Mat 16:3 And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O [ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not [discern] the signs of the times?
That specific verse was recalled to my mind on the third day during the horrible CA wildfires.I do not think that it was by accident that during a new internet search this morning, I found this awesome post that shares how Christians should be recognizing, and discerning, the signs of the times. Jesus himself told us to do this in Matthew 16:3!
The article below may not be a totally comprehensive piece, but what it shares is truly eye-opening. It specifically shows how very valuable the prophetic end times authors and prophets in the Bible are in order to see the "signs of the times" in today's world and news headlines.
We are definitely experiencing the "birth pangs" that Jesus spoke of when he walked the earth with his disciples. They asked him about the signs pointing towards the end of the age.
Matthew 24:8-9
"But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name."
Hasn't the hatred towards Jesus Christ, the truth of Biblical Christianity, and Christ's genuine followers been ratcheted up exponentially over the past decade? I certainly think so!
Christine
P.S. I have placed some of my own comments in between the text.
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The Bible gives many examples of signs that should warn us of the coming end of the age. Six such signs are given by Jesus, two characteristics are given by Paul, and eleven other occurrences are given by the prophets to occur prior to or soon after the end of the age.
While we are also told we will not know the time of the End, God obviously wanted us to know when that time was getting closer. As the Christian church is increasingly drawn into the interfaith movement, and as more and more churches go into isolation, preparing to sleep through the growing attacks on their faith, perhaps God knew it would take a few signs to wake us up and remind us that we have work to do.
Unfortunately, many Christians take the verses that tell us we won't know the time of His coming to mean they should ignore any and all scripture that might warn us of this time of tribulation. Others have fallen into the trap of fearing being labeled a "conspiracy theorist" should they display an interest in the Biblical prophecies about our future on Earth. My philosophy is simple. God included it in the Bible and, since God is all knowing, we should trust that it is something we should know and study along with the rest of His Word.
[C: I have read postings over the past few years from the more liberal denominations of Christianity that their pastors
never teach or preach about the book of Revelation. That's scary! How are we to recognize or know about the signs that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 16:3 if we don't study every book of the Bible? ]
It is increasingly obvious that the time of our Lord's coming is drawing near. Prophecy is being fulfilled daily, and at a faster pace than ever before. Whether you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, or believe Christians will be witness to the full tribulation, wrath, and final judgments, matters not.
The beginning of birth pains and the signs of the times should have the same effect on all of us. It should motivate us to save as many souls as we can in the time that we have left.
The Great Commission tells us to be disciples to all nations, bringing the message of salvation through Christ to all people. If the Church is raptured before the tribulation, it is important that we leave behind an explanation for the trials and judgments those left behind will face. How else will they recognize the deception of the anti-Christ and seek instead the truth of the Bible? If we are to endure the tribulation along side them, we will need to be prepared to not only share the message of salvation, but share with them the reasons for God's judgment and hold it up as further proof of their need to be saved.
Below is a study of the prophetic signs God gave us as a warning of the approaching end of the age. Many of them are being fulfilled now and many will be fulfilled in the near future. I would encourage you to study prophecy, know what is coming and be prepared to share it with others.
Six signs given by Jesus Christ, indicating his coming and the end times.
Matthew 24:3Jesus was asked,
"Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus told his apostles to look for the following signs prior to his second coming and the end of the age.
1. False Prophets and Christs
Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will mislead many." Matthew 24:11 "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many."
In the last several years many have claimed to be the Messiah. Jim Jones and David Koresh are examples of these false christs as well as countless others who are not as newsworthy. These false prophets are a prelude to the ultimate false christ, the antichrist. Many New Age groups, some even NGO's working for the United Nations, are anxiously awaiting the antichrist, preparing the way for his acceptance as the head of the hierarchy of gods and the one who will usher in world peace.
2. WARSMatthew 24:6 "And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end."
Rumors of wars in all areas of the world now occur frequently thanks to instant media coverage and the availability of a multitude of 24-hour news sources.
Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."More people have been killed in warfare in this century than at any other time in history. As the death toll rises in the Middle East, more and more countries work feverishly to develop devastating weapons of mass destruction.
