Living In The
Last Days
All verses, unless otherwise noted come from the New King James Version
Many Christians believe that
we are now living in the last days before the predicted gathering of the
Saints, and Christ’s return to rule the earth.
As you may know,
Many American Christians know
the right thing to do in respect to the global situation, but God’s plan
demands that certain things happen on His schedule, and America is aiding that
plan and that schedule by the way we are reacting as a nation. In other words, our politicians have a hook
in their collective jaw and they will react according to God’s plan and not
according to any personal desires.
As you read this, it will not
take you where other prophecy teachings may take you. This is not an orthodox, pre-tribulation
rapture article. I have nothing against
the pri-trib teaching, but I do not rely on escapism.
In Revelation 13:7 we find
that to the beast it “was granted to him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and
nation.”
If anyone tells you that the
saints will live happily “ever after,” ask them when “ever after” begins.
The beast of Revelation will
make war with that saints---and overcome them.
Many teach that at that point
in Revelation the saints and the Holy Spirit have been raptured out of the
earth and are no longer on the earth.
They teach that these are tribulation saints.
However, 1 Corinthians 12:3
tells us that no man can call Jesus Lord except by the power of the Holy
Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is taken off
the earth, no salvation is possible. Salvation requires confession prompted by
the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:9-10).
It is biblically obvious that
many saints will go through terrible times. Historically it is evident that
many saints have already gone through terrible times. Today’s news also declares that many of
today’s saints are now suffering great tribulation.
Rev 20:4 And
I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I
saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for
the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not
received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and
reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
I dare say that at the time
of their beheading, things were not going well for those who were
beheaded.
There is another situation
that we must consider.
II Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the
falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is
worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he
is God.
Did you see that?
A “falling away” will precede
the revealing of the man of sin.
Any “falling away” must
involve those who are thought to be members of the Church. But, what would cause a “falling away” among
those thought to be Christians?
The “falling away” is among
those assumed to be Christians by the world at large and not among those who
actually belong to Christ!
How could that happen?
Could it be that after being
told that Christians will be raptured prior to the tribulation and then finding
that it was a lie, they will reject Christ in an attempt to gain some facade of
peace?
Rev 17:3 So
he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting
on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and
ten horns.
John saw a woman sitting on a
beast. What was the result of the woman
being seated on a beast?
Rev 17:16
"And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot,
make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
The woman was devoured!
What does all that mean?
In order to blaspheme Christ
one must not just deny His divinity, or His position as the Son of God. One may also blaspheme Christ by raising a
normal human being up to equality with Him, such as has been done with Mary in
the Roman Catholic church (small c).
The Roman Catholic church
teaches that Mary is equal with Christ Jesus as a co-redeemer and
co-mediator. That is blasphemy!
Muslims venerate Mary. In fact an entire chapter in the Koran is
dedicated to Mary/Miriam. Roman Catholics also teach that Muslims are now saved.
In the 1994 catechism we find, “The plan of salvation also includes those who
acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these
profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one,
merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.”
Within our lifetimes, the
Roman church and Shiite Islam will reach an agreement recognizing each other as
valid religions of the one true god.
Just as in the days of the Mithras religion, Catholics will embrace the
false religion of Islam in the name of Christ.
A pope will soon come on the
scene and make peace with Shiite Muslims.
Shiite Muslims will take over
Shiites follow the Madhi,
while Sunni Muslims do not.
Shiite Muslims believe that
the Mahdi, or 12th Imam will come into a Chaotic vacuum with Jesus
as his servant and will make war with Jews and Christians bringing Islam into
dominance.
At this moment,
God has placed a hook in the
jaw of American leaders to bring us to the point that our leaders fight for
Islam even though Muslims are seeking to destroy
As we read in Revelation20:4
some will be beheaded for the sake of Christ. In years gone by that would be
unthinkable. But, Islam is so barbaric
that being beheaded is a valid practice within the heathenism that is Islam.
Many rabid Muslims would gladly behead a Christian.
The Roman Catholic church
will come into an agreement with Shiite Islam and in the end will be devoured
by Islam. Many Catholics will leave that
church because of their love for Christ.
That all sounds violent and
spiritually depressing. However, John wrote:
Rev 19:11-20
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and
behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and
in righteousness He judges and makes war.
12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had
a name written that no one knew except Himself.
13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word
of God.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed
Him on white horses.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the
nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads
the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather
together for the supper of the great God,
18 "that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh
of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh
of all people, free and slave, both small and great."
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered
together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs
in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast
and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of
fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of
Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Rev 20:1-2
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan,
and bound him for a thousand years;
All is not lost. Keep looking
up. Your redemption draws near.