Oh yes I believe wholehartedly the end is approaching and fast even though many feel that it will not be in their lifetime it has to happen in someones lifetime
The Countdown to the end of time is approaching, and the days are
ticking away!
Proverbs 14:12 says; There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Never before has mankind faced so many questions and so much anxiety.
The problems in the world today are so big, and the questions, so
complex, we are afraid to ask. However, when one looks at the
unsettling changes throughout the world, it's hard not to ask!
When we look at the events taking place in the world and around us,
we are faced with the question - Where is Mankind Headed?
When we look at National Disaster, one can't help but ask - Is the
Earth Sending Out A Warning or Wakeup Call?
Then there is the increase, spread, and rise of Religious Cults, New
Age Movements, and the Falling Away of many from Christendom, since
this nation was founded. Just as the Apostle Paul spoke of in 1
Timothy 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;
With all that is taking place in the world, we can see that humanity
is, consciously, and sub-consciously searching for some form of
Spiritual Truth.
Which leaves us with the question; Is there Objective Truth? And if
so - Does Anyone Hold the Answer to Our Longing and Despair?
All these questions along brings us to one of the most important
question the conscious and sub-conscious mind is asking - Is the end
of time upon us?
When you look at the results of the increasing sales of End time and
Prophecy books, since 911, one can't help but see something is going
on, and questions are, indeed, being asked.
When we look at the continual increasing decline of morals in society
today, one can't help but ask - What ever happened to the one time
moral absolutes, of this Nation?
Are there Moral Absolutes?
Ask most of the people today and they will say; There is not just one
set of morals, and that people should agree to abide by a certain set
of laws, so that their morals can be modified. To some, morals can be
different; the laws should be only a basic guideline.
However, to some there is a moral awakening, but amidst this
awakening some are starting to question the things that's been handed
down traditionally, and that mankind is trying to seek within
themselves, what is right and wrong.
But then there are those who believe and live, as, there is no such
thing as moral absolutes! And that the one thing that should hold
true for all people is the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would
have them to do unto you.
As we look at the world today, we have a world filled with questions.
Where are we headed, with all our scientific knowledge, and all the
immorality? Is there Moral Absolutes? Or, is there a God?
And if there is a God, is he a God of Love? And if he's a God of
Love, why is there so much hurt and pain? And if there is a God, how
can we know that he actually does exist, and he's willing to reveal
himself to mankind?
In most of our chemical dependency programs for Alcohol, Drug abuse
and etc, in their steps to recovery programs they have removed the
mentioning of a Supreme Deity known as God and replaced him with
titles such as a Higher Power, Higher Truth, or Ultimate Truth.
Now, to some, as they would put it, there is an Ultimate Truth. But,
to others our Ultimate Truth, they believe is within ones self. They
say, everybody has it inside them, it's just a matter of listening to
oneself.
Some says they believed in God when they were younger, they believed
in all the stories, and the commandments. But as they got older they
started looking at things more philosophically, and more in-depth.
And found there was so many questions they couldn't answer, and it
got to the point that they began to believe that there are not any
answers, and that you can't deny and can't confirm either.
However, there is a way we can achieve all the answer's mankind is
asking. For I believe the way God has revealed "Himself" to us, is
through the Bible. It's a revelation of "Himself" that's so unique!
I believe God's revelation of "Himself" to us in the Bible so unique,
from any other writings of mankind.
You might ask - Why do I believe this?
My answer would be - The one thing that is so exciting, interesting
and unique about the Bible, is Prophecy!
Why? You might ask?
Because, through years in my in-depth study of the Bible. I have
found that the Word of God is 100 % accurate concerning prophecy!
This no man can or could do!
Which brings me to our study of today - Approaching End Time. But
first, let's look at one example of accurate and precise fulfillment
of Bible Prophecy.
In the Book of Daniel we have the "angel" Gabriel coming to Daniel,
in Daniel's 9:25 saying;
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the
commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the
Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street
shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
This is just one of the most remarkable prophecies of the Old
Testament, spoken some 5 centuries before Christ, and the angel
Gabriel makes an accurate and precise announcement of the exact day
that Jesus Christ was to permit "Himself" to be presented as a King.
Now, Messiah the Prince in the original is Mashiyach (pronounced) as
Maw-shee'akh and Prince is Nagiyd (pronounced) as naw-geed' or nagid
(pronounced: as naw-gheed meaning anointed, consecrated as King.
This shows us, that in, the original language, Messiah the Prince, is
indeed a King.
The time period is given as "seven weeks" and "threescore" (being 67)
and "two weeks." Giving us a total of 69 weeks. However, through
ancient recordings and the process of time, we have come to
understand these 69 weeks, are, in reality, weeks of years.
Now the ancient calendar used 360-day years.
So what Gabriel was saying to Daniel was, that from the going forth
of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah
the King would be 173, 880 days, between the commandment to Messiah
the King. The key to unlocking this prophecy is "from the going forth
of the commandment"
Now the commandment to restore Jerusalem was given on March the 14th,
445 B.C, according to Jewish historians and Biblical Scholars and is
recorded in the Book of Nehemiah, in Nehemiah 2:5-18.
Now the only time in the life of Jesus that he permitted "Himself" to
be "Presented" as a King was what we refer to in the New Testament as
the Triumph Entry, referred to by some as Psalm Sunday.
This is an event so important, that it is recorded in all four
gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and is a fulfillment of the
Prophet Zechariah, of the Old Testament.
The Prophecy:
In Zechariah 9:9, we read; Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he
is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ***, and
upon a colt the foal of an ***.
The Fulfillment:
In Matthew 21:1-5 we read; And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem,
and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus
two disciples, Saying unto them,
Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find
an *** tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need
of them; and straightway he will send them.
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King
cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ***, and a colt the foal
of an ***.
On April 6, 32 AD, Jesus allowed "Himself" to be "Presented" as the
Messiah, the King, of the Books of Daniel and Zechariah.
In John 12:13 we read where the people - Took branches of palm trees,
and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King
of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Now its time to get out your pen, pencils, paper or calculator.
From March 14th, 445 BC to April 6th, 32 AD is exactly 173,880 days,
precisely!
That's, 69 weeks x 7 years / weeks x 360 days / years = 173,880 days.
Now, all of this (the Hebrew recordings) was translated into the
Greek language 3 centuries before Christ was even born! Which gives
us and remains still today, as just one of the "Incredible Evidence"
that Jesus Christ was exactly whom he said he was!
Now this numeric prophecy was so amazing, that skeptics, in the past,
came to the conclusion that the Book of Daniel must have been
written, after the time of Christ! It's the only way they had to
dispute the claim of Jesus, to be this Messiah of the Book of
Daniel's!
But, thanks to the scientific field of Archaeology, and the discovery
of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, these skeptic's mouths have been
stopped! We know for "certain" that the Book of Daniel's was written
several centuries, before the time of Jesus!
But, we need not look at ancient history to substantiate Bible
Prophecy - Just the Evening News!
For I believe we are living in the Approaching End of Time.
I also believe you can see Bible prophecy being fulfilled before our
very eyes by watching the evening news, in worldly events taking
place in the world.
Are we living in the Approaching End of Time?
As we continue this study, I will let you be the judge.
In this study our attention is directed, as you will see on the words
Frequency, Preparation, and Repetitiveness.
In Matthew 24:1-8 we read; And Jesus went out, and departed from the
temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings
of the temple.
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say
unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that
shall not be thrown down.
(Note) This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD by General Titus and his
armies, and their attack on Jerusalem.
According to history it was believed that there was gold, in the
columns that supported the Temple of Jerusalem. And under General
Titus orders, every layer of stone was literally pulled part and
separated, in search of this gold. Fulfilling the exact word of
Jesus "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that
shall not be thrown down."
The Encyclopedia Britannica states that the destruction of Jerusalem
by General Titus and his armies was so devastating that "there was
not a stone left stack on top of another." Here, we have a recording
of history, quoting, almost the exact words of Jesus, over two
thousand years ago!
