The evidence for the soon return of Jesus Christ is overwhelming. It could be any moment. One scholar lists 167 converging clues just in the last few years. The following are just seven:
1. Israel’s rebirth.
As Jesus prophesied, the Jews were scattered during the Jewish-Roman war of A.D. 70 (Luke 21:24). Also prophesied to occur before Christ’s return, the nation of Israel was miraculously reborn on May 14, 1948. Israel is called “God’s time clock.”
Geographically, Israel is a very small nation. About one-nineteenth the size of California, Israel is approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. It is only 260 miles long, 60 miles at its widest, and approximately 9 miles at its narrowest point. Yet the nation of Israel is a democratic republic surrounded by 22 hostile Arab/Islamic dictatorships that combined are 640 times her size and 60 times her population!
Israel must be a nation for many prophecies in the scripture to be fulfilled. Here are just a few:
1. AntiChrist will make a seven year covenant with Israel (Dan 9:27)
2. AntiChrist will invade Israel and desecrate the temple (Dan 11:40-41; Matthew 24:15-20).
3. Gog and his allies will invade the nation of Israel when it is at peace. (Ezekiel 38-39)
4. All the nations of the earth will invade Jerusalem (Zech 12:1-9; 14:1-2)
5. The people of Israel will flee into the wilderness to escape the wrath of Satan (Rev 12:13-17).
A. The Bible predicts that Israel will experience two world wide, end time, regatherings to the Promise Land.
The first worldwide ragthering will be a return of unbelief in preparation for the Tribulation.
The second worldwide gathering will be a return in faith at the end of the tribulation, in preparation for the blessing of the millennium (1,000 year reign of Christ)
Several OT passages highlight a return of Jews in spiritual unbelief as a prelude to the discipline of the tribulation period (Ezek 22:17-22; Zeph 2:1-2) but here is a key Ot passage that deals with both world wide regatherings.
Isa 11:11-12: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Isaiah mentions this is the second regathering which begs the obvious question “When did the first one occur?” Some maintain this was the Babylonia return form exile that started in 536 BC. However, this return was not worldwide as described in Isa 11:11-12.
Since Israel will experience two worldwide returns from exile, it seems as if the present worldwide return of the Jews to Isreal must be in fulfillment for the first international regathering of Israel.
B. Second, the Bible predicts that Israel’s intial regathering will occur in pahses, or stages.
In 70 AD, the land of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Jewish temple were crushed under the heel of Roman domination. Since that time, the Jews have been scattered all over the world.
God’s warning of worldwide exile in Deut 28:64-66 has been lieerally, geographically fulfilled over the last 1900 years.
Deut 28:64-66 - And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
65And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
But as we have seen the Bible predicts that Israel will be regathered to the land in the end times. Scripture that this regathering will be in stages. It is portrayed in as a process for it will take some time to regather and resettle the land.
Ezekeil 37:1-14 – The Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel sees a graveyard vision illustration the national restoration, regeneration, and return of the “whole house of Israel” (37:11).
First, Israel is restored physically. The physical restoration is pictured by the coming together of bones, flesh, and skin to become a complete body. Piece by Piece. But the army is still made uo of lifeless corpses (37:8).
Second, Ezekiel witnesses the spiritual regeneration when the breath of the Sprirt breathes spiritual life into the dead nation (37:9). Of course this won’t happen until the messiah returns.
I believe the first gathering has already begun for the last 130 years. A pile of bones is beginning to come together and take shape in the Land of Israel.
The modern return began as early as 1871 when a few Jews began to trickle back into the landof Israel
By 1882, about 25,00 Jews have settled there.
At the first Zionist conference in 1897, lead by Theodore Herlz the goal of reclaiming the land for the Jewish people was officially adopted. But the regathering was slow.
By 1914, the number of the Jews I the land was only 85,000
During WW1, the British sought support form the Jews for the war effort.
Nov 2, 1917, the British gave the Balfour Decleration to Lord Rothschild, a wealthy Jewsih entrepenuer staing their approval to the jewish goal of reclamation.
1939, WW2 broke out, about 450,000 had manged to return.
Nazi Germany’s heinous and descipable tratement of the Jews created a world wide sympathy and favorable enviornement for the Jews. Hitlers’s atrocities actually provided the greateset momentum for the establishment for a national homeland for the Jews.
May 14, 1948, the UN approved of a national Jwesih home land and Brisith control ended.
Since those days waves of emmigrants, most notably form ethopis and the Soviet union, have pored into Israel.
2001, 38% of the 13.4 million Jews in the world are now living in Israel. (1948 only 6% were in Israel.
42.5% of all Jews reside in Israel (5.7 million), and 39.3% in the United States (5.3 million), with most of the remainder living in Europe (1.5 million)
By 2030, predicted that half the Jews will have returned.
C. Third, the regathering of Israel will set the stage for the events of the end times.
The Bible predicts that Israel must be partially regathered to her land for the events of the end times to unfold. End time prophecy in Scripture is built upon the assumption that Israel will be regathered and functioning as a nation. The clearest passage is Dan 9:27.
Dan 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The tribulation doesn’t begin until the 7 year peace treaty is signed, it cant be signed if a Jewish state doesn’t exist, Therefore a Jewish state must exist before the tribulation.
The main purpose of the first regathering is for the Jews to be present in the Land so they can make the peace pact with the Antichrist.
The Jewish people are organized into a political state, thus making the peace treaty with the Anti- Christ in Dan 9:27 and the beginning of the Tribulation possible for the first time since 70 AD.
The Lord will use the Tribulation and its unparalleled horror to bring the Jewish people to faith in the Lord Jesus as the promised messiah, who died for their sins and rose again on the third day.
During the Tribulation the Jews will be scattered over the face of the earth as they are persecuted by the AntiChrist. Many will be killed and many more will flee for their lives (Matt 24:15-21, Dan 7:25)
At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will come again, the second coming, wage war against anti Christ at Armageddon, and defeat the emey. Christ will then set up his earthly kingdom the millennium for a thousand years and regather Israel for the second and final time.
Today, however, Orthodox Jews are building temple furniture in preparation for a new temple. The Temple Institute, which has already built many of the vessels for the Holy Temple, such as the ark and the menorah, has now embarked on a project to build the altar. Construction begins Thursday in Mitzpe Yericho (east of Jerusalem) at 5:30 pm. “Unfortunately, we cannot currently build the altar in its proper place, on the Temple Mount,” Temple Institute director Yehudah Glick said. “We are building an altar of the minimum possible size so that we will be able to transport it to the Temple when it is rebuilt.”
