, never mind the awesomeness of what will be seen at the Throne of God. The six veins of color represent the number of man. The number six (6) concerning man is a revelation that man does his own will when left to himself, and not the will of God. This has always been true historically when mankind is not submitted to God.
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judge 21:25.
This prophetic picture of six (6) reveals the pride of man – the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:15-17) (5). This flag of pride is the symbol of revelry and self-indulgence. It has nothing to do with God. This so-called “Rainbow Flag” comes from people consumed with sexual immorality and is a symbol of their absolute rebellion to God as they use it in parading through the streets and in displaying some of the grossest forms of sexual perversion known. Beloved Christian, stop calling this pride banner of sexual perversion, a “Rainbow Flag.” It is neither God’s rainbow nor is this flag from God in any form. This flag was birthed in the practice of homosexuality. This flag represents the great need of the very broken and sinful. Those who currently fly this flag are in great need of Jesus Christ as Lord, and so were the creators of this flag. Unfortunately, neither Harvey Milk nor Gilbert Baker surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord. They have both entered their eternal fate. (6)
Do Not Be Deceived – God is Not Mocked
There are so-called “gay Christian” advocates who desire to add another colored stripe to make it a seven (7) colored flag and thus deceiving themselves to believe it will somehow be blessed or approved of God under a false lie of compassion or kindness. There are those who believe they are claiming the rainbow back to help minister to gays, yet this comes from a false, human compassion and not from God’s real mercy(8) There are well-meaning, yet deceived, Christians calling for the gay community to embrace a false-grace message. This hyper-grace message teaches that so-called “LGBTQ+ Christians” or “gay Christians” are securely in God’s loving embrace. Their messages come without any need of consistent repentance of thought, orientation, desires, lust and/or immoral sexual behavior. This is heresy, and yet they also wave the pride banner. (7) God will not be mocked. There is a coming judgment and, ironically, it can be found in the revelation of God’s rainbow of justice, which also surrounds the throne of God. God’s throne is encircled with a rainbow sphere. (Rev. 4:3). There is also the magnificent symbol of deity in the “Mighty Angel” that is coming robed in clouds with a rainbow over his head, with a face shining like the Sun, and His feet are like columns of fire described in Revelation 10:1. This Angel is a symbol of Christ in God coming in the authority of God Almighty to bring judgment. He wears a halo-rainbow crown! God does come in covenant love and mercy—His rainbow—but He also comes in judgment for those who love their pride and sin.
“Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be mocked or sneered at (scorned or disdained by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [God will not be mocked by those who inevitably deludes themselves who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. For the man who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality, the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh or pride) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction (death), but he who sows to the Spirit, lives in the Holy Spirit will from the Holy Spirit reap eternal life.” Gal. 6:7-8 [AMPC]
God’s Rainbow of Covenant Love and The Judgment to Come
The first time the rainbow is seen or mentioned in history is after the flood recorded in Genesis 9. God spoke to Noah and his sons and told them that He set a rainbow in the clouds as a sign of His covenant love and that they would not need to fear anymore being judged by flooding. He would not be judging the Earth again with water. He also said this would be a sign for generations to come that God is a loving, covenant-keeping God. (8) However, God has clearly warned that a coming judgment of the entire Earth is coming again, not by water, but by fire.
Beloveds of God – Sincere Christians, Please Have Compassion in The Coming Judgment – “Prophecy of Pride”
As I mentioned, I cringe when I see the “Pride Banner.” I now understand what the symbol of pride is and what is to come after embracing pride. I hope you will also understand this “Prophecy of Pride” and have great pity on all who march under it. As Christians who have been saved from the wrath of God to come, we need to have pity on those who are under a demonic delusion and on the many who are turned over to such deception which will bring eternal destruction to the souls of many who will not turn to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (9)
Unfortunately, many do not recognize that the “Pride Banner/Pride Flag” is actually a prophetic banner of what is to come for those who revel in sexual sin, sexual perversion, idolatry and live in its chaos. The Bible is clear concerning sexual sin and idolatry. What some call the “Rainbow Banner” will find that this banner is a direct parallel to a coming judgment of fire! This is not merely my understanding of the “Prophecy of Pride.” This is found in the study of the scripture.
“For this, you know, (you can know this with certainty) that no fornicator, sexually unclean person, nor impure person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, (just pray a prayer, or merely believe in that historical facts of Jesus as Messiah and you’ll be saved, – once saved always saved) for because of these things (those who practice sin) the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them – (flee, run away from these people!).” Eph, 5:5-7 (parentheticals are mine)
When I see a “Pride Banner” waving over a group of people or on display, I am reminded of the warning concerning pride. It is very clear in the Scripture. There is the Petros Prophecy (10) and the Proverbs Prophecy (Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 18:12) that must be heeded by those who are ardent followers of Jesus Christ as Lord. There is a fire coming!