Let's continue
The First Sign: The Environment.
When the disciple came to Jesus on the Mount of Olive, they asked him
for signs concerning the end of the age. In Luke 21:11 Jesus said to
them; And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines,
and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be
from heaven.
First we see in our evening news that earthquakes are "Increasing'
(the key word here is increasing) at an alarming rate, world wide in
the last 50 years or so.
Earthquakes of great magnitudes are written off by some saying; we've
always had earthquakes.
I say yes! This is true!
But, now we are seeing an increase in Major earthquakes!
What we need to do is, come to the "Realization" that these
earthquakes shaking the earth, is a part of the whole Prophetic
Design of God.
For the word earthquake / earthquakes is used 11 times in the New
Testament alone, and 5 times in the Book of Revelation itself.
Now, according to the USGS (US Geological Survey) an earthquake
registering 8.0 or greater on the rector scale is classified as
Great. Jesus said there would be "great earthquakes" in different
places or location.
Earthquakes of this magnitude are considered as enormous earthquakes.
Let us note here - There have been an increasing number of these
great earthquakes, starting from the 19thth and now into the 21st
century. So we can say for certain that this generation has been
witnessing an increasing rise in these "great" earthquakes.
When one looks at a geophysical map of the earth, it looks like a
hard boiled egg that's has been dropped on its end, one to many
times. For the earth is made up of tectonic plates.
In geology, tectonic is the "deformation" of rocks: relating to the
forces that produce movement and deformation of the Earth's crust,
and plates are any of the "segments" of the earth's crust that move
in relation to one another as defined by the theory of plate
tectonics.
There are many tectonic plates that tend to move along side one
another.
According to geological research, it is along these tectonic plate
lines, that a major part of the earthquake activity occurs.
But, it is also interesting to note that it is along these areas
where a majority of the largest populations of earth are located.
What concerns me when I hear about earthquakes in our time is that we
can look back in time, and not recall that many happening!
So, is the earth speaking to us? Is the earth telling us to wake up?
When one thinks about it, it is as if the earth itself is sending us
a warning!
In Revelation 11:18 we read; And the nations were angry, and thy
wrath is come… and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Here we see that one of the reasons for the futuristic coming of the
wrath of God is to destroy them, which destroyed the earth.
Here we see how God knew that man if left unchecked, through
selfishness and greed would one day destroy the earth.
Today we watch and read about as mankind continues to ravage the
environment, giving no concern for future generations.
When we look at the continual cutting down of the forest trees, in
the name of progress, the pollution's of the Oceans, Seas, Lakes,
Rivers and Streams, and reports of the ozone, it's as if the earth is
saying help me, because mankind is depleting the whole entire earth!
It is a matter of fact that from the 19th and now into the 21st
century, we have done more to destroy earth than any generations
before!
Consider one static, Al Gore, in his book Earth In The Balance
concerning species lost each year to extinction, we are expediently
destroying thousands of animals, birds and fish species each year.
This is a destructive trend that began in our generations!
Today, we are seeing catastrophic environmental effect in wetland
losses and topsoil loses.
And with the continuing cutting down of the trees of the forest, as
mentioned above, scientists know very well that atmospheric carbon
dioxide is increasing very significantly!
We know with certainty that the burning of fossil flue (the burning
of coal, oil, and natural gas) is causing significantly damages as
well to the earth biosphere.
Humanity, today is witnessing tremendous environmental destruction,
not due to population growth, but rather to a selfish and greedy
society, that has polluted our water, air, and land, and all under
the deceptive disguise of progress and advancement.
The Second Sign: The Ozone
One of the concerns that we have learned from scientists is the
depletion of the ozone, which increases ultra violet radiation, which
in-turns causes skin cancer.
What's interesting in this, is in the Book of Revelation it speaks of
sores breaking out on the flesh of those left behind after the
rapture.
One can't help but wonder, if, what's taking place with the ozone is
preparing us, for something that is yet to come, written in the
Prophetic Design of God?
For years we heard the talks of nuclear weapons on our evening news.
For we all know how an exchange of nuclear weapons would dramatically
decrease the blanket that protects and shields the earth and that it
would be even more dangerous, for humanity to have any exposure to
the sun.
Already we are having skin cancer and so many other problems, which
have developed, because of increased radiation.
Former President's George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore have
been speaking for years on the subject of how International
initiatives is needed to seek new solutions for ozone depletion,
global warning and acid rain.
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air has increased to over
28 % since the Industrial Revolution.
Think about it - Reports are saying, Without ozone in the atmosphere
one would need a sunscreen with a protection factor of 500, and
still, that probable would not be enough!
Now, concerning the last days, we read in Revelation 16:8, 9, and 11;
And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was
given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with
great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over
these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory…
And (they) blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and
their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
Without the ozone layer protecting us today, we would literally be
scorched!
Add to this the continual trend of global warning and the greenhouse
effect, (which we will explain briefly for those unaware) it's not
difficult to see how the above prophecy could soon be fulfilled.
Global Warming, according to Encarta Reference Encyclopaedia
2003 "increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere, oceans,
and landmasses of Earth." And that the planet has warmed (and cooled)
many times during the 4.65 billion years of its history.
At present Earth appears to be facing a rapid warming, which most
scientists believe results, at least in part, from human activities.
The chief cause of this warming is thought to be the burning of
fossil fuels, which releases into the atmosphere carbon dioxide and
other substances known as greenhouse gases.
As the atmosphere becomes richer in these gases, it becomes a better
insulator, retaining more of the heat provided to the planet by the
Sun."
The Greenhouse Effect is explained, according to Encarta Reference
Encyclopaedia 2003, as "the energy that lights and warms Earth comes
from the Sun." Most of the energy that floods onto our planet is
short-wave radiation, including visible light.
When this energy strikes the surface of Earth, the energy changes
from light to heat and warms Earth. Earth's surface, in turn,
releases some of this heat as long-wave infrared radiation," and this
energy is released back into the atmosphere.
If I understand this correctly, this heat transfer is creating an
equilibrium, an energy balance, where stability is attained. Other
words; This "balancing act" of nature, between the total amount of
heat that reaches the Earth from the Sun and the amount of heat that
the Earth radiates out into space, is important, to maintain a
climate that can support a wide variety of life - especially US!
Third Sign: The Weather
One of the things that concern's people today is the erratic changes
that are taking place in our weather.
Almost every day when we turn on our television or read a newspaper
we find that something is taking place in the world, where a great
catastrophe is or has occurred, mostly due to the weather. Be it
hurricanes, tornado, flooding, landslides, fires and etc.
All one has to do is read their Bible and see that these things are
exactly the types of things that Jesus spoke about! For they are
the "warning" signs, which would indicate that the time of Jesus
return was approaching. Now, there are several prophetic references
given in the scriptures which tells us of an increase in chaotic
weather conditions in the last days.
Take for an example the recordings of Mark 13:19, where Jesus says;
For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the
beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither
shall be.
Then we have the words of Apostle Paul who writes how the "whole
creation" groans and labors with birth pangs, eagerly waiting the day
of redemption.
See my web page at http://www.wings-of-an-eagle3.com/
In Romans 8:22 Paul says; For we know that the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
In this we see that just as a woman's labors pangs "Increase"
in "Frequency" and "Strength" as the time of delivery approaches. So
to, does the Bible tell us that Creation will groan and labor with
Increase Frequency, and Strength.
Since the 19th and into the 21st Century, we have been witnessing a
remarkable litany of highest floods, longest droughts, most severe
wild fires, and worst heat waves ever recorded.
Research shows that since the 1980's, hurricanes have struck various
areas with alarming frequency, and with the most recent Tsunami and
hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the recent earthquake in Pakistan,
We can't help but ask - Is this sending the world warnings?