The solid gold menorah, built at the expense of three million dollars, was particularly impressive. Who could believe the timing of renewed interest in rebuilding the temple is coincidental? Think of it: at the very same time that the European Union is gaining power and world events are aligning in preparation for the Antichrist’s ascension, preparations for a new temple are underway.
2. Plummeting morality.
Studies show a shocking breakdown just since mid-century (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
3. Famines, violence, and wars.
Jesus said the signs before his return would come as intensifying birth pangs, seeing increased famines,
violence and wars, a clear picture of our planet (Matthew 24:6-8).
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
A. Famines
According to a Wikipedia list of famines, the past 500 years have also witnessed an increase in the frequency of famines:
•15th Century - 6 famines
•16th Century - 10 famines
•17th Century - 24 famines
•18th Century - 28 famines
•19th Century - 30 famines
•20th Century - 44 famines
The first decade of the 21st Century alone has already witnessed 12 famines, putting humanity on course for 120 famines over the next one hundred year period.
Have these famines increased in intensity and severity?
Yes.
As the population of the world has grown, famines have caused more and more death and destruction in their wake.
In fact, while the Roman Empire's entire population at the time of Jesus is estimated to have been approximately 55 million people, the first half of the 20th Century alone witnessed these famines:
•The 1921 famine in Russia (5 million+ dead)
•The 1928-1929 famine in China (3 million+ dead)
•The 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine (2.6 and 10 million+ dead)
•The 1932-1933 famine in Kazakhstan (1.2 and 1.5 million+ dead)
•The 1936 famine in China (5 million+ dead)
•The 1942-1943 famine in China (1 million+ dead)
•The 1946-1947 famine in the Soviet Union (1 million+ dead)
That's an estimated 18.8 to 26.5 million who perished from famine just from these seven famines alone!
And from 1959 to 1961, the Great Chinese Famine is estimated to have killed more than 36 million people.
Famines have dramatically increased in both frequency and intensity since Jesus first answered His disciples' questions.
One of six people on earth suffers from hunger.
B. Wars
According to a Wikipedia list of wars, the past 500 years have witnessed an increase in the frequency of wars:
•15th Century - 29 wars
•16th Century - 59 wars
•17th Century - 75 wars
•18th Century - 69 wars
•19th Century - 294 wars
•20th Century - 278 wars
The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 55 wars, putting humanity on course for 550 wars over the next one hundred year period.
Have these wars increased in intensity?
Yes.
For most of human history, wars were fought through individual hand-to-hand combat. But the past few hundred years have witnessed the ascension of more accurate guns, machine guns, and aerial bombing. Today, a single weapon of mass destruction can kill hundreds of thousands of people.
Since the official foundation of Israel as a nation May 14, 1948, the world has witnessed one long “peace process” between Israel and her Arab neighbors. But there has been no peace, only brief periods of no war.
ILL – War History for Israel last 50 years
Violence is epidemic. A study of wars since 500 B.C. shows a recent dramatic increase. More than
100 conflicts have erupted since 1990, about twice the number for
previous decades.
4. Increase in earthquakes.
Matt 24:7 -For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Also prophesized to be as birth pangs (Matthew 24:7), a recent study shows a dramatic increase in earthquakes worldwide, just since the decade of Israel’s rebirth.
Between 1920 and 1990, a 70-year span, there were 10 major earthquakes.
But in 1990 to the year 2005, a 15-year span, we have had 13 major earthquakes."
(Associated Press)
Earthquakes - Another Sign of the End Times
According to a Wikipedia list of earthquakes, the past 500 years have witnessed the following number of earthquakes described as a magnitude 7.0 or greater:
•15th Century - 2 earthquakes
•16th Century - 3 earthquakes
•17th Century - 7 earthquakes
•18th Century - 13 earthquakes
•19th Century - 29 earthquakes
•20th Century - 123 earthquakes
The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 144 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or greater, putting humanity on course for 1,440 such earthquakes over the next one hundred year period!
The dramatic increase in devastating wars, famines, and earthquakes from the time of Jesus until today is one of clearest signs of the end times.
The U.S. Geological Survey data shows in 2000, there
were 22,256 recorded earthquakes worldwide but steadily increased to
31,199 earthquakes in 2004. (WorldNetDaily)
5. The Middle East Peace Process
Jerusalem is the most mentioned city in the bible, over 800 times (first motioned in Gen 14 and last mentioned in Rev 21). Jerusalem is consistently pictures in the bible in a positive light. It is the city of God.
What many may not realize is the second most mentioned city in the bible is Babylon – 290 times. Located on the Euphrates river in modern Iraq near the Persian Gulf.
Babylon first appears in Gen 10-11 and last mentioned in Rev 17. Throughout the bible, in contrast to Jerusalem, Babylon is pictured as Man’s City. IT is consistently pictured as a place of rebellion and pride. It was the first city built after the flood and it is where the constructed the tower of babel
In Gen 14 both Jerusalem (ancient Salem) and Babylon (ancient Shinar) are mentioned and find themselves in conflict one with the other. They are on opposite sides of the fence. Babylon attacks Jerusalem and carries away its citizens, including Abraham’s nephew Lot.
From this point we have what Chalres Dryer said, “A tale of two cities”. Its Jerusalem (God’s City) vs Babylon (man’s city). The story of these two cities takes us from Gen to Rev. From the beginning to the end. Rev 17-18 Babylon is destroyed by God but un Rev 21 the new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven from God as the capital city of the new heaven and the new earth, and the eternal abode of God and his people.
Babylon in the Bible
Most of the biblical references in the bible to Babylon concern the Babylonian empire that ruled the world from 605 bc to 539 bc. King Nebuchadnezzar and his successors were the great leaders of this empire.
Many of the prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and habkkuk wrote about Babylonians. This evil empire was the great menacing lion of the sixth century B.C.
Isaiah 13:1,4-5 - gives a detailed description of the destruction of Babylon.
1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
In this passage God clearly announces that Babylon will be destroyed by a host of nations. This raises some important questions. When did or when will this destruction occur? What destruction of Babylon is Isaiah talking about? Was this the one that occurred in his day? Was he prophesying about the overthrow that occurred in 539 bc when Babylon fell to the Medo-Persians? Or did Isaiah look far down the road to a destruction of Babylon in the end times.
The rest of Isaiah 13 gives us three important clues.
1. In Isaiah 13:6,9 the Lord gives us an indication of the time of this event. He says the destruction will occur in the day of the Lord.