[C: Add to that the expanding threat of terrorism and unpredictable dictators such as Kim Jong Il, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as well as the global jihad goals of Al Qaida and the potential for the outbreak of war exists in nations, kingdoms and places across the globe.]
3. FAMINES
Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."As Christian farmers are driven out of Africa in increasing numbers, and foreigners move in to replace life-sustaining crops with poppies that now supply 25% of the worlds drugs, famine spreads across the African continent. The undernourished are not limited to Africa, however. A large portion of the worlds 5 billion people suffers from a shortage of food.
4. EARTHQUAKES
Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."The number and intensity of earthquakes this century is at a level higher than any other time in history. A staggering number of seismic events occur around the world daily.
5. TRIBULATIONSMatthew 24:8-9 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name."Christians are under attack throughout the world today. In the United States Christians still enjoy freedom to worship God without suffering much more than ridicule, hatred, or discrimination at work and school. However in many other countries such as China, Sudan, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Russia, and many Muslim nations, Christians suffer much greater persecution and oftentimes death for their faith. During the tribulation this suffering will be worldwide and will continue even to the point of martyrdom.
These first 5 signs will increase in intensity and severity as the tribulation approaches, much like the birth pangs or contractions of a pregnant woman worsen as the delivery time approaches.
6. THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come."This prophecy has already been fulfilled through television, radio, missionaries, the translation of the Bible into many languages, and the internet. People all over the world now hear the message of Christ from missionaries who have the means to travel the globe, and via technology that allows us to communicate with people on the other side of the world right from our own homes, churches and offices.
[It has become a new phenomenon that previous converts to Biblical Christianity in nations where Christian missionaries have visited over the past 50 years now come over to the U.S (which is now, unfortunately an more secularized nation that once held dearly to the Judeo-Christian values and ethics of our Founding Fathers) and other former Christian nations (like the U.K.)
to re-evangelize the false converts and heretic-leaning denominations back towards true, biblical Christianity!]Two characteristics of the end of the ages from the Apostle Paul
1. GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS
II Timothy 3:1-5,7
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of god; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
For anyone who has watched television, read a newspaper, lost a retirement to corporate greed and corruption, or just walked outside their front door, it is obvious this prophecy has been fulfilled by our generation. Our leaders are often corrupt; our cities are filled with crime, brutality, and neon signs proclaiming our sinful, godless nature. The New Age Movement brings in increasing numbers of mystics who claim to be the enlightened ones. They are some of the most educated and influential people in our societies, and yet the most lacking in real truth.
[Our universities and colleges,
which were originally started by Christians for the purpose of educating people in the wisdom and knowledge of the Bible, have now become secularized, agnostic, skeptic, and oftentimes downright atheistic in their teachings. Liberal professors outnumber conservative and/or Christian professors by a huge margin...if I recall correctly...something like 90% liberal/anti-Christian vs. 10% Christian/conservative/religious.] (If anyone visiting has stats please share.)
2. Apostasy (Falling away from the Faith)
I Timothy 4:1-3 "But the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. By means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth."Churches today are becoming more and more ecumenical, embracing the New Age interfaith agenda, and denying Christ as the only way to salvation. Giving in to the politically correct media and a corrupt society, they have embrace homosexuality as an acceptable alternate lifestyle and preach tolerance and compromise in place of God's truth for the salvation of the world. The environmentalist movement within the New Age movement lures them into a worship of mother earth, belief in past lives, reincarnation, and Karma while demonizing all those who would eat the meat God gave us as nourishment for our bodies.
[I have written dozens of blogposts about this very thing!]
Eleven fulfillments of the Bible Prophecy Required for the end of the age.
1. EXISTENCE OF A 200,000,000 MAN ARMY IN THE EAST
Revelation 9:16 "And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them."An army of that size had never existed until China's army reached that number in the 1960's.
2. REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (EUROPEAN COMMUNITY)Daniel 2:32-33 "The head of the statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay." Daniel 2:40-43
"Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. And in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have the toughness of iron, and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. And in that you saw the iron mixed with clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery."
The fourth kingdom of iron is the Roman empire according to Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The two legs are the division of the Roman empire into an eastern portion called the Byzantine empire which ended in the 1400's and a western portion based in Rome which ended in the 400's. The nations of Europe since the Roman empire dissolved have never adhered or formed one empire but continue as separate nations, however, the European Union now has 25 Member States.