The Fourth Sign: Famine and Pestilence
Among the many prophecies that Jesus gave as the "signs" of earth's
conditions, before his return was also famine and pestilence. In
Matthew 24:7 we read… and there shall be famines, and pestilences,
and earthquakes, in divers places. We've already seen the increase of
earthquakes.
According to Encarta Reference Encyclopedia 2003 concerning
famine. "It is estimated that each year between 5 and 20 million
people die of starvation…"
And as far as pestilence (which is defined as something breading
infectious diseases.) Three of which everyone is aware - AIDS, West
Nile, and the most recent one the Bird Flu.
AIDS is an amazing virus that has struck in our time.
However, medical scientists are concerned, about viruses in general
and how they are gaining immunity to antibiotics. With viruses
gaining immunity to antibiotics, we could be hit with a virus that
would make the Bluebonnet Plague be like a walk in the park.
According to Encarta Reference Encyclopedia 2003, "more than one
million U. S. residents and as many as 21 million people in other
countries have been infected with the AIDS virus."
According to reports, there have been at least 12 new life-
threatening viruses to emerge since the middle of the 1990's. We have
viruses and infections that have hit Africa and other places, that
the medical doctors don't know what to do! And its not a matter of
becoming immune to the antibiotics, the antibiotics have no effect on
the diseases whatsoever!
So there is great concern for the Church to reach as many as possible
with the gospel, no matter what the cost may be. Because we are
living in an age, that is exactly as Jesus foretold.
We have been hearing of the tremendous famine that's been hitting
different parts of the world, along with the many viruses we have not
found the cure or antibiotics for!
These are all "Signs" of the approaching return of Jesus Christ!
We have just touched bases on some of things happening in our world.
Events and happenings, that in themselves is pointing to and
signaling the soon coming of Jesus to gather up his Church, out of
the world, before the earthly condition we have touched on, is
released, on the world, on a much larger scale.
We have seen the devastating effects of the environment, earthquakes,
famine, pestilence, the depletion of the ozone, is having on the
world.
Some would say it's easy to predict these things!
However, I ask - can you possibility explain the "Increase"
the "Frequency" or the "Repetitiveness" of these things worldwide?
It's as if the earth is being prepared for something greater!
The Fifth Sign: Technology
How could possible 4 thousand years ago a Prophet record so
implicitly the technology that is taking place worldwide today, when
it didn't exist back then?
Among the prophecies of Daniel's concerning the last days, (and the
angel does specify) the "last days.) He speaks of people moving about
to and fro, and how knowledge would increase.
In Daniel 12:4 we read; But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and
seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and
fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
In the morning, afternoon or evening, most of us get in some type of
vehicle of transportation and head off down the roads, highways or
interstates for some reason or another. But, never realizing the
vehicle someone or we sticks a key in to crank was prophesied, many
years ago by an angelic messenger, in, the increment of knowledge.
For the increasing of knowledge, is the vehicle by which came the
arrival of Technology.
The television or radio we watch or listen to daily was prophesied,
in the increasing of knowledge! The Planes we see continuously moving
across the skies was prophesied, in the increasing of knowledge! The
computer and software I am using this very moment or the one you are
using to read this, was prophesied, in the increasing of knowledge!
Most of us can remember back or read about a time when it wasn't like
this!
Think about it? In some form or another, millions of people are
moving about to and fro, because of the increase of knowledge. which
gave birth to technology.
And through the technology of the computer, look at the vast
explosion of knowledge on the Internet!
Most of the information I obtained for this study was researched
through the use of the Internet. Just, an example of how knowledge
though the Internet is, beyond what anyone could ever imagine!
Today this increase of knowledge is exactly as the Bible foretold.
According to the angel to Daniel, whose words were recorded some 25
hundred years ago, where we would see a time when people would
literally travel around the world, and knowledge would increase.
It is interesting to look back in time, to the life of Abraham or
David in ancient times, when communication consisted of some form of
hand written message. When humanity traveled at the speed of donkey,
horseback, camel, elephant or boat, and when humanity clothed oneself
with a livestock and an agronomy economy.
But then, we can look back to the time of George Washington, not so
long ago.
We communicated through? Some form of hand written message. We
traveled? At the speed of donkey, horseback, boat, and etc. And we
still clothed ourselves with? Livestock and an agronomy economy.
But here we are in a short period of time, where we communicate via
satellite, at the speed of light, travel at the speed of sound, and
create the very atoms and molecules that we desire for synthetic
fabric.
It's incredible to sit back and think about how the speed of
knowledge and technology has indeed enriched our culture, from a
knowledgeable and technological point of view.
Technologically, we have come so far in our advances in such as short
period of time, that to some, it's impossibility not to see us going
even further, even, if it does cause some form of set back!
Science has even told us that in general human knowledge, we already
know about 50 times more, the knowledge, that we knew, just a Century
ago.
Right now the Worlds Community is a Global Community - Its nothing
now to call or communicate from one side of the world to the other,
in a matter of seconds. Just a 100 years ago, you were not able to do
this. But, it's nothing today, to get on a computer, and communicate
to someone on the other side of the world.
And through the advancement and the increasing of knowledge and
technology, today, we see less and less of Money, being carried
around. Everything mostly, is credit card, debit card, where buying,
selling, and even banking, is a large part conducted online. Some or
even looking forward to a time when cash will be no more.
As we watch the explosion of Technology and Knowledge as well as the
Transportation, and Communication Revolution, so many never realizes,
it's the Fulfilling of Prophecy, and a Sign to the approaching coming
of Jesus, and the end of time. Recorded by Daniel, announced by the
Angelic Messenger Gabriel, from God?
When one looks at the over-all picture of the advancement of
Knowledge and Technology, humanity, is destroying this planet called
earth - it's humanity, it's air, its land, its animal life, its sea,
and all the life within it - All in the name of Progress and
Advancement.
Now this isn't saying that the advancement of knowledge and
technology is bad. However, one must also look at it another way!
What God means for the good, Satan manipulates for the bad.
When we look at the overall damages being done to the earth, with all
of humanities misuse of this advancement of knowledge and technology.
We can see Satan's footprint's of manipulations, through humanities,
ignorance and greed, destroying the world, and playing right in to
the hand of Satan, as seen throughout the Book of Revelation.
In reality, God has the world under his control! Always has and
always will!
But, he never control anyone. That's why he created the
first man and woman, with the ability to have spontaneous
relationship with him, and with the ability to act independently of
his will!
It was because of Love and Through Love, he wanted man to rely on
him, which they did, and he provide for them, all in the name of
Love.
However, Satan appears on the scene, with jealousy, because earthy
dominion or ruler-ship over the earth was granted to man (who was
God's representative of himself on earth) instead of him. It was
through deception, he sat out to obtain this dominion for himself, to
sat himself up as ruler.
With God knowing what Satan would do, he before hand gave man a law,
a law to provide for man a way, to continue in the fellowship and
relationship he had with God.
However, when Adam violated God's law (not Eve) he severed the
fellowship and relationship he had with God, through disobedience,
and in-turn, introduced sin and disobedience into the human race, and
forfeited his earthy dominion, handing it, title deed, over to Satan.
Which, in-turn sat Satan up as ruler and god of this world that the
Apostle Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 4:4. Here we read; In whom
the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them.
Satan is and has been the god of this world ever since mans fall from
God's grace! This Jesus himself did not deny in Matthew 4:8-10, in
his three temptations from Satan, a.k.a., the Devil.
Here we read; Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the
glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee,
if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
All Jesus said to him was; Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written,
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
With Satan as god of the world, he wants to control the world,
everyone and everything thing in it. However, even amidst his own
foolish thinking, he knows, whose really in control! And therefore,
the Spiritual Warfare humanity is engaged in!
With this, one can't help but wonder, with destruction that is taking
place in the world, if the advancement of knowledge, and technology,
is all God's doings?