6 Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
The phrase the day of the Lord occurs 19 times in the bible – refers to any time that God dramatically intervenes in human affairs to bring judgment or blessing. Most cases judgment is what is involved. Its when God God comes down to earth to settle accounts with sinful man. This phrase is often used to describe the final day of the Lord during the great tribulation (Joel 2:31, 3:14)
2. The Lord further narrows down the window of time in Isiah 13:10-13. Babylon’s destruction will occur in the day of the Lord but which day of the Lord? Its clear from the context that the destruction of Babylon will occur during the final day of the Lord during the tribulation period.
Isaiah 13:10-13 - For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Nothing even close to this happened in 539 BC when Babylon was captured by the Persians. These cosmic disturbances are described elsewhere in the bible in conjunction with e 2nd coming of Christ to the earth (Joel 3:14-16; Matthew 24:27-20)
3. Isiah 13:19 says that when Babylon is finally destroyed it will be like Sodom and Gommorah.
Isaiah 13:19 - And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
In other words Babylon will be totally wiped out. Wiped off the face of the earth. We are forced to ask, when did this happen in the past? It didn't. Nothing has ever happened like this to the city of Babylon in its long storied history. Even when the Persians under king Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 bc, the city wasn't destroyed.
There is only one time when this is going to happen in mans history: at the end of the Tribulation in conjunction with the second coming of Christ.
So what does this mean? It means that if the prophesy concerngin Babylon is to be litlerally fulfilled, then Isaiah 13 must be referring to a future destruction of Babylon that has not occurred yet. Babylon must rise again, and then be totally wiped pout in the final day of the Lord.
Babylon will be rebuilt in the end times
Zech 5:5-11 - Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
Zech sees a basket that is full of evil and wickedness personified as a woman. A heavy lid is put on her because God doesn't want the wickedness to get out. He asks where are they taking it. He sais to the land of Shinar. Zech is telling us that wickedness will someday be focused again in the land of Babylon. When the necessary prepartions are made, wickedness will return to the place of its origin – Babylon.
The first mention of Babylon is found in Gen 10-11 in connection with a tower being bbuiltto exalt mans pride and a world ruler named nimrod. The last ention is found in Rev 17-18 where the city is symbolized by a seductive harlot riding on the back of the antichrist who is symbolized by a wild beast. This connection indicates that the two will be closely allied. Babylon will oriobably be some kind of economic, commercial capital for the Antichrist.
Could these things really happen to Babylon today?
1. Sadam Hussein who fancied himself as a modern day neduchanezzar had begun to restoration and building efforts in the city and on the river Euphrates. Although incomplete the fact the the intial steps were being taken is incredible
2. Irag sits on at least the second largest kown crude oil reserve in the world (115 billion barrels compared to Saudi Arabia 261 billion barrels) however some belive that Irag may have as much as 300 billion barrels or 30% of the known reserves in the World. Just next door Kuwait has 10%. If they access that they could have 40%.
The ouster of Sadam could lift UN sanctions and limitations on Iraqi oil sales. Billions of doallrs, euros, and yens could begin to flood the country. This fact alone makes the rebuilding of Babylon as a major economoic ceter for the middle east and the world a serious possibility.
3. Iraq has become and continues to be a major focal point in the middle east and the Persian Gulf. Iraq came out of nowhere in the last 20 years. Knowing what the bible sayds about babylin this should not surpise us. This could serve as a perfect prekude for the rebuilding of Babyloin in the near future
6. Explosion of cults and the occult.
Counterfeit spirituality is everywhere with cults and false Christs (Matthew 24:24), psychic phenomena, spiritism, Satan worship, witchcraft, nature worship and the New Age movement (1 Timothy 4:1).
Matt 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
1 Tim 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Peter 2:1-3 - But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2 Cor 11:13-14 - For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
On Nov. 18, 1978, in Jonestown, Guyana, the world woke up to a spine-chilling occurrence that demonstrates the tremendous power religious cult leaders have on individuals.
James “Jim” Warren Jones, now known for the appallingly charismatic guidance of his followers to a supposed spiritual liberation through suicidal sacrifice, convinced more than 900 members of The People’s Temple cult to drink a lethal elixir of Kool-Aid and cyanide.
But that is just one example of an extremely destructive cult.
•1994 - More than 60 members of Europe's Solar Temple cult were induced to mass suicide in France and Switzerland.
•1995 - Japan's Aum Shin Rikyo cult released sarin nerve gas in Tokyo subway killing ten and injuring thousands. Only recently in June 1998 Testimonies in recent trials of Aum Shin Rikyo members revealed that for years prior to the 1995 attack, the group released lethal germ warfare in Japan, targeting the Japanese Legislature, the Imperial Palace, and the US military base at Yokosuka. The poisons were not detected at the times of their releases, and apparently caused no deaths. The attacks were intended to spark the apocalypse Aum Shin Rikyo postulates is coming. Meanwhile, about 200 current members met for a fundraising conference in late April, 1998, paying up to $1,500 each to attend.
•1997 - 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult including leader Marshall Applewhite ingested a combination of vodka and drugs at Applewhite's instruction, resulting in what the mother of victim called "one suicide and 38 murders." Members were convinced that the only way to survive Earth's being "recycled" in the year 2000 was to be picked up by a UFO flying in the wake of the Hale-Bopp comet.
•1997 - Teenage members of a Vampire cult murdered the parents of one of its members. Self-proclaimed lead vampire received the death sentence.
An estimated 5,000 economic, political, and religious groups operate in the United States alone at any given time, with 2.5 million members. Over the last ten years, cults have used tactics of coercive mind control to negatively impact an estimated 20 million victims in the last ten years. Worldwide figures are even greater. [Cult expert Dr. Margaret Singer , Cults in Our Midst].
The cult problem is so prevalent, the chances of a family member joining a cult are greater than a family member catching chicken pox, four times greater than contracting AIDS, 90 times greater than contracting measles, and 45,000 times greater than contracting polio. [Dr. Paul Martin, cult expert and director of Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center, Ohio, USA].
7. The New World Order.
According to God’s Word, the end of the age will be characterized by a global government, economy, and religion ruled by one man, the Antichrist. This end time New World Order is most clearly described in Rev 13.
Increased centralization of world financial and political power is a prelude to the soon-coming world power system in the hands of the “Antichrist,” who will be the incarnation of Satan and who will deceive most of the world (Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 13).
Global Government - Rev 13:7b- “…and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
Global Religion - Rev 13:8a - "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,"
Global Economoy - Rev 13:17 - And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Notice the inclusive, global language – “all and no man”
Why is there such a push towards globalism? Why is the world being irresistibly drawn together? Is it all a natural result of modern technology, instant communications, worldwide travel, and ubiquitous weapons of mass destruction? Or is there more to it? Is there a hidden power behind all these “modern developments” pushing a definite agenda?