[I would add the infiltration of Islam (some radicalized) into the "mix."]
3. RETURN OF THE ONE PURE LANGUAGE, HEBREW, TO ISRAELZephaniah 3:9 "For then I will return to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."
Prior to the restoration of Israel in 1948, Hebrew was a dead language. Now Hebrew is spoken throughout Israel.
4. REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE, RESTORATION OF TEMPLE WORSHIP AND ANIMAL SACRIFICES IN JERUSALEMFor several end time prophecies to be fulfilled, the temple will have to be rebuilt.
Revelation 11:2 "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months."Some archeologists believe that the temple mount is actually 340 feet south of the Dome of the Rock site, putting the Dome of the Rock within the Court of the Gentiles. This may be the court outside the temple that is left out.
There are many groups already working on preparations for the new temple. The blueprints are already done, the temple garments have been made, and there have already been attempts to lay the cornerstone of the temple.
The only thing standing in the way of the construction of the new temple is Islam's third holiest site, the Dome of the Rock and government support for such an undertaking. Some possible scenarios for the rebuilding of the temple are as follows:
1. The persuasion and performing of miracles by the Antichrist and False Prophet convinces the Islamic world to approve the rebuilding.
2. The United Nations will negotiate the rebuilding of the temple following a war with the armies from the North (Russia and Islamic forces). This assumes that the war with the armies from the North is not the battle of Armageddon as some feel and that this attack occurs before the rapture or tribulation period begins. The supernatural destruction of the Russian army and Islamic forces will cause an outpouring of Christian worship and zeal amongst the Jewish people who will reconstruct the temple.
3. It is determined that the site of the first two temples is actually south of the Dome of the Rock, and the court of the gentiles (Dome of the Rock) will be left out of the 3rd temple.
A group in Israel called the Temple Mount Faithful have obtained most of the clothing, instruments and other equipment required for temple worship and are actively preparing for the laying of the third temple's cornerstone.
5. APPEARANCE OF THE RED HEIFER AFTER 2000 YEARSNumbers 19:2-7 "This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed. "You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence. Next Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. "Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its hide and its flesh and its blood, with its refuse, shall be burned. "The priest shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward come into the camp, but the priest shall be unclean until evening."A red heifer will be required to be used in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers. In May 1997 the first Red Heifer was born in 2000 years. Another red Heifer was born in Israel in March of 2002. Still one more red Heifer was born this year.
[I did a Bible study on the significance of the "red heifer" several years ago. When I locate it I will bring it into this post.]
6. INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE AND TRAVEL
Daniel 12:4 "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase."
Billy Graham was quoted as saying, "ninety percent of all the engineers and scientists who have ever lived are alive today." Air travel, space travel, DNA research and human cloning are all examples of the rapid increase in knowledge in our generation.
7. RETURN OF THE ETHIOPIAN JEWS TO ISRAEL
Zephaniah 3:10-11 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, will bring My offerings. In that day you will feel no shame because of all your deeds by which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain."In 1984, Operation Moses saw the airlift of 15,000 Jews who had already fled to refugee camps in Sudan to escape starvation. In 1991, Operation Solomon flew 20,000 Jews to Israel from Ethiopia itself. A further airlift began in June of 1999, aimed at transporting the last 3,000 members of the Quara Jewish community from northeastern Ethiopia to Israel.
8. THE RISE OF RUSSIAEzekiel 38:2,4,8 "Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords. After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them."
In order for some end time events to occur Russia will have to be a strong nation with a strong military.
9. RETURN OF RUSSIAN JEWS TO ISRAELJeremiah 23:7-8 "Therefore behold, the days are coming declares the Lord, when they will no longer say, as the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, but as the Lord lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I have driven them. Then they will live on their own soil."
In the 1970's and 1980's there was a mass exodus of Russian Jews out of Communist Russia. In 1999 the Associated Press reported a dramatic increase in the number of Jewish immigrants from Russia, bringing the largest number of Russian Jews to Israel since the early 1990's.
10. TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MARK OF THE BEASTRevelation 13:16-17 "And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name."