For Satan was an anointed cherub call Lucifer, who was created "Full
of Wisdom" and "Perfect in Beauty" according to the prophet Ezekiel.
In Ezekiel 28:12 we read… Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the
king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou
sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Any of us familiar with Bible study knows the king of Tyrus was the
unseen force, working behind the scene (on a spiritual level) in the
life of the prince of Tyrus, and was none other than Satan, himself,
aka, Lucifer!
Satan as Lucifer, fell from God's grace, because of sin, and the
result Ezekiel tells us in verse 17… Thine heart was lifted up
because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of
thy brightness:
Satan corrupted his wisdom, by simple forgetting, he was a created
being, and it was God, who created him!
Now, even though Satan corrupted his wisdom, he still possesses
the "fullness of wisdom" he was created with! This you must never
forget!
Satan is not dumb! He's not dense! He is not ignorant! He is the most
intelligent being God ever created "Full of Wisdom."
So, with all the advancement of knowledge and technology, one can't
help but question - Is all of it God's doings, or does Satan have a
hand in it as well? These are two questions, we will never find the
answer for on this side of eternity.
What we do know is what God does that is good, Satan deceives and
manipulates for the bad, Where the same is holding true for the
advancement of knowledge, and technology.
God uses the advancement of knowledge and technology to reach the
lost world with the Gospel of Jesus.
However, Satan uses it for destruction, just as Jesus tells us in
John 10:10, where we read; The thief cometh not, but for to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and
that they might have it more abundantly.
I believe, the advancement of knowledge and technology, Satan is
using and manipulating, to achieve (his foolish thought) his goal of
controlling the world, and having the world under his power of
authority, that we read so much about in the Book of Revelation.
In the Book of Revelation 13:16-17 we read; 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:
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.
How will Satan accomplish his goal of controlling the world, and
having the world under his power of authority? The answer is simple
when you think about it! It's through the advancement of knowledge,
in technology.
Here, we are being told, it will not be through money, but an assign
mark, called the mark of the beast, on the right hand or the forehead
of a person.
At the time this prophecy was given, man had no imagination, of how
Satan would accomplish this!
But, today, through modern technology, not only do we see this as a
potential, but, the "conditioning" for it, is happening right before
our very eyes today!
It's interesting here for me to note that, in our day, there is a
technology, that any world dictator of the past would have dreamed of
having in reach of their hands.
And that is the electronic abilities, but which one could control all
commerce, within a nation, or possible, the whole world, by a "cash-
less' transaction, with barcodes, implantable chips, and the such.
Were already hearing and reading about how people can have a silicone
chip implanted in the flesh of their pets to identify them if they
are every lost or stolen.
All of these things that are happening technologically, fall right
into the what the Bible tells us will take place, in the last days,
where no man, woman, or child, will be able to buy or sell, unless
they have a certain mark!
Is it possible that an identification chip implanted in the flesh, be
the means that is used for and by Satan, to accomplish world control?
There are many signs that the Bible tells us of, that truly
identifies, our generation, as the first one, that one could say, is
in the last of the last days, and God's time clock on humanity, as a
whole, is ticking down!
We have already seen how the Bible tells us, in the last days, how a
man will arise, who will control the world.
Now, anyone knows to do this, one much have a lot of technology to
accomplish this, and part of what he controls is all banking and
commerce! No body could have done this, in the past. But, someone is
coming and he's gonna control the world, and the technology to do
this, is here today!
The Sixth Sign: Communication Technology
In Matthew 24:14 Jesus says; And this gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
shall the end come.
When we consider that over two thousands years ago, many nations,
including the North and South America, were not yet discovered. In
this, it is remarkable, that Jesus made such a declaration.
But, only since the 1980's have the fulfillment of this prophecy been
possible, through the deployment of global communication satellites,
and other communication technology, the gospel is indeed now being
preached to every nation.
There are several things we come upon in the Book of Revelation, that
is interesting, and we need to take note of. The first is recorded in
Revelation 14:6, where John says; And I saw another angel fly in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them
that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people,
Here we have John seeing an angel flying through the heavens, having
the everlasting gospel, and he's proclaiming this gospel to the
entire world.
Now, it not so far fetched, to look at the communication satellite
networks, that we have established, for worldwide communication, and
realizes, that, we can now communicate worldwide, via these
satellites, in the heavens above.
Where, just as a man who control the world, could govern the
activities of the world, so to is the technology in place, where the
gospel to, could be preached to the entire world, during the
tribulation period.
The second interesting note is recorded in Revelation 11:3-9 we read;
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy
a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
In Revelation 11:3-9, this section of scripture we have two of God's
witnesses, during tribulation. We read here, how they will be killed
and their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem on display, for
the people to rejoice over, for three and a half days, and how the
entire world will be able to see them.
In verse 9-10 we read; And they of the people and kindreds and
tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an
half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make
merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two
prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
The viewing of their body's by the entire world would have been
impossible in past generations.
However, because of the worldwide communication systems we have
today, through satellites, where one could be sitting in their living
room, watching television, and see some event like this, as its
taking place in Jerusalem.
The bottom-line here? In the past, the fulfillment of this prophecy,
would have been farfetched! But today, it's a practical reality!
In the Bible, we have so many prophecies, concerning the last days,
that no body could have dream of ever happening in the past. But
today, because of the advancement of knowledge, and technology, we
can now, in our generation, see, how they could be fulfilled or
brought to pass.
In Revelation 13:15 we read; And he had power to give life unto the
image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak,
and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast
should be killed.
Here in Revelations Chapter 13, we are reading about the false
prophet, the second man, the assistant to the Antichrist, who backs
the Antichrist, and who performs miracles and such. It's interesting
here to note that one of the things he does is he sets up an image of
the beast (antichrist) and he makes this image walk and talk.
Looking back a hundred years ago, you couldn't dream of this
happening!
But, today, in the advancement of knowledge and technology, we can
see it happening, before our very eyes.
Today, we have a whole body of science, in the field of Robotics that
is developing so rapidly. It is this generation that is witnessing
the birth or the giving life, to human-like robotics.
We can see it in the toys we now buy for our children, that act, and
speak, just like a human being.
And, Hollywood, in a way, has been paving a way, for our acceptance,
in human-like machines, through the movies, in shows like the Million-
Dollar man, and Ro-cop, and etc.
But let's not stop there! One of the biggest that's has hit world
news and reporting for years has been Genetic Engineering and
Cloning, successfully!
According to Encarta Reference Encyclopedia 2003, On March 7, 1996,
the periodical Nature carried an account of the cloning of a sheep by
the use of a new technique, at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh.
A year later the same periodical had the story of the one successful
live birth resulting from the experiment (29 births had been
attempted), of a lamb now six months old, known as Dolly.
The birth of Dolly, without a father, from the extraction of a cell
from an adult female sheep, caused a great sensation in the media.
Also, on February 23, 1997, according to Encarta Reference
Encyclopedia 2003, it was announced; by a team of Scottish scientists
led by Ian Wilmut, raised a number of ethical issues. The cloned
mammal, a sheep named Dolly, seemed to open the theoretical
possibility that human beings could also be cloned.
So, we can see today, that the technology is in existence, and that
our society, is being condition, to or for the possible worshipping
of a human-like image.
The Seventh Sign: Nuclear Weapons
Looking back to Matthew 24:21,22, where on the Mount of Olives, Jesus
gave his disciples a confidential briefing, and in this briefing, he
pointed out… For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be
saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
It's interesting to make note, that the technology to make good this
prophecy did not exist, until our day and time. If we take from the
time of the Roman Empire, and up to the time of the Civil War, for
example, the technology to wipeout the entire world, was not a
realistic projection.
But, today, we have the technology! For, our advancement of knowledge
and technology, has indeed, caught up with these prophecies.
Every political leader on planet earth, makes his decision under the
cloud, of the possibility, of setting off a global nuclear war, that
could indeed, destroy all flesh!