Trilateral comsission, council on foregin relations, feeral reserve, or the modern day illuminati as the puppeteers working behind the international scene, pulling the strings. It wouldn't surprise me if that there are powerful, power-hungry men and women with tremendous clout, orchestrating many events to maintain and gain more power.
However, that doesn't mean that they, themselves aren’t under someone else’s control.
There’s a greater power behind globalism. A greater power than mortal mankind
Satan is the driving force behind gloablaism. Not everything about globalism is satanic, but I believe Satan is the impetus behind this movement.
Satan’s original fall into sin was due to his pride. He desired to be like God – to be worshipped as God (Isaiah 14:12-14; 1 Tim 3:6). According to Rev 12:3-4 – when Satan led his rebellion 1/3 of the angels followed himas their newly proclaimed god.
In Gen 3 – He tried to get Adam and Eve to believe his word instead of the Word of God. Again he sought to usurp God.
After the world wide flood the planet became repopulated and the human race was gathered in place. In Gen 10,11 Nimrod was the human tyrant or dictator who lead much of the global community – those who did not remain faithful to the Lord. The method these first globalist used was to build a city and a tower. They shook their collective fist in God’s face and defied the command to scatter over the face of the earth (gen 9:1). They settled down in the land of shinar at Babel and decided to build a city and tower. The tower reached the heavens was no doubt intended to be a place of occult worship to the stars and heavens.
The first federation, or “united nations” was a society built to bring the human race together to exclude God and exalt man – to defiy man and dethrone God.
This situation played right into Satan’s plan. In this setting Satan could control, influence, and direct world affairs through one man. And he could be “god” in the eyes of all men, through occult worship and practices.
Of course God was in control. He came down, confounded man’s language; this scattering man all over the face of the earth (gen 11:5-8). That was the end of the first global community.
But Satan wasn't finished. He set out immediately to bring back the world back together under his umbrella so he could control it all again.
Global Leader
The world’s history is the record of one person after another trying to rule to the world. All the power hungry rulers who have cruelly subjugated nations under the their feet have been energized by Satan to foster this great goal of globalization.
Now for the first time since Gen 11 globalization is within man’s (satan’s) reach.
All the necessary elements for full blown all out globalization are in place; world travel to almost any place on the planet in a matter of hours, rapid communications, incredible maeans of survelliance, satellietes, weapons of mass destruction thatcan be used as threats to control others, intertwined world economoice markest, the World Bank…etc, etc.etc…
Satan almost has the World back to Babel. All he needs now is one man to bring on the worlds stage to take over, another nimrod to rule the world as his puppet.
His name is :
1. The little horn (Daniel 7:8)
2. A king, insolent and skilled in intrigue (Daniel 8:23)
3. The prince who is to come (Daniel 9:26)
4. The one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27)
5. The king who does as he pleases (Daniel 11:36)
6. A foolish Shepherd (Zec 11:15)
7. The man of lawlessness (2 Thess 2:3)
8. The son of destruction (2 Thess 2:3)
9. The rider on the white horse (rev 6:2)
10. The Beast out of the sea (Rev 13:1-9
When you think on antichrist what image come to your mind?
A man in a red suit with a pitchfork / a modern day diabolical egomaniac like Hitler / or perhaps the greatest smooth talker, con man and religious charlatan to ever live / Still others see him as bloodthirsty, brutal butcher who spends all his time focused on genocide.
No brief summary will ever suffice to give us a complete picture of what the antichrist will be like but here are six key characteristics of Satan’s superman and some of them may surprise you.
1. He will be an intellectual genius (Daniel 8:23)
Daniel 8:23 - And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
He will overwhelm and captivate the world with his superhuman intellect and powers of perception
2. He will be an oratorical genius (Daniel 11:36 / Rev 13:2,6)
Dan 8:36 - And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
The whole world will be swayed by the hypnotic spell of his words. Over and over in biblical passages about the Antichrist the focus is on his great words or speaking ability.
3. He will be a political genius (Daniel 9:27 / Rev 17:11-12)
Daniel 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The antichrist will emerge from relative obscurity to take the world political scene by storm. He begins as a “little horn” but soon is elected to rule over the reunited Roman Empire (Rev 17:13). He will be the consummate unifier and diplomat. He will assume power under the stealth of diplomacy. His platform will be peace and prosperity. He will weld opposing forces together with ease. All the dreams of the United Nations will be realized in his political policies. He well may receive the Nobel peace prize or be Time magazine’s Man of the Year. Daniel 9:27 reveals that he will even bring such peace to the middle east that the Temple Mount are in Jerusalem will be returned to Jewish sovereignty. He will undoubtedly be hailed as the greatest peacemaker the world has ever seen.
4. He will be a commercial genius (Daniel 11:43 / Rev 13:16-17)
Daniel 11:43 - But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
Rev 13:16-17 - And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
He will be the CEO of the Worlds economy. He will set up interest rates, prices, stock values, and supply levels. Under his leadership everything will be nationalized- but under his control. From the midpoint of the tribulation until the second coming of Christ, no one will be able to buy or sell without his permission.
5. He will be a military genius (Rev 6:2 / 13:2)
Rev 6:2 - And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Rev 13:2 - And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
At the midpoint of the Tribulation the mask will come off, and the beast will replace the olive branch with a sword. He will subjugate the whole world. All the greatness of Alexander and Napoleon will be as nothing compared to him. No one will be able to stand in the ay of his conquest. He will crush everything and everyone before him. He will be the final, great Ceaser.
6. He will be a religious genius (2 Thess 2:4; Rev 13:8)
2 Thess 2:4 - Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Rev 13:8 - And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Satan’s superman will be able to do what neither Mohammed, nor Buddha, nor any pope has ever been able to do: unite the world in worship. All the religions of the world will be brought together in the worship of one man. Just think what genius and power and deception it will take to pull that off!
Our Responses to Bible Prophecy
1. To offer hope (2 Thes 2:13-18)
13 - But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
2. Stir us to separated holy living (2 Peter 3:10-14)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
3. Motivate us to live evangelistically
4. Turn us to the finished work of the cross for salvation (2 Peter 3:4-9)
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Matt 24:15 - When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
The Bible has much to say about the last days and the time of the end, and as followers of Christ, we are warned to recognize the signs of the times.
Matthew 24:28 - For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Because if we acknowledge the signs of the end times as well as our Lord's command to stay awake and alert, we will be driven to live Godly lives. Paul emphasized this in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Remember, all prophecy exists to give a clear witness for Christ:
Revelation 19:10 - And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And prophecy is telling us that Christ is coming.