On May 10, three members of a family in Florida became the first people to receive the biochip implant. Each device, made of silicon and called a VeriChip, is a small radio transmitter about the size of a piece of rice that is injected under a person's skin. It transmits a unique personal ID number whenever it is within a few feet of a special receiver unit. VeriChip's maker describes it as "a miniaturized, implantable, radio frequency identification device (RFID) that can be used in a variety of security, emergency and healthcare applications."
Is the biochip the mark of the beast to be used by the antichrist? We can't really know. What is significant is that people are being softened to the idea of a mark or an implant as a means of maintaining security, providing medical information, and regulating a more interdependent world. As attitudes change, fears subside, and people are convinced of the need for such a mark, the true mark of the beast will be easily introduced to the world by the antichrist.
11. PLANS FOR THE ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT
The United Nations, World Trade Organization, International Criminal Court, UN peacekeeping/police force, numerous UN NGO's, and other agencies are preliminary steps to the formation of a one world government. We now have the communications technology, transportation, and the pro-globalization media necessary to usher in the one world government headed by the antichrist. The increasing terrorist threat and the middle east conflict will only speed up the formation of this governing body as fear and promises of better security make more people willing to give up their national sovereignty for global governance.
12. INSTANT COMMUNICATION AROUND THE WORLD
Revelation 11:3, 7-10 "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophecy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth."
Television and the 24-hour news networks make it possible for people around the world to see the dead prophets and rejoice at their deaths.
Luke 21:28
"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."Luke 21:32
"Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place."
Daniels Time of the End.We should first notice that the main subject of Daniel 12 is the time of the end. Daniel writes,
"When the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished" (verse 7). This refers to verse 1, which says that Michael the archangel will stand up for, or assist and sustain, God's people during a time of trouble
"such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time." This is a description of the Great Tribulation Christ echoes in Matthew 24:21-22. Both Daniel 12:7 and Revelation 12:14 show that the Great Tribulation will last three-and-one-half years, or "a time, times, and half a time." This is also 1,260 days or forty-two months Daniel 7:25; Revelation 11:2-3.
The angel tells Daniel that his prophecies would be sealed until the end of the age, but in that time
"the wise would understand" Daniel 12:9-10. These prophecies will soon be fulfilled, and God is revealing what they mean to those who obey Him. The 1,290-day and 1,335-day time periods, then, refer to events that will happen to the people of God in this generation. Each period begins with a significant prophetic event, and both end at the return of Jesus Christ.
With these things in mind, notice
verse 11: "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days." This verse indicates that the Jews in the modern nation of Israel may restore the twice-daily sacrifice Exodus 29:38-39 for a short time. However, it does not necessarily suggest that a Temple will be built in our time in Jerusalem. They could legitimately offer these sacrifices with only an altar.
Daniel 12:11 was fulfilled in type when Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple during his assault on Jerusalem in 167-164 BC. Daniel 8:9-14, 23-26.Since this verse also states that the
"daily sacrifice is taken away," it is likely that the armies of the Beast of Revelation 17, upon entering Jerusalem, will ban this ritual. Should this be the case, there would be 1,290 days-just a little over three and a half years-until the appearance of the Messiah.
The angel continues in Daniel 12:12,
"Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days." This is a blessing pronounced upon the people of God who endure until the 1,335 days, that is, to the period beginning 1,335 days before Christ's coming.
Since no one knows the day of Christ's coming Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7, we may not know exactly when the 1,335 days begin. Possibly, the organized efforts of God's people to proclaim the gospel to the world may end at that time. It has also been suggested that the daily sacrifices might be restarted at that time, but the Bible is unclear what happens to begin the 1,335 days.
Whatever the case, forty-five days later, or 1,290 days before the return of Christ, the Beast's armies will surround Jerusalem. Those who are worthy will have been warned and have 30 days to flee to a place of refuge God has provided for them Revelation 12:14-16. When God's church is in its place of protection, the 1,260 days ("a time, times, and half a time," or 42 months) of the Great Tribulation will begin. At the end of the 1,260 days, Jesus Christ will return to this earth.
In the meantime, as the angel says, we are in the process of being
"purified, made white, and refined" Daniel 12:10. By putting on righteousness and holiness, with patient endurance, we can be among the blessed who wait and come to the 1,335 days.