When we read the prophecies of Zechariah 14:12, in the Old Testament,
we can't help but take into consideration, he is speaking of a
nuclear fall-out, or war! Their flesh shall consume away while they
stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their
holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. This is
exactly what nuclear weapons do!
We continually hear concerning the need and the talk of settling
peace, in the Middle East! But there's not peace. It's all for the
purpose of gaining territory inside Israel, to destroy Israel.
When Yasri Arafat was here, he spoke of peace in one breath, and
waged war against Israel, in another, behind closed doors.
Satan's final conclusion, for Israel, is to wipe them out! It was
seen in the days of Hitler, and is still being heard and read about
in the news today.
But, Israel is not a nation that will go down without using their
ultimate weapon, their nuclear weapons! They have nuclear weapons and
we all know it, and they will use them!
For me, I personally believe a nuclear exchange will take place in
the Middle East, and the nations as a whole, including the US, will
be pulled in!
Even NATO, believes for certainty, a nuclear exchange will take place
in the Middle East, it's just a matter of time!
The Eighth Sign: False Prophet, Preacher, Teachers.
In Matthew 24:4-5, Jesus says concerning the last days; Take heed
that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am
Christ; and shall deceive many.
This has been happening around the world, and even in our time, and
in various nations, including the USA, where religious or spiritual
leaders are proclaiming, that they are Christ, and are deceiving
many.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_messiah for a list of Messiah
Claimants from all religions.
However, we all remember back to 1978, and Jim Jones, who claimed to
be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
Where the mass suicide, by members of the People's Temple, in
Jonestown, Guyana. Who, on the orders of their leader, more than 900
followers of the cult, mostly Americans, took poison and died.
In the US, we had David Koresh of the Branch Davidians, of Waco
Texas, who claimed to be God, where, in 1993 a confrontation between
U.S. government agents, resulted in the death of more than 80
Davidians, including about 20 children. Four federal agents also
died.
In 1994, 53 members of the International Chivalric Order Solar
Tradition (commonly called the Solar Temple) died in suicides and
murders at two villages in Switzerland and at a site near Montréal,
Québec, Canada. The Solar Temple members believed their deaths would
result in the transit of their spirits to another planet. More
members of this cult died of suicide or murder from 1995 to 1997.
In 1997, where we had the largest mass suicide in the United States
occurred when 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult killed themselves
in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Members of the cult believed that through suicide their souls would
leave their bodily containers and would travel to a higher realm.
Part of their faith stemmed from a belief in UFOs. They believed a
UFO spaceship hidden behind the comet Hale-Bopp, which was then
approaching Earth, would transport their souls.
Then we have Louis Faracon, who in his own words claim to be the
modern day Messiah.
In Matthew 24:24, Jesus says; For there shall arise false Christ's,
and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch
that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
These are just an example, and the list goes on and on. However, the
major movement, that's been sweeping the earth is the New Age
Movement.
According to Encarta Reference Encyclopedia 2003, the New Age
Movement is; a utopian vision, an era of harmony and progress.
Comprising individuals, activist groups, businesses, professional
groups, and spiritual leaders and followers, the movement brought
feminist, ecological, spiritual, and human-potential concerns into
the mainstream in the 1980s and 1990s.
Creating a large market in the United States and other countries for
books, magazines, audio- and videotapes, workshops, retreats, and
expositions on the subject, as well as for natural foods, crystals,
and meditation and healing aids.
Often seen as resurgent paganism or Gnosticism, the modern movement
has more recent roots in 19th-century spiritualism and in the 1960s
counterculture, which rejected materialism in favor of Eastern
mysticism and preferred direct spiritual experience to organized
religion.
Techniques for self-improvement and the idea that the individual is
responsible for and capable of everything from self-healing to
creating the world, have found applications in health care and
counseling as well as in sports, the armed forces, and corporations
and have provoked debate in religious and other circles.
Holistic thinking has influenced attitudes about medicine, the
environment, the family, work, regional planning, and world peace,
among others.
Ideas frequently associated with the New Age movement include
anthroposophical teachings, inner transformation, reincarnation,
extraterrestrial life, biofeedback, chanting, alchemy, yoga,
transpersonal psychology, shamanism, martial arts, the occult,
astrology, psychic healing, extrasensory perception, divination,
astral travel, acupuncture, massage, tarot, Zen, mythology, and
visualization.
Jesus said in John 14:6; I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
What we are seeing in our generation, and over the past 50 decades,
is the majority of society, are interested in and following after the
metaphysical, mystic and cultic, dimension, at an alarm rate.
But, it is something that has been happening in every nation around
the world.
Today, the concept is that God is everything!
Because people have embraced this eastern metaphysical worldview,
and, in so doings, they are turning to Yoga, Meditation, Out of Body
Experiences, belief in Crystal Consciousness and etc.
Spiritualism which was at one time consider pagan in the past, but,
are being embraced today as the New Spirituality, and is literally
being embraced around the world.
In 1 Timothy 4:1, Brother Paul writes; Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing (or deceiving) spirits, and doctrines of
devils;
Many years ago, while, searching for the truth in spiritualism, I got
involved with a girl, that introduced me into altered state of
consciousness. There are many ways to reach an alter-state of
consciousness. There are drugs, psychedelics, practicing yoga,
hypnosis and etc.
With me, I jump into metaphysical spiritualism with both feet! Went
as far as past life regression, through, hypnosis. And found myself
as small boy in back of a wagon, fleeing across the landscape, with
others around me, from warriors and servants of a wicked king, in
Ireland.
In this vision of my past life, I even saw a vision of this king from
neck down, and the type of clothing he was wearing. I then started
researching this vision, at Oxford book store, and found the things I
saw in the vision was correct and true, in every detail, even down to
the color and type of garments the king was wearing.
With my ancestry being from Ireland, I swallowed this deception for a
time, hook, line and sinker! Looking more into hypnosis, and then
reincarnation.
And in so doings, forgetting my Biblical teachings and up-bringing,
concerning spiritual intellectual beings, the fallen angles, along
with their leader Lucifer, that's been roaming the earth, before the
fall of man.
When we see the word's devils, demons, wicked and evil spirits in the
Bible, we often think of them as hideous looking creatures, thanks to
Hollywood, and others. Never realizing these are words and terms,
that is used, Biblically, to identify, their nature, characteristic,
and attributes, not their appearance!
For they are fallen angelic beings. Who possess the ability to
manipulate the mind, the thinking and thought process of mankind, and
the ability, to possess humans, as we read so much about in the four
gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, as well as the book of Acts)
that the Jesus himself, encountered, and dealt with.
These, are spiritual intellectual beings, of whom it would be
nothing, for them, to reveal the life, and events of someone from the
past, creating an illusion, that we are that individual in another
life, for the simple purpose of leading someone astray from the
truth, we have in Jesus!
For as I continued in this, newly found form, of spiritualism, I was
unaware that the Lord was leading me into a deeper understanding of
the meanings and truth, about these vision.
Because I come to realize, that in a normal state of consciousness,
the human spirit, the spirit of man, operates the human brain.
However, in an alter state of consciousness, you've released or
loosen that connection, where as, allowing these seducing or
deceiving spirits, the fallen angels, to impose themselves, setting
off the neurons in the brain, creating a world of believable,
illusions. It's as simple as that!
Whereby the results is as the Apostle Paul tells us… giving heed to
seducing or deceiving spirits, and believing and following, the
teachings or doctrine of these fallen angels.
Even a close follower of Jesus, (the Apostle) Peter, thinking, was
influenced by another form of Satanic power of influence.
In Matthew 16:20-21 we read; Then charged he (Jesus) his disciples
that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that
he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and
chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the
third day.
But then in verse 22 we read; Then Peter took him, and began to
rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto
thee.
In verse 23 we see Jesus, response to Peter… But he (Jesus) turned,
and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence
unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those
that be of men.