Matthew 24:33 - So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
1. Israel’s rebirth.
As Jesus prophesied, the Jews were scattered during the Jewish-Roman war of A.D. 70 (Luke 21:24). Also prophesied to occur before Christ’s return, the nation of Israel was miraculously reborn on May 14, 1948. Israel is called “God’s time clock.”
Geographically, Israel is a very small nation. About one-nineteenth the size of California, Israel is approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. It is only 260 miles long, 60 miles at its widest, and approximately 9 miles at its narrowest point. Yet the nation of Israel is a democratic republic surrounded by 22 hostile Arab/Islamic dictatorships that combined are 640 times her size and 60 times her population!
Israel must be a nation for many prophecies in the scripture to be fulfilled. Here are just a few:
1. AntiChrist will make a seven year covenant with Israel (Dan 9:27)
2. AntiChrist will invade Israel and desecrate the temple (Dan 11:40-41; Matthew 24:15-20).
3. Gog and his allies will invade the nation of Israel when it is at peace. (Ezekiel 38-39)
4. All the nations of the earth will invade Jerusalem (Zech 12:1-9; 14:1-2)
5. The people of Israel will flee into the wilderness to escape the wrath of Satan (Rev 12:13-17).
A. The Bible predicts that Israel will experience two world wide, end time, regatherings to the Promise Land.
The first worldwide ragthering will be a return of unbelief in preparation for the Tribulation.
The second worldwide gathering will be a return in faith at the end of the tribulation, in preparation for the blessing of the millennium (1,000 year reign of Christ)
Several OT passages highlight a return of Jews in spiritual unbelief as a prelude to the discipline of the tribulation period (Ezek 22:17-22; Zeph 2:1-2) but here is a key Ot passage that deals with both world wide regatherings.
Isa 11:11-12: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Isaiah mentions this is the second regathering which begs the obvious question “When did the first one occur?” Some maintain this was the Babylonia return form exile that started in 536 BC. However, this return was not worldwide as described in Isa 11:11-12.
Since Israel will experience two worldwide returns from exile, it seems as if the present worldwide return of the Jews to Isreal must be in fulfillment for the first international regathering of Israel.
B. Second, the Bible predicts that Israel’s intial regathering will occur in pahses, or stages.
In 70 AD, the land of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Jewish temple were crushed under the heel of Roman domination. Since that time, the Jews have been scattered all over the world.
God’s warning of worldwide exile in Deut 28:64-66 has been lieerally, geographically fulfilled over the last 1900 years.
Deut 28:64-66 - And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
65And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
But as we have seen the Bible predicts that Israel will be regathered to the land in the end times. Scripture that this regathering will be in stages. It is portrayed in as a process for it will take some time to regather and resettle the land.
Ezekeil 37:1-14 – The Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel sees a graveyard vision illustration the national restoration, regeneration, and return of the “whole house of Israel” (37:11).
First, Israel is restored physically. The physical restoration is pictured by the coming together of bones, flesh, and skin to become a complete body. Piece by Piece. But the army is still made uo of lifeless corpses (37:8).
Second, Ezekiel witnesses the spiritual regeneration when the breath of the Sprirt breathes spiritual life into the dead nation (37:9). Of course this won’t happen until the messiah returns.
I believe the first gathering has already begun for the last 130 years. A pile of bones is beginning to come together and take shape in the Land of Israel.
The modern return began as early as 1871 when a few Jews began to trickle back into the landof Israel
By 1882, about 25,00 Jews have settled there.
At the first Zionist conference in 1897, lead by Theodore Herlz the goal of reclaiming the land for the Jewish people was officially adopted. But the regathering was slow.
By 1914, the number of the Jews I the land was only 85,000
During WW1, the British sought support form the Jews for the war effort.
Nov 2, 1917, the British gave the Balfour Decleration to Lord Rothschild, a wealthy Jewsih entrepenuer staing their approval to the jewish goal of reclamation.
1939, WW2 broke out, about 450,000 had manged to return.
Nazi Germany’s heinous and descipable tratement of the Jews created a world wide sympathy and favorable enviornement for the Jews. Hitlers’s atrocities actually provided the greateset momentum for the establishment for a national homeland for the Jews.
May 14, 1948, the UN approved of a national Jwesih home land and Brisith control ended.
Since those days waves of emmigrants, most notably form ethopis and the Soviet union, have pored into Israel.
2001, 38% of the 13.4 million Jews in the world are now living in Israel. (1948 only 6% were in Israel.
42.5% of all Jews reside in Israel (5.7 million), and 39.3% in the United States (5.3 million), with most of the remainder living in Europe (1.5 million)
By 2030, predicted that half the Jews will have returned.
C. Third, the regathering of Israel will set the stage for the events of the end times.
The Bible predicts that Israel must be partially regathered to her land for the events of the end times to unfold. End time prophecy in Scripture is built upon the assumption that Israel will be regathered and functioning as a nation. The clearest passage is Dan 9:27.
Dan 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The tribulation doesn’t begin until the 7 year peace treaty is signed, it cant be signed if a Jewish state doesn’t exist, Therefore a Jewish state must exist before the tribulation.
The main purpose of the first regathering is for the Jews to be present in the Land so they can make the peace pact with the Antichrist.
The Jewish people are organized into a political state, thus making the peace treaty with the Anti- Christ in Dan 9:27 and the beginning of the Tribulation possible for the first time since 70 AD.
The Lord will use the Tribulation and its unparalleled horror to bring the Jewish people to faith in the Lord Jesus as the promised messiah, who died for their sins and rose again on the third day.
During the Tribulation the Jews will be scattered over the face of the earth as they are persecuted by the AntiChrist. Many will be killed and many more will flee for their lives (Matt 24:15-21, Dan 7:25)
At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will come again, the second coming, wage war against anti Christ at Armageddon, and defeat the emey. Christ will then set up his earthly kingdom the millennium for a thousand years and regather Israel for the second and final time.
Today, however, Orthodox Jews are building temple furniture in preparation for a new temple. The Temple Institute, which has already built many of the vessels for the Holy Temple, such as the ark and the menorah, has now embarked on a project to build the altar. Construction begins Thursday in Mitzpe Yericho (east of Jerusalem) at 5:30 pm. “Unfortunately, we cannot currently build the altar in its proper place, on the Temple Mount,” Temple Institute director Yehudah Glick said. “We are building an altar of the minimum possible size so that we will be able to transport it to the Temple when it is rebuilt.”
The solid gold menorah, built at the expense of three million dollars, was particularly impressive. Who could believe the timing of renewed interest in rebuilding the temple is coincidental? Think of it: at the very same time that the European Union is gaining power and world events are aligning in preparation for the Antichrist’s ascension, preparations for a new temple are underway.