Rise of the Anti-christ
God warns of a world leader who will soon rise and grow in power. It appears He will begin by exerting control over a ten nation alliance in Europe. Three leaders or nations will then fall or will be subdued . . .
Dan 7:24
"The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from (out of) this kingdom (the Roman Empire - modern Europe). And another shall rise after them; he (the Anti-christ) shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings (or nations) . . ." (The end begins)
"Shall be different"... we don't know what nationality this man will be, or what might make him "different." This man will quickly consolidate power over Europe and then over the whole world through treaties and war. God warns this man will be empowered by Satan. He will lead the world into the Apocalypse.
This coming world leader has been given many names and titles in the Bible, including one of the best known, yet most misleading - the Anti-christ. Although he will be against faithful Christians and will mock God’s law, the world will view him as a great leader and a man of peace. This man will be Satan’s counterfeit messiah. He will use deception and lies to "spin" his web of deceit and to conceal his true motives. Prophecies hint this man will not be fully revealed until after the Rapture, when the "Restrainer" is taken out of the way . . .
II Th 2:7-9 "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains (the Holy Spirit) will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one (Anti-christ) will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one (Anti-christ) is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs (miracles), and lying wonders"
"He who now restrains" . . .
We are told that all who believe Christ died for their sins, was buried, then raised from the dead, and accept Him as Lord are "born again," and are then indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
According to the Bible, you cannot separate the Holy Spirit from the believing Christian. This is God’s promise. So, in order to remove "He who now restrains" (the Holy Spirit), God must also remove the body of believers who are alive at that time. This is why many believe the man some call the Anti-christ cannot be revealed until after the Rapture of the Church . . . so we don't spend too much time trying to figure out who this guy is. Also, since there doesn't appear to be any obvious prophecies concerning America specifically during the Tribulation period, some feel the U.S. may be "neutralized" as an international restraining force at around this same time . . .
The Beast: The Rise of Satan's Anti-christ . . .So, the world will soon get the leader it seems to be longing and waiting for. A powerful leader who will be popular, attractive, charismatic, and a great talker whose many words will not be chosen for truth, but for lies and deception. A leader who will kill many Christians and Jews . . .
Rev 13:1,2 "Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast (Satan’s Anti-christ) rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, (The book of Daniel explains these represent 10 nations he will rule) on his heads a blasphemous name . . . The dragon (Satan) gave him his power, his throne, and great authority."II Th 2:9-10 "The coming of the lawless one (the Anti-christ) is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs (miracles), and lying wonders.
Rev 13:7 "It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them (he will slaughter millions). And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation." (This "leader will dominate "World" governments)
Zech 11:17 "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock! (Jewish? or Christian?)
A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye; his [the Anti-christ’s] arm shall completely wither, and his right eye shall be totally blinded."(This may happen when he receives his mortal "head wound")
This man whom we call the Anti-christ has been given many different titles in the Bible. The most well known term "Anti-christ" is unfortunate, because it is misleading. Misleading because, although this man will be against Christ, the world will see him as a "pseudo-christ." This man will not be ugly or scary looking. This future world leader will be Satan’s counterfeit Christ. This coming leader will be very, very popular in the eyes of the world. The world will love him. The world will see him as a great leader, a man of "peace," and as a "messiah." While God sees this man as a lying, evil, vicious, and bloodthirsty . . . "Beast."
We are told quite a bit about this future world leader, Satan’s counterfeit messiah, who will someday soon rise to power . . .
*He will be indwelt and empowered by Satan
*He will rise to power over a 10 nation union (weak nations mixed with strong ... Europe?!)
*He will somehow be 'diverse from the rest' so we are not certain he will be European
*He will bring peace, yet conquer through treaties and war
*He will be very, very popular around the world
*He will be a great talker and speech maker
*He will likely be charismatic and physically attractive, like King Saul
*He will receive what appears to be a fatal wound to the head
*He will appear to be resurrected from the dead
*His right eye may be blinded and his arm completely withered
*He will enforce a 7 year treaty with Israel (probably a "land for peace" treaty or resolution)
*He may help to get the new Jewish Temple built in Jerusalem
*He will require that everybody on Earth receive some kind of mark or identification on their forehead or hand and nobody will legally be able to buy or sell without it
*He will stand in a new Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and declare he is "God" (probably televised)
*Unspeakable terror will then reign on Earth for exactly 3½ years (1260 days) from this event
*He will direct the slaughter of millions of Christians and Jews
*He will lead the armies of the world into Israel . . . Armageddon.