Pride comes before destruction!
“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty (arrogant) spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
“Before destruction (before a disaster) the heart of a man is haughty, (full of pride and arrogance), however, before honor is humility (demonstrated in the life of the godly).” Proverbs 18:12 (parentheticals are mine)
If we are going to reveal Christ-like love to LGBTQ+ persons, we cannot compromise on speaking the truth in love concerning warning of things to come. There has never been a time displaying such cowardly silence in the Church regarding this “Prophecy of Pride” and of the coming judgment. Jude’s epistle and 2 Peter have made this very evident. We must contend for the faith and proclaim the sincere, transformational Gospel of Jesus Christ to win souls. Jude 1:3-19. (11) We see clearly in this passage in Jude that there is an end-time, last-days message warning that scoffers, living after the flesh, sexual impurity and indulging in all forms of unnatural immorality, will pay eternal destruction just as Sodom and Gomorrah did. These cities were destroyed by fire. There is a judgment of fire coming again.
The Petros Prophecy from 2 Peter 2:6 and 2 Peter 3:10 is a very clear promise that God is going to judge the Earth again and that it will be by fire!
“And He condemned to ruin and extinction the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ashes [and thus] set them forth as an example to those who would be ungodly…” 2 Peter 2:6
“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
(Verse 10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up by fire!
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:8-13 (Emphasis mine)
The Sin of Pride in The Church
When I see the “Pride Banner,” I have a sick, sinking feeling of the coming judgment knowing these truths from scripture and knowing about the holiness of God, the fear of God and of His love. Because of these eternal attributes of God, I continue to persuade men—speaking the bold truth, which is love. If you are not speaking the truth boldly about this warning, then you should ask yourself, “Am I really loving people as God has commanded?” You may find yourself operating in false compassion where repentance isn’t really required. This is a subtle deception in our day. St. Paul was completely convinced of the shortness of time two-thousand years ago, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” 2 Cor. 5:11
The level of deception in this day does not embrace the true “relevancy” of the urgency of the times. Many like to talk about what is relevant yet miss the deception that is sweeping in and deceiving the Church today. There is a real need here; We must preach the entire Gospel and rebuke the passivity toward representing the “Pride Banner” as a mere symbol of fun, tolerance, and joy. There is real evil coming into the Church—it is passivity concerning the embrace of so-called, “LGBTQ+ Christianity.” This evil is also embraced by very educated evangelical popes who embrace an “orientation message” which allows for so-called celibate gays to parade their pride as well. The judgment begins in the house of God.
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God (and allowing for the flaunting of pride)?” 1 Peter 4:17 (Emphasis mine)
Church leaders, many parents of gays, and all of us as believers need to humble ourselves and repent of the spirit of pride and the demonic presence of Jezebel for tolerating sexual uncleanness. The modern-day evangelical American churches, like the Presbyterian Church of America, many Southern Baptist churches and several in The Gospel Coalition leadership have a very passive approach when it comes to tolerating acceptance of “gay Christianity” which is like tolerating the unclean spirit of Jezebel. They are not listening to Jesus’ warning to the church in Thyatira, which is for today:
,
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow (tolerate) that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality
(or embrace a demonic spirit of unnatural sexual perversion as an identity, “LGBTQ+ Christian”)
and eat things (offerings) sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”
Rev. 2:18-23. (Emphasis & parentheticals mine)
Surely leaders can read clearly these “red letters” – Jesus’ words. Judgment is coming, and it happens in every church generation. Jesus warned in verse 23 that our children IN THE CHURCH are at risk. One major problem today in church leadership, among these very educated leaders, is that they have no fear of God. They believe they have their eternal securities all wrapped up, all the while dancing with the unclean demonic spirit of Jezebel under a false banner of kindness and compassion (hypergrace).
“If My people (MY LEADERS) who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chron. 7:14 (Emphasis and parenthetical are mine)
If we really desire to have compassion towards all sexual sinners, including those in the bondage of LGBTQ+ chaos in a stronghold of unnatural orientations, we must present the full Gospel of Grace that brings about transformation. (Titus 2:11-14)—a real grace that instructs the soul (the mind, the will and emotions), and certainly, a person’s desires and “orientation” to deny all ungodliness. God’s grace certainly includes the theology that the internal world of thinking (desires, orientations, and temptations) are able to be put underfoot, and that a true believer can experience change. We must stop listening to the Christians in the American Association of Psychologists who promote unnatural affections under a false banner of compassion legitimizing “orientation” as viable for a Christian identity. This is evil in the sight of God and is full of the sin of pride.