2. Plummeting morality.
Studies show a shocking breakdown just since mid-century (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
3. Famines, violence, and wars.
Jesus said the signs before his return would come as intensifying birth pangs, seeing increased famines,
violence and wars, a clear picture of our planet (Matthew 24:6-8).
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
A. Famines
According to a Wikipedia list of famines, the past 500 years have also witnessed an increase in the frequency of famines:
•15th Century - 6 famines
•16th Century - 10 famines
•17th Century - 24 famines
•18th Century - 28 famines
•19th Century - 30 famines
•20th Century - 44 famines
The first decade of the 21st Century alone has already witnessed 12 famines, putting humanity on course for 120 famines over the next one hundred year period.
Have these famines increased in intensity and severity?
Yes.
As the population of the world has grown, famines have caused more and more death and destruction in their wake.
In fact, while the Roman Empire's entire population at the time of Jesus is estimated to have been approximately 55 million people, the first half of the 20th Century alone witnessed these famines:
•The 1921 famine in Russia (5 million+ dead)
•The 1928-1929 famine in China (3 million+ dead)
•The 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine (2.6 and 10 million+ dead)
•The 1932-1933 famine in Kazakhstan (1.2 and 1.5 million+ dead)
•The 1936 famine in China (5 million+ dead)
•The 1942-1943 famine in China (1 million+ dead)
•The 1946-1947 famine in the Soviet Union (1 million+ dead)
That's an estimated 18.8 to 26.5 million who perished from famine just from these seven famines alone!
And from 1959 to 1961, the Great Chinese Famine is estimated to have killed more than 36 million people.
Famines have dramatically increased in both frequency and intensity since Jesus first answered His disciples' questions.
One of six people on earth suffers from hunger.
B. Wars
According to a Wikipedia list of wars, the past 500 years have witnessed an increase in the frequency of wars:
•15th Century - 29 wars
•16th Century - 59 wars
•17th Century - 75 wars
•18th Century - 69 wars
•19th Century - 294 wars
•20th Century - 278 wars
The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 55 wars, putting humanity on course for 550 wars over the next one hundred year period.
Have these wars increased in intensity?
Yes.
For most of human history, wars were fought through individual hand-to-hand combat. But the past few hundred years have witnessed the ascension of more accurate guns, machine guns, and aerial bombing. Today, a single weapon of mass destruction can kill hundreds of thousands of people.
Since the official foundation of Israel as a nation May 14, 1948, the world has witnessed one long “peace process” between Israel and her Arab neighbors. But there has been no peace, only brief periods of no war.
ILL – War History for Israel last 50 years
Violence is epidemic. A study of wars since 500 B.C. shows a recent dramatic increase. More than
100 conflicts have erupted since 1990, about twice the number for
previous decades.
4. Increase in earthquakes.
Matt 24:7 -For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Also prophesized to be as birth pangs (Matthew 24:7), a recent study shows a dramatic increase in earthquakes worldwide, just since the decade of Israel’s rebirth.
Between 1920 and 1990, a 70-year span, there were 10 major earthquakes.
But in 1990 to the year 2005, a 15-year span, we have had 13 major earthquakes."
(Associated Press)
Earthquakes - Another Sign of the End Times
According to a Wikipedia list of earthquakes, the past 500 years have witnessed the following number of earthquakes described as a magnitude 7.0 or greater:
•15th Century - 2 earthquakes
•16th Century - 3 earthquakes
•17th Century - 7 earthquakes
•18th Century - 13 earthquakes
•19th Century - 29 earthquakes
•20th Century - 123 earthquakes
The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 144 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or greater, putting humanity on course for 1,440 such earthquakes over the next one hundred year period!
The dramatic increase in devastating wars, famines, and earthquakes from the time of Jesus until today is one of clearest signs of the end times.
The U.S. Geological Survey data shows in 2000, there
were 22,256 recorded earthquakes worldwide but steadily increased to
31,199 earthquakes in 2004. (WorldNetDaily)
5. The Middle East Peace Process
Jerusalem is the most mentioned city in the bible, over 800 times (first motioned in Gen 14 and last mentioned in Rev 21). Jerusalem is consistently pictures in the bible in a positive light. It is the city of God.
What many may not realize is the second most mentioned city in the bible is Babylon – 290 times. Located on the Euphrates river in modern Iraq near the Persian Gulf.
Babylon first appears in Gen 10-11 and last mentioned in Rev 17. Throughout the bible, in contrast to Jerusalem, Babylon is pictured as Man’s City. IT is consistently pictured as a place of rebellion and pride. It was the first city built after the flood and it is where the constructed the tower of babel
In Gen 14 both Jerusalem (ancient Salem) and Babylon (ancient Shinar) are mentioned and find themselves in conflict one with the other. They are on opposite sides of the fence. Babylon attacks Jerusalem and carries away its citizens, including Abraham’s nephew Lot.
From this point we have what Chalres Dryer said, “A tale of two cities”. Its Jerusalem (God’s City) vs Babylon (man’s city). The story of these two cities takes us from Gen to Rev. From the beginning to the end. Rev 17-18 Babylon is destroyed by God but un Rev 21 the new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven from God as the capital city of the new heaven and the new earth, and the eternal abode of God and his people.
Babylon in the Bible
Most of the biblical references in the bible to Babylon concern the Babylonian empire that ruled the world from 605 bc to 539 bc. King Nebuchadnezzar and his successors were the great leaders of this empire.
Many of the prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and habkkuk wrote about Babylonians. This evil empire was the great menacing lion of the sixth century B.C.
Isaiah 13:1,4-5 - gives a detailed description of the destruction of Babylon.
1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
In this passage God clearly announces that Babylon will be destroyed by a host of nations. This raises some important questions. When did or when will this destruction occur? What destruction of Babylon is Isaiah talking about? Was this the one that occurred in his day? Was he prophesying about the overthrow that occurred in 539 bc when Babylon fell to the Medo-Persians? Or did Isaiah look far down the road to a destruction of Babylon in the end times.
The rest of Isaiah 13 gives us three important clues.
1. In Isaiah 13:6,9 the Lord gives us an indication of the time of this event. He says the destruction will occur in the day of the Lord.
6 Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
The phrase the day of the Lord occurs 19 times in the bible – refers to any time that God dramatically intervenes in human affairs to bring judgment or blessing. Most cases judgment is what is involved. Its when God God comes down to earth to settle accounts with sinful man. This phrase is often used to describe the final day of the Lord during the great tribulation (Joel 2:31, 3:14)
2. The Lord further narrows down the window of time in Isiah 13:10-13. Babylon’s destruction will occur in the day of the Lord but which day of the Lord? Its clear from the context that the destruction of Babylon will occur during the final day of the Lord during the tribulation period.