A Second Beast will Rise.
The Anti-christ will have a religious partner . . .
Rev 13:11-12 "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the Earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast [the Anti-christ] in his presence, and causes the Earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast [the Anti-christ], whose deadly [head] wound was healed."
The Anti-christ will not be alone. Another man, also empowered by Satan, will rule with the Anti-christ. This powerful religious leader or "beast" (as God sees him) will rise to power with the Anti-christ. In this prophecy God reveals some important information and details concerning this "religious" man of power . . .
"Two horns like a lamb," tells us he will emerge with Christian credentials or doctrine, but "spoke like a dragon" tells us he will be controlled and directed by Satan. There are hints this man might be Jewish. This person, along with the religious system he will lead, is referred to as "The Woman Who Rides the Beast" in the book of Revelation. This evil, blood-thirsty "one-world" religion appears to rise out of Rome.
The "Image of the Beast" . . .
Rev 13:15 "He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed."This religious leader will create some sort of an "image" representing the Anti-christ. All those who refuse to worship it will be executed. It may be something very miraculous, or it may be two-thousand year old vocabulary trying to describe some future technology such as robotics, animatronics, or virtual reality.
Rev 13:16-17 "He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
This prophecy is very crucial for those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and will be alive when this law is enacted and enforced. This "mark" may be some kind of tatoo, or implanted microchip with all of your credit card and banking information, we really don’t know right now. It will not be easy to refuse this mark, whatever it is, for many of you will have families and children that will need to be fed. But, please be warned . . . by taking this mark, you will have sealed your eternal fate and doom. In God’s eyes it identifies you with the Anti-christ. There will be no turning back for any who take the "mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name." The utter darkness and torments of Hell will be their fate. Blessings are promised in Heaven to all those who refuse the "mark" and refuse to bow down to this coming world leader . . . and die in their faith for doing so. The Lord will take the sting out of death.
"Here is wisdom.
Let him who has understanding
calculate the number of the beast [the Anti-christ],
for it is the number of a man:
His number is 666."
Rev 13:18
Wars And Rumors Of WarJust before He was crucified, the Lord told His disciples that as the End of the Age approached we would experience an increase of wars and rumors of war. Nation would rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom, He said.
In just one day last week (June 6, 2007) the headlines in my inbox from the various news and intelligence services I follow showed just how true the Lord's prophecies have become. As usual most of the action is in the Middle East. Here are the headlines with a little summary thrown in.
Another Middle East War Erupts Wednesday As 50,000 Turkish Troops Invade N. Iraq To Strike Rebel Kurdish PKK Bases
A total estimated by various news agencies of from 100K-250K troops are amassed along the Turkish border with Iraq, which Turkey has declared a military zone. Initial attacks met with heavy resistance from the Kurds.
Turkey is afraid that the US will grant the Kurdish people greater autonomy in Northern Iraq, and indeed the USD Army has withdrawn from the area turning responsibility for maintaining order over to the Kurds. Since parts of the historic Kurdish homeland are in Turkey and Iran as well as Iraq, and since Kurdish nationals have struggled long and hard to regain them, having a strong independent Kurdish presence on their borders has both Turkey and Iran upset, especially since that region includes oil reserves large enough to fund a Kurdish nationalist movement.
Syria Holds Back Full-Scale War With Israel As Last Resort While Its Proxies Win Low-Intensity Conflicts In Lebanon And Gaza
Syria is behind the Palestinian eruptions both in Gaza and the Lebanese refugee camps. The goal is to have them fight a war of attrition with Israel to wear down Jewish resistance so Syria can get a better deal at the peace table. Failing that, they're preparing for all out war, as the next headline will confirm. So far this strategy seems to be working since against all public opinion, Israeli PM Olmert has offered to return the Golan Heights to Syria in exchange for Syria's disengagement from Iran and Hizballah.