Now, we all know that Jesus wasn't calling Peter Satan! So, what was
Jesus doing? He was addressing the one who had the ability and did,
manipulate the thinking process of Peter! Satan!
This type of satanic activity, has been taking place down through the
years, right before our very eyes, by some, who committee's some
hideous, shocking, and terrifying act, or brutal murder, because they
heard voices, or the voices was controlling them, or the voices was
telling them to do it!
Satanic activity of this nature is written off, by mental illness, or
mentally insane!
One of the biggest things, which, been happening, for years and in
our generation of today, is channeling. The communicating with spirit
beings! Channeling has been introduced into the medical and business
communities as well.
Must we be reminded what God Word says? In Deuteronomy 18:9-11. Here
we read; When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God
giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of
those nations.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his
daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an
observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a
consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
The Apostle Paul tells us how some in the Christian church, and in
the name of Christianity, would be involved in this form of
deception… Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith…
Paul is talking here about many people that would be lead astray from
the gospel, through spiritualism, and this is what we see taking
place today.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Paul writes concerning the last days. Here we
read - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall
come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such
turn away.
One of the greatest deceptions taking place in our time, has and is
happening in the name of Christianity, as people are embracing a form
of Christianity, through extra Biblical experiences, as signs and
evidence of salvation, including solutions as, healing waters,
healing oils, prayer cloths, prayer beads, and etc.
This list to goes on and on! But are used to show we are living in
the last, of the last days. Because, a form of godliness and
spiritualism, has been sweeping this nation for years.
Just as the Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, where we
read - But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion
from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be
found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works.
Today our world is filled with satanic activity, existing under the
cloak and disguise of Christianity!
What we are seeing in all these movements, is the Lies that man will
believe, once they have rejected the truth!
The words of Christ are being fulfilled right before our very eyes!
They are the signs showing we are living in, the last, of the last
days, according to Jesus!
But, let not stop there, for we have seen the rise of satanic cults,
and activity, which have also, infiltrated the music industry as
well.
Like the Rock group Kiss - Knights in Satan Service, and others,
where it has and is invading the cultures of our youth, and our youth
doing such hideous and horrible things! Because they are being
influenced, and drawn into seducing and deceiving spirits, satanic
influences, activities and the such, unaware!
One, who influenced the Rock music culture in the last 60's and early
70's, was Anton Szandor LaVey, Founder and High Priest, of the Church
of Satan, as well as a writer, occultist, musician, and actor.
He was the main star of Rosemary's Baby. Among his writing's was the
Satanic Bible, and the founder of Satanism, in the US.
LaVey began presenting Friday night lectures on the occult to what he
called a "Magic Circle" of associates who shared his interests,
several of whom was from the Rock music culture. Where later sexual
activities, was permitted as well.
Some attending his services was the killer Charles Manson and the
unknown, at the time, Marilyn Manson.
LaVey emphasized the need for a religion, which worshipped the
individual as a carnal beast with desires that needed to be
fulfilled.
This is a large part of what Rock music is, and have been all about.
LeVey who stated in a live interview, that "all religions are coming
around to Satanism, and we are at the throbs of a new satanic age,
the evidence is all around us, all the need to do is look at it."
LeVey, who viewed "Satan" not as a literal deity or entity, but as an
historic and literary figure symbolic of Earthly values.
There has been, and still is, this fascination for the occult,
because, they do not have, the truth of God in their hearts! They as
well as the church, are looking for something, they can see, feel and
experience!
Since the founding of this nation alone, in the process of time, we
have been witnessing, a rise and increase of, Fortune Telling,
Hypnotism, Magicians, Dungeons & Dragons, Ouija Board, Tarot Cards,
Astrology, Witchcraft, and the list goes on and on!
This Nation as a whole has been sinking, further, and further, away
from God Consciousness, because of the acceptance, and influences, of
Satan, that has invaded, society,
And, in so doings has allowed, the decrease of morals and ethical
values, where, a lot, can also be attributed to parental up-brings.
We as adults to our children, have tendency to say one thing, but
live another. We tell are children one things, but in our life, we
show them another! It's the old saying, "Do as I say, not as I do."
Looking back to 2 Timothy 3:1, the Apostle plainly tells us,
concerning the last days; This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come.
What are these Perilous Times, Paul is speaking of?
In verses 3-5, he continues - For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, (meaning lovers of money) boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection (meaning unloving) trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such
turn away.
All these things listed here are showing a moral decline, in the
world, as a whole. Paul said, that in the last days… is this not an
indication, by the decline of the morals of this nation alone, that
we are indeed, living in the last days?
This nation alone has been witnessing the increase, and acceptance,
of pornography, and abortion. But, its been occurring worldwide! We
as a generation are indeed a world of lovers of pleasure, as we give
lip service to God!
One area, is the continual increase of child prostitution!
According to World Watch in August 1995, in India, its been reported
400,000 children, was being prostituted, in Brazil 450,000 and in
Thailand, 800,000 and the numbers have been continuing to increase!
On December 16, 2005 according to CBS News web site, titled Crackdown
On Child Prostitution, 19 people was arrest and charged and more than
30 across several states, in a coordinated crackdowns against child
prostitution in the United States.
Charges have been filed in recent days in Florida, Michigan, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, and others are expected, according to a law
enforcement official that spoke on condition of anonymity because he
was not authorized to talk about the topic before Gonzales'
announcement.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Assistant Director Chris
Swecker announced the recent arrests a news conference in Washington
today, saying that the operation has identified more than 30 child
victims, bringing the overall total identified to more than 200 since
2003.
Also, list in the same report; A grand jury in Camden, New Jersey,
indicted eight people Wednesday on charges they conspired to recruit
girls to be prostitutes in Atlantic City, Las Vegas and New York,
according to court documents. The defendants managed a prostitution
ring that also extended to Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, the indictment said.
Matthew Thompkins and five others were arrested Sunday and are in
custody in New Jersey, the official said. Thompkins had a central
role in the conspiracy, the indictment said.
In Detroit, a grand jury charged four Ohio residents with forcing two
girls, 14 and 15, to have sex at a truck stop in Michigan. The girls
had been held as virtual prisoners in Toledo, Ohio, where they were
told to address one defendant, Deric Willoughby, as "Daddy," and
taken to hotel rooms for prostitution. Their payments were eventually
turned over to Willoughby, the indictment said.
Two other defendants, Jennifer Huskey and Brandy Shope, are adults
who also worked as prostitutes, the indictment says.
A fourth person, Richard Lamar Gordon, is identified in the
indictment as a truck driver who took the girls from a parking lot in
the Toledo area to the Michigan truck stop and had sex with one of
them. He has not been arrested, the official said.
In most child prostitution case, they are under the age of 16! Or,
consider the fact, that the legalization of abortion, became
widespread in the 60's, and according to Planned Parenthood, and
their web-site, today tells us, an estimated 80 million women have
unintended or unwanted pregnancies each year. Of those, 45 million
end in abortion.
Other words; This generation is killing 100,000 thousand babies and
more every single day! Certainly, we are as Brother Paul says…
Without natural affection, an unloving generation.
In Matthew 24:37-38, Jesus givens more warnings to the sign of his
coming and the end of the world saying;
But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the
Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe
entered into the ark
Back in the days of Noah, before the flood it was a time that the
earth was filled with corruption, and with violence. In Genesis 6:11
we read; The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was
filled with violence.
Today, as we listen the news, we here of the crimes that is taking
place on a daily bases. One can't help but see that Jesus prophecy of
earth's condition, a picture of the days of Noah, is also being
fulfilled, right before our very eyes.
One of the things that almost every one is seeing today, is the
violence, the terror, terrorism, child molestation, the rapes,
teachers having sex with students, and the over-all immorality that
is taking place in our society, and around the world.
That also includes Political Leaders, Spiritual Leaders, Teachers,
Child-care workers, and etc.
As the spirit of man cries out, consciously and subconsciously, what
is happening in the world?