Isaiah 13:10-13 - For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Nothing even close to this happened in 539 BC when Babylon was captured by the Persians. These cosmic disturbances are described elsewhere in the bible in conjunction with e 2nd coming of Christ to the earth (Joel 3:14-16; Matthew 24:27-20)
3. Isiah 13:19 says that when Babylon is finally destroyed it will be like Sodom and Gommorah.
Isaiah 13:19 - And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
In other words Babylon will be totally wiped out. Wiped off the face of the earth. We are forced to ask, when did this happen in the past? It didn't. Nothing has ever happened like this to the city of Babylon in its long storied history. Even when the Persians under king Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 bc, the city wasn't destroyed.
There is only one time when this is going to happen in mans history: at the end of the Tribulation in conjunction with the second coming of Christ.
So what does this mean? It means that if the prophesy concerngin Babylon is to be litlerally fulfilled, then Isaiah 13 must be referring to a future destruction of Babylon that has not occurred yet. Babylon must rise again, and then be totally wiped pout in the final day of the Lord.
Babylon will be rebuilt in the end times
Zech 5:5-11 - Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
Zech sees a basket that is full of evil and wickedness personified as a woman. A heavy lid is put on her because God doesn't want the wickedness to get out. He asks where are they taking it. He sais to the land of Shinar. Zech is telling us that wickedness will someday be focused again in the land of Babylon. When the necessary prepartions are made, wickedness will return to the place of its origin – Babylon.
The first mention of Babylon is found in Gen 10-11 in connection with a tower being bbuiltto exalt mans pride and a world ruler named nimrod. The last ention is found in Rev 17-18 where the city is symbolized by a seductive harlot riding on the back of the antichrist who is symbolized by a wild beast. This connection indicates that the two will be closely allied. Babylon will oriobably be some kind of economic, commercial capital for the Antichrist.
Could these things really happen to Babylon today?
1. Sadam Hussein who fancied himself as a modern day neduchanezzar had begun to restoration and building efforts in the city and on the river Euphrates. Although incomplete the fact the the intial steps were being taken is incredible
2. Irag sits on at least the second largest kown crude oil reserve in the world (115 billion barrels compared to Saudi Arabia 261 billion barrels) however some belive that Irag may have as much as 300 billion barrels or 30% of the known reserves in the World. Just next door Kuwait has 10%. If they access that they could have 40%.
The ouster of Sadam could lift UN sanctions and limitations on Iraqi oil sales. Billions of doallrs, euros, and yens could begin to flood the country. This fact alone makes the rebuilding of Babylon as a major economoic ceter for the middle east and the world a serious possibility.
3. Iraq has become and continues to be a major focal point in the middle east and the Persian Gulf. Iraq came out of nowhere in the last 20 years. Knowing what the bible sayds about babylin this should not surpise us. This could serve as a perfect prekude for the rebuilding of Babyloin in the near future
6. Explosion of cults and the occult.
Counterfeit spirituality is everywhere with cults and false Christs (Matthew 24:24), psychic phenomena, spiritism, Satan worship, witchcraft, nature worship and the New Age movement (1 Timothy 4:1).
Matt 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
1 Tim 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Peter 2:1-3 - But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2 Cor 11:13-14 - For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
On Nov. 18, 1978, in Jonestown, Guyana, the world woke up to a spine-chilling occurrence that demonstrates the tremendous power religious cult leaders have on individuals.
James “Jim” Warren Jones, now known for the appallingly charismatic guidance of his followers to a supposed spiritual liberation through suicidal sacrifice, convinced more than 900 members of The People’s Temple cult to drink a lethal elixir of Kool-Aid and cyanide.
But that is just one example of an extremely destructive cult.
•1994 - More than 60 members of Europe's Solar Temple cult were induced to mass suicide in France and Switzerland.
•1995 - Japan's Aum Shin Rikyo cult released sarin nerve gas in Tokyo subway killing ten and injuring thousands. Only recently in June 1998 Testimonies in recent trials of Aum Shin Rikyo members revealed that for years prior to the 1995 attack, the group released lethal germ warfare in Japan, targeting the Japanese Legislature, the Imperial Palace, and the US military base at Yokosuka. The poisons were not detected at the times of their releases, and apparently caused no deaths. The attacks were intended to spark the apocalypse Aum Shin Rikyo postulates is coming. Meanwhile, about 200 current members met for a fundraising conference in late April, 1998, paying up to $1,500 each to attend.
•1997 - 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult including leader Marshall Applewhite ingested a combination of vodka and drugs at Applewhite's instruction, resulting in what the mother of victim called "one suicide and 38 murders." Members were convinced that the only way to survive Earth's being "recycled" in the year 2000 was to be picked up by a UFO flying in the wake of the Hale-Bopp comet.
•1997 - Teenage members of a Vampire cult murdered the parents of one of its members. Self-proclaimed lead vampire received the death sentence.
An estimated 5,000 economic, political, and religious groups operate in the United States alone at any given time, with 2.5 million members. Over the last ten years, cults have used tactics of coercive mind control to negatively impact an estimated 20 million victims in the last ten years. Worldwide figures are even greater. [Cult expert Dr. Margaret Singer , Cults in Our Midst].
The cult problem is so prevalent, the chances of a family member joining a cult are greater than a family member catching chicken pox, four times greater than contracting AIDS, 90 times greater than contracting measles, and 45,000 times greater than contracting polio. [Dr. Paul Martin, cult expert and director of Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center, Ohio, USA].
7. The New World Order.
According to God’s Word, the end of the age will be characterized by a global government, economy, and religion ruled by one man, the Antichrist. This end time New World Order is most clearly described in Rev 13.
Increased centralization of world financial and political power is a prelude to the soon-coming world power system in the hands of the “Antichrist,” who will be the incarnation of Satan and who will deceive most of the world (Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 13).
Global Government - Rev 13:7b- “…and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
Global Religion - Rev 13:8a - "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,"
Global Economoy - Rev 13:17 - And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Notice the inclusive, global language – “all and no man”
Why is there such a push towards globalism? Why is the world being irresistibly drawn together? Is it all a natural result of modern technology, instant communications, worldwide travel, and ubiquitous weapons of mass destruction? Or is there more to it? Is there a hidden power behind all these “modern developments” pushing a definite agenda?