“Original sin – The Pride of Life – believing to be equal to God in calling our own destiny and enjoying our own desires which give way to the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes.” – St. Augustine
“There never can have been, and never can be, and there never shall be any sin without pride.” St. Augustine
May we all embrace the Holy Spirit of Grace (Heb. 10:29), never grieve Him who gives change, and promote real repentance in our thinking and our desires. As true believers, we must not embrace the demonic spirit of pride under a homosexual-made banner of pride by giving our simple approval of a so-called, “Rainbow Flag.” It is not God’s rainbow of covenant love and warning. If we really love God and love people, we must reject this deception of a “Pride Banner” and the spirit of pride. Remember well this “Prophecy of Pride” and let the fear of God keep you in holy love. Their banner of pride is a curse that they are flying over themselves. We must love well by warning that pride comes before destruction. If the house is on fire, you don’t speak in breathy tones and whisper, “fire.” No! No! Real love screams, “FIRE!” as loudly as possible when the house is burning. The house is burning folks! We must tell them this pride and fire are coming to destroy them! How much more should a loving Christian be warning others about the eternal fire? Eternal souls are at stake! This is about heaven and hell! I hope you never see the “Pride Banner” again in the same way! Let it cause you to be moved by Jesus’ real compassion and to proclaim His truth!
Article Endnotes
- Read More on Vexillology - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vexillology
- “FLAGS – Through The Ages and Across the World” written in 1975 at $40. (ISBN-13: 978-0070590939)
- Scriptures on Banners/Flags: Exo. 17:15, Num. 1:52, Num. 2:2, Num. 2:17-18, Num. 2:25, Num. 2:31, Num. 2:34, Num. 10:14, Num. 10:18, Num. 10:22, Psa. 20:5, Psa. 60:4, Song 2:4, Song 6:4, vs 10, Isa. 5:26, Isa. 11:12, Isa. 13:2, Isa. 18:3, Isa. 26:4, Isa. 30:17, Isa. 49:22, Isa. 62:10, Jer. 4:6, Jer. 4:21, Jer. 50:2, Jer. 51:12, Jer. 51:27, Eze. 27:7)
- “Gay Besty Ross” – Gilbert Baker – source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_flag_(LGBT_movement) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Baker_(artist)
- 1 John 2:15-17 Do Not Love the World
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” - Harvey Milk, gay politician from San Francisco, 5-22-1930–11-27-1978; Gilbert Baker, gay activist, designer of the LGBTQ+ pride banner in 1978, 6-2-1951—3-32-2017.
- Gatherings of so-called “gay Christians” and their advocates, like those in: Revoice – www.Revoice.us, Queer Christian Fellowship – www.qchristian.org, Matthew Vines – www.reformationproject.org/ Justin Lee – http://geekyjustin.com/, and Alan Chambers, former failed-President of Exodus International, etc., and many other pro-gay, so-called “gay Christian” individuals and groups. (See “The Gospel According To Jesus Christ and The Gay Christian” article on First Stone Ministries’ website, www.firststone.org footnote #40.
- Please read Genesis 9:1-17.
- 2 Thess. 1:3-10 and 2 Thess. 2:5-12, note verses 1-12 – “and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason, God will send them strong delusion, (demonic influence) that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” See Romans 9:1-3, and have this kind of love and pity as Paul wept, prayed and even would have been accursed from Christ if others might be saved. (parentheticals are mine)
- Get the free book download in PDF, “The Petros Prophecy” by Dr. Scott Lively at www.firststone.org.
- To have a full understanding, read Jude 1:3-19 noting that this passage is revealing those who turn the grace of God into a license to continue in sin, they are denying Jesus as Lord and Master, (verse 4). We are reminded in verse 5 that after the Lord had ‘saved people out of Egypt’ they were destroyed because they continued in unbelief and refused to obey Him. We are also reminded that in verse 7 that the passage is warning of the destruction that is coming just like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities that gave themselves over to the PRIDE of sexual impurity and indulging in unnatural perversions were destroyed. Verse 18 tells us that this passage is about the last days, at the end of time that there would be scoffers seeking to proudly gratify their own unholy desires, orientations of sexual perversion.
Stephen Black is an ordained minister and has been ministering to people leaving homosexuality since 1984. He served on staff with First Stone Ministries from August 1993 to July 2023. For twenty of those years, he served as Executive Director.