In Romans 1:21-32, the Apostle Paul referring to the children of
Israel, in Old Testament times, reveals to us, something humanity and
this nation, needs to take to heart.
In verse 21, we see they knew God, but gave him no glory, neither
were they thankful, for the things he had done for him. They changed
the glory of God, like many in the world are doing today, and started
worshipping, idols images, and thinking within themselves, that the
were wise, but in reality, they were foolish!
Wherefore, we read how God gave them up! He gave them up to…
uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their
own bodies between themselves: For they, in their foolish thinking
was worshipping the Creature, i.e. Satan, instead of God!
Because of whom they were worshipping, Satan in their foolishness,
and ignorance. We read in verse 26, God gave them up to… vile
affections:
Because they were involved in Lesbianism, and
Homosexuality, Lust to its fullness! Lesbianism: Verse 26… for even
their women did change the natural use into that which is against
nature:
Homosexuality: Verse 27… And likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another;
men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Then in verse 28, because they didn't like to keep God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a to a reprobate mind… And even as
they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them
over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient;
It's the same old concept of today! Out of sight, out of mind! Paul
said, God gave the up, up and then over, to a reprobate mind!
A reprobate mind is one having no morals or ethical values!
What is it Paul saying here?
Paul is telling us, that, when mankind rejects God, our creator, we
can expect to see ourselves headed down a pathway, to evil and
wickedness, in society. When there is no God consciousness, there are
no morals, or ethical values, and mankind makes up his own rules.
Through the signs that Jesus gave concerning the end of time, he ends
them saying… these are the beginnings of sorrows.
The wars, rumor of wars, the earthquakes, the pestilence, and the
famines, are just the "beginnings" of the events that is to come,
(sorrows.)
For they are written, in the inevitable and inescapable pages of
time, in the Prophetic Design of God.
Now, what I would like to do is direct your attention to the original
use of the word sorrow. For I believe it will give great insight on
the events going on in and around us, in the world. Jesus said that
all these thing are "the beginning of sorrows."
The original word for sorrow used here is "odin" pronounced as o-
deen' and means "pang" or "throe" defining, a sudden, a sharp, a
severe, spasm of pain, as experienced in childbirth.
These sorrows that Jesus is speaking of here, is what I refer to
as "Earth's" birth pangs.
That takes it's toll on the entire Earth, as a whole; the Just and
the Unjust, the Righteous and Unrighteous, seen, as Jesus said they
would "in divers places." i.e. different or various locations. Earth
birth pangs are pictured as a woman's increasing labor pains before
childbirth.
The Bible in various places of scriptures uses words like travail or
travailing, for tribulations and agony, and is pictured as a woman's
agony of labor pains!
Showing us, just, as a woman's labor pain intensifies, in frequency,
and strength, with each contraction "earth's sorrows" being, more
sharp, more severe, than the one before, until, finally, deliverance.
So to shall the troubles, the tribulations, the sorrows, of this
World be.
These "contractions" earth's birth pangs, is something we see daily
on a worldwide scale through our Local news stations as well as
worldwide broadcast stations like Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and Headline
News!
In Matthew 24:12, Jesus says; "And because iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold."
Now the original word for iniquity is "anomia" pronounced an-om-ee'ah
and means illegality, ie violation of the law.
First, the word anomia in the original, stems from a condition
of "without" law. Be it ignorance of the law, because of violating
the law, or diminishing the law. This is speaking of Civil Law.
Second, anomia, implies "contempt" and "violation" of law, resulting
in "iniquity" and "wickedness." This is speaking of the contempt and
violations of the Laws of God.
Here, Jesus was warning us, about the spirit of "lawlessness."
Because, it carries the connotation of a "liberal theology" that
teaches that the laws of God are done away with.
What we are seeing taking place in this nation, and the world for
that matter, in the increasing moral decline, is, the results of what
happens when the laws of God are pushed aside or done away with.
Once this spirit and theology of anti-law takes roots, the love of
many turns cold.
Jesus said "because iniquity "lawlessness" and "wickedness" shall
abound i.e. "increase, multiply, take deep roots" the love of many
shall wax cold.
What is the connection in the spirit of anti-law or lawlessness, and
love waxing or turning cold?
The connection of the two is seen in the physics of "cause"
and "effect." It's the cause and effect between lawlessness and God's
Love.
The original word for love used here is "Agape."
Meaning "Unconditional" a Godly love. Agape love is the kind of love
that comes from God. When someone begins to break the laws of God, in
the spirit that Christ has in mind here, the love of God, and love of
the truth will diminish in them.
Christ is warning His people throughout the ages not to fall prey to
an anti-law attitude because, first of all, it is not what God
commands in the Scriptures, and second, it will lead to a gradual
breakdown of the true Godly love that can only come from Him. For the
agape love of God does not flourish in a disobedient and lawless
people!
When God's laws are done away with, by default, sin and lawlessness
gradually takes deep roots into Society!
And a nation without God's Laws, is a nation, taken over by Satan,
and the fruits or deeds of sin. i.e. Wickedness and Lawlessness.
(Anarchy, Mob Rule, Wars.)
In Luke 17:28-29, Jesus tells us; Likewise also as it was in the days
of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they
planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it
rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even
thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
In Genesis 13:13, we read concerning the days of Lot… But the men of
Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
In the world we live in today, perversion, and sensual pleasures are
not only tolerated, but they are flaunted, displayed and paraded up
and down the nations cities and streets. In various parts of the
state's men are marring men and women with women.
And in the midst of this perversion, we to are as Jesus said the
Sodomites were, Prosperous! For they did, as we do… they did eat,
they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded and
there was a false sense of peace.
Today, our society is more prosperous than any generation before.
Yet, our lack of morals and ethical values, continues, it's downward
spiral!
Today, according to reports, our society spends over 10 billion
dollars or more on what is call adult entertainment (or call it what
it realty is) Pornography
According to US News & World Report Web-site, we read; Like it or
not, "adult entertainment" is one of America's fastest-growing
industries.
According to a recent survey by the Free Speech Coalition, a
California-based porn trade association, the sale and rental of adult
videos topped $5 billion in 1998. Overall revenues of adult-
entertainment-related goods and services--including phone sex,
novelties, strip clubs, magazines, and adult cable programming--are
estimated to exceed $10 billion today.
Compare that with the mid-1970s, when a federal study found that the
retail value of all hard-core pornography was between $5 million and
$10 million…
And, even larger revenues are being earned by companies that offer
adult films in hotels.
Last year guests spent about $175 million to view porn in their rooms
at major hotel chains such as Sheraton, Hilton, Hyatt, and Holiday
Inn.
As we sit and look out over our moral, ethical and social landscape,
we can only come to the conclusion; we are living in, the last, of
the last days, as prophesied, throughout the Bible, in both the Old
and New Testaments, and also by Jesus in 30 AD.
Do you really want to know what time it is on God's Watch? All you
have to do is look at the Nation of Israel!
Here is an entire Nation and its People, that's been prophesied and
foretold, by God, through His Prophets, and through out the Bible,
especially, the Old Testament and Revelation.
The things God said would happen to them, have, and some of it taking
place in our time, and some to take place in the future.
For Israel is one of the Key's to unlocking and understanding,
prophecy.
Now, if you're looking for evidence and proof of the Bible? Just take
a look at Jews.
Because, the Lord had told Israel, if they turn from him, he would
turn from them, and they would be disbursed, and scattered, into the
entire world.
The summary of all the warnings throughout the Old Testament were; if
they practiced the idolatry and immorality of the land's previous
inhabitants, for which He had destroyed, he would cast them out and
scatter them throughout the world.
Of the many warning we read in the Book of Leviticus Chapter 26, our
attention is directed to verse 33, where we read; And I will scatter
you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your
land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
Here is a brief history of Israel's dispersion.
Throughout the Old Testament, little by little, Israel, continued its
downward spiral, taking them further and further, away from God. Even
though God, time and time again, continued to show his love and
mercy, by forgiving them of their sin and transgression, and taking
them back into his care. But, another leader would rise, and lead
them away again.
But, God always stays true to His Words, His Promises, and His
Warnings!
After the death of King Solomon the United Tribes of Israel, in
approximately 933 BC, split into 2 Kingdoms.
In 1 King 11:30-31, we read. And Ahijah caught the new garment that
was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the
LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the
hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
(1) The Northern Kingdom of Israel -
The Assyrian Empire:
The Northern Kingdom of Israel with its Capital at Samaria, lasted
just over 200 years before they were conquered and taken away into
exile by the Assyrians, in approximately 721 BC. The Northern Kingdom
of Israel, never returned, and went down in the pages of history as
the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Those not captured by the Assyrians,
fled for their lives, into other nations and lands.
(2 The Southern Kingdom of Judah - Capital Jerusalem.
Now, with the virtual destruction of Northern Kingdom, the Southern
Kingdom was left to fend for itself in the whirlwind of warring Near
Eastern Kingdoms. At the time of Samaria's fall, there existed two
kings in Judah. One was Ahaz, and his son Hezekiah, who ruled as co-
regents.
Judah existed as a vassal to Assyria, during this time and was forced
to pay an annual tribute to the powerful empire.
In 715 BC, following the death of Ahaz, Hezekiah became the sole
regent of Judah and initiated widespread religious reforms by
smashing the idols the people had worshiped during the reign of his
father and leading the Jews toward a renewed relationship with God.
Hezekiah, then re-captured Philistine -occupied lands in the Negev
desert, formed alliances with Ashkelon and Egypt, and made a stand
against Assyria by refusing to pay tribute.
In response, Sennacherib king of Assyria, attacked the fortified
cities of Judah. While Sennacherib was besieging Lachish, he received
a message from Hezekiah offering to pay tribute in exchange for
Assyrian withdrawal.
According to the Hebrew scriptures, Hezekiah paid three hundred
talents of silver and thirty talents of gold to Assyria -a price so
heavy that he was forced to empty the temple and royal treasury of
silver and strip the gold from the doorposts of Solomon's Temple.
Now, during the early stages of the Assyrian invasion, Hezekiah met
with his military staff concerning the possibility that Jerusalem may
fall under siege. The staff immediately oversaw preparations for the
Assyrian onslaught. In an effort to deprive the enemy of water, the
Jews blocked the springs outside the city. Workers then dug a 533-
meter tunnel to the Spring of Gihon, providing the city with fresh
water. Additional siege preparations included fortification of the
existing walls, construction of towers, and the erection of a new,
reinforcing wall. Hezekiah gathered the citizens in the square and
encouraged them by reminding them that the Assyrians possessed
only "an arm of flesh", but the Jews had the protection of Yahweh.
Sennacherib marched on Jerusalem with a large army. When the Assyrian
force arrived, its field commander brought a message from Sennacherib
himself.
In an attempt to demoralize the Jews, the field commander announced
to the people on the city walls that Hezekiah was deceiving them, and
Yahweh could not deliver Jerusalem from the king of Assyria. He
listed the gods of the people thus far swept away by Sennacherib then
asked, "Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save
his land from me?"
The scripture tells us, how, Hezekiah clad himself in sackcloth out
of anguish from the "psychological warfare that the Assyrians were
waging.
However, the prophet Isaiah assured Hezekiah that the city would be
delivered and Sennacherib would be cut down with the sword. Scripture
tells us, that during the night, an angel of Yahweh brought death to
185,000 Assyrians troops.
When Sennacherib saw the destruction wreaked on his army, he withdrew
to Nineveh, and, for a time, Jerusalem was spared destruction.
The Assyrian Empire with it's capital at Nineveh, was at the height
of its power from 712 - 612 BC.
However, the might of the Babylonians and Medes, effectively put an
end to the Assyrian Empire, in 612 BC, never to arise again, from its
ashes.
The Babylonian Empire:
Now, Nabopolassar founded the Neo-Babylonian dynasty, and his son
Nebuchadnezzar II expanded the kingdom until it became an empire
embracing much of southwest Asia.
The imperial capital at Babylon was refurbished with new temple and
palace buildings, extensive fortification walls and gates, and paved
processional ways; it was at that time the largest city of the known
world.
In Daniel 7:1-4, we read; In the first year of Belshazzar king of
Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then
he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the
four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the
wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and
made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
The first beast of Daniel, which was like a lion that had eagle
wings, was the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II king of
Babylon, Seen also as the Head of Gold in Daniel 2:32 "This image's
head was of fine gold…"
Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:37-38 "Thou, O king, art a
king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom,
power, and strength, and glory.
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field
and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath
made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
In 586 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire attacked and conquered the
Southern Kingdom and sent much of the population of its southern
province of Judea (or Judah) to Babylonia in exile.
The city of Jerusalem and its Temple was laid to ruins.
However, the Israelite exiles appear to be the most direct ancestors
of the Jewish people.
During their exile the nature of the Israelites' identity changed as
they came to see themselves primarily as a religious group rather
than simply as an exiled group with a common ethnic background.
For Seventy Years the people of Judah, was in captivity, in Babylon.
Until the time of Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar II, the
second of Chaldean / Neo-Babylonian successors as king, from
approximately 550 to 539 BC. Belshazzar, who according to Daniel's
5:1-5, had a great feast, for thousand's of his lords.
Belshazzar, in a drunken stupor, commanded for the golden and silver
vessel's which his father Nebuchadnezzar II had taken out of the
temple that was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his
wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
But, the handwriting was on the wall!
Because in 550 BC, another kingdom was being molded and shaped. The
Medes / Persian Empire.
As they continued their drunken galore, and begin to praised the
Babylonian, pagans, the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of
iron, of wood, and of stone, with the Temple of Jerusalem's vessels;
In Daniel 5:5-7 we read; In the same hour came forth fingers of a
man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster
of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the
hand that wrote.
Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled
him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote
one against another.
The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and
the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of
Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the
interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a
chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the
kingdom.
But, none of the astrologers, the wise men, or guides of Babylonian
Spiritualism could interpret the writings of the mysterious hand, and
what it had wrote upon the wall.
But, the Queen, revealed to Belshazzar, there was in his kingdom,
under captivity, Daniel a man of God, in whom she said had "the
spirit of the holy gods." And spoke to the king, regarding the days
of his grandfather, and how Daniel was able to interpret his visions
and dreams.
Daniel was then brought in before the king. And the king spoke and
said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of
the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee,
and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in
thee.
And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before
me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the
interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of
the thing:
And I have heard of thee, that thou can make interpretations, and
dissolve doubts: now if thou can read the writing, and make known to
me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet,
and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler
in the kingdom.
But, Daniel wanted no part of his wealth, or possessions. "Let thy
gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read
the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation."
Daniel then begin to tell this king, about the greatness of his
grandfather, and how the most high God (not the pagan deities of
Babylon) gave Nebuchadnezzar his grandfather a kingdom, and majesty,
and glory, and honor.
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and
languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and
whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he
would he put down.
Daniel told him, how pride developed in the heart of his grandfather,
and how, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his
glory from him.
And how the "spirit of insanity" came upon him for seven years, and
how, he was driven from the sons of men. And his heart was made like
the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him
with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven.
Until he came to his senses and reality, and acknowledged, that
the "most high God" ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he
appointed it to whomsoever he will.
Then Daniel began to tell Belshazzar the error of his ways! O
Belshazzar, you have not humbled your heart, though thou knew all
this.
But you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and have
brought the vessels of "His House" before thee, and thou, thy lords,
thy wives, and thy concubines. And have drunk wine in them, and have
praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and
stone.
Deities that see not, nor hear, nor know, and have not praised the
God, in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, you
have not glorified:
The Handwriting on the Wall!