Trilateral comsission, council on foregin relations, feeral reserve, or the modern day illuminati as the puppeteers working behind the international scene, pulling the strings. It wouldn't surprise me if that there are powerful, power-hungry men and women with tremendous clout, orchestrating many events to maintain and gain more power.
However, that doesn't mean that they, themselves aren’t under someone else’s control.
There’s a greater power behind globalism. A greater power than mortal mankind
Satan is the driving force behind gloablaism. Not everything about globalism is satanic, but I believe Satan is the impetus behind this movement.
Satan’s original fall into sin was due to his pride. He desired to be like God – to be worshipped as God (Isaiah 14:12-14; 1 Tim 3:6). According to Rev 12:3-4 – when Satan led his rebellion 1/3 of the angels followed himas their newly proclaimed god.
In Gen 3 – He tried to get Adam and Eve to believe his word instead of the Word of God. Again he sought to usurp God.
After the world wide flood the planet became repopulated and the human race was gathered in place. In Gen 10,11 Nimrod was the human tyrant or dictator who lead much of the global community – those who did not remain faithful to the Lord. The method these first globalist used was to build a city and a tower. They shook their collective fist in God’s face and defied the command to scatter over the face of the earth (gen 9:1). They settled down in the land of shinar at Babel and decided to build a city and tower. The tower reached the heavens was no doubt intended to be a place of occult worship to the stars and heavens.
The first federation, or “united nations” was a society built to bring the human race together to exclude God and exalt man – to defiy man and dethrone God.
This situation played right into Satan’s plan. In this setting Satan could control, influence, and direct world affairs through one man. And he could be “god” in the eyes of all men, through occult worship and practices.
Of course God was in control. He came down, confounded man’s language; this scattering man all over the face of the earth (gen 11:5-8). That was the end of the first global community.
But Satan wasn't finished. He set out immediately to bring back the world back together under his umbrella so he could control it all again.
Global Leader
The world’s history is the record of one person after another trying to rule to the world. All the power hungry rulers who have cruelly subjugated nations under the their feet have been energized by Satan to foster this great goal of globalization.
Now for the first time since Gen 11 globalization is within man’s (satan’s) reach.
All the necessary elements for full blown all out globalization are in place; world travel to almost any place on the planet in a matter of hours, rapid communications, incredible maeans of survelliance, satellietes, weapons of mass destruction thatcan be used as threats to control others, intertwined world economoice markest, the World Bank…etc, etc.etc…
Satan almost has the World back to Babel. All he needs now is one man to bring on the worlds stage to take over, another nimrod to rule the world as his puppet.
His name is :
1. The little horn (Daniel 7:8)
2. A king, insolent and skilled in intrigue (Daniel 8:23)
3. The prince who is to come (Daniel 9:26)
4. The one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27)
5. The king who does as he pleases (Daniel 11:36)
6. A foolish Shepherd (Zec 11:15)
7. The man of lawlessness (2 Thess 2:3)
8. The son of destruction (2 Thess 2:3)
9. The rider on the white horse (rev 6:2)
10. The Beast out of the sea (Rev 13:1-9
When you think on antichrist what image come to your mind?
A man in a red suit with a pitchfork / a modern day diabolical egomaniac like Hitler / or perhaps the greatest smooth talker, con man and religious charlatan to ever live / Still others see him as bloodthirsty, brutal butcher who spends all his time focused on genocide.
No brief summary will ever suffice to give us a complete picture of what the antichrist will be like but here are six key characteristics of Satan’s superman and some of them may surprise you.
1. He will be an intellectual genius (Daniel 8:23)
Daniel 8:23 - And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
He will overwhelm and captivate the world with his superhuman intellect and powers of perception
2. He will be an oratorical genius (Daniel 11:36 / Rev 13:2,6)
Dan 8:36 - And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
The whole world will be swayed by the hypnotic spell of his words. Over and over in biblical passages about the Antichrist the focus is on his great words or speaking ability.
3. He will be a political genius (Daniel 9:27 / Rev 17:11-12)
Daniel 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The antichrist will emerge from relative obscurity to take the world political scene by storm. He begins as a “little horn” but soon is elected to rule over the reunited Roman Empire (Rev 17:13). He will be the consummate unifier and diplomat. He will assume power under the stealth of diplomacy. His platform will be peace and prosperity. He will weld opposing forces together with ease. All the dreams of the United Nations will be realized in his political policies. He well may receive the Nobel peace prize or be Time magazine’s Man of the Year. Daniel 9:27 reveals that he will even bring such peace to the middle east that the Temple Mount are in Jerusalem will be returned to Jewish sovereignty. He will undoubtedly be hailed as the greatest peacemaker the world has ever seen.
4. He will be a commercial genius (Daniel 11:43 / Rev 13:16-17)
Daniel 11:43 - But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
Rev 13:16-17 - And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
He will be the CEO of the Worlds economy. He will set up interest rates, prices, stock values, and supply levels. Under his leadership everything will be nationalized- but under his control. From the midpoint of the tribulation until the second coming of Christ, no one will be able to buy or sell without his permission.
5. He will be a military genius (Rev 6:2 / 13:2)
Rev 6:2 - And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Rev 13:2 - And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
At the midpoint of the Tribulation the mask will come off, and the beast will replace the olive branch with a sword. He will subjugate the whole world. All the greatness of Alexander and Napoleon will be as nothing compared to him. No one will be able to stand in the ay of his conquest. He will crush everything and everyone before him. He will be the final, great Ceaser.
6. He will be a religious genius (2 Thess 2:4; Rev 13:8)
2 Thess 2:4 - Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Rev 13:8 - And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Satan’s superman will be able to do what neither Mohammed, nor Buddha, nor any pope has ever been able to do: unite the world in worship. All the religions of the world will be brought together in the worship of one man. Just think what genius and power and deception it will take to pull that off!
Our Responses to Bible Prophecy
1. To offer hope (2 Thes 2:13-18)
13 - But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
2. Stir us to separated holy living (2 Peter 3:10-14)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
3. Motivate us to live evangelistically
4. Turn us to the finished work of the cross for salvation (2 Peter 3:4-9)
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Matt 24:15 - When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
The Bible has much to say about the last days and the time of the end, and as followers of Christ, we are warned to recognize the signs of the times.
Matthew 24:28 - For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Because if we acknowledge the signs of the end times as well as our Lord's command to stay awake and alert, we will be driven to live Godly lives. Paul emphasized this in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Remember, all prophecy exists to give a clear witness for Christ:
Revelation 19:10 - And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And prophecy is telling us that Christ is coming.
Matthew 24:33 - So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
|
Ron DeGarde Ministries
2724 Margaret Wallace Rd Matthews, NC 28105 |
"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins..." Acts 26:18 |