Syrian Official: Syria Preparing for War with Israel
A member of the Syrian parliament, Muhammad Habash, confirmed today that his country was actively preparing for war with Israel, expected to break out in the summer, Israel Radio reported. Former Iranian President Rafsanjani has also predicted war in the Middle East this summer. And both Jordan and Saudi Arabia are actively preparing as well.
IDF Intelligence Research Chief Confirms Hizballah Is Rebuilding Strongholds South Of Litani And Preparing For A Summer War
If war does break out, Hizballah will be there in force having been restored to its full capabilities by Iran and Syria. The Litani River is the boundary below which Hizballah is forbidden to operate, but they're currently working right under the noses of the UN forces in violation of the UN cease fire resolution. Some think that Syria will order Hizballah to move directly against the UN forces next. The IDF (Israel Defense Force) says it's ready for any contingency on its northern border and can switch from defensive to offensive posture on a moment's notice.
Ahmadinijad’s Bluster Boosted By Secret Deal For North Korean Taep’o-Dong-2 Ballistic Missiles
Delivery to Iran has been promised for late July to early August 2007. With a 3500-4000 KM range the acquisition of these missiles will triple the Iranian long-range missile arsenal and improve both range and accuracy, putting Eastern European and Israeli cities and regional US military installations well within range.
Putin Threatens To Aim ICBM's At Europe To Counter US Anti-Iran Missile Shield
Although the installations are purely defensive and pose no threat to anyone, Russian President Putin is making a huge fuss over them by threatening European capitals. He's trying to scare the Europeans into forcing the US into abandoning the project. Europe may have to decide whose missiles they want aimed at them, Russia's or Iran's.
Document: Iran Caught Red-Handed Shipping Arms to Taliban - ABC News
NATO officials say they have caught Iran red-handed, shipping heavy arms, C4 explosives and advanced roadside bombs to the Taliban for use against NATO forces, in what the officials say is a dramatic escalation of Iran's proxy war against the United States and Great Britain.
And for those of you wondering how the prophecies calling for the End Times destruction of Babylon could possibly refer to that ancient city in Iraq …
Want Middle East Stability? Move UN to Babylon - Washington Post
Two journalists, writing for the Washington Post, have proposed this idea. "While moving the U.N. headquarters to Venezuela or Iran is probably not wise," they write, "Moving it to Iraq might be a strategic coup. There is even a ready-made location for it-Saddam Hussein’s 600-room palace and compound constructed over the remains of the ancient city of Babylon. Americans might even consider footing the bill for the relocation."
In this proposal they make the claim that moving the UN out of America would make many people around the world a lot happier as it would be seen as less of a pawn of the US, and putting it in Babylon could help to create and maintain peace in Iraq. Here's an idea whose time has come.
Not since the war of 1967 have so many different countries been talking about and preparing for war. While I don't see the Battle of Ezekiel in all of this, the summer of 2007 could well see the final pieces of the puzzle falling into place. Turkey and Iran have a common interest in seeing the Kurds contained and it could be strong enough to pull Turkey into the Moslem coalition. If Syria promises peace for the return of the Golan, and the Palestinians trade peace for the West Bank, there could be a change of circumstances in the Middle East as dramatic as the "sudden" collapse of the Soviet Union. The fact that it will all be built on a foundation of lies and deceit will escape most peoples' notice. Better stay alert.
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[bold, italics, and red mine]
Bible Version used: NASB New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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HUGE HAT TIP:
Prophetic Signs*******
Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
Mat 16:14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
Mat 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Mat 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed[fn3] in heaven." Just noticed something.
In Matthew 16:4, Jesus mentioned that "the sign of the prophet Jonah" shall be given to "a wicked and adulterous generation" (sounds like NOW!) We know that the experience of Jonah inside the whale was a foreshadowing of Christ's death, burial, and subsequent resurrection to life on the third day.
How ironic that it was Simon Bar-Jonah who was given the knowledge from the Father that Jesus is the Christ; the Son of the Living God!
Mat 16:4
"A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet[fn1] Jonah." And He left them and departed.
16:4 NU-Text omits the prophet.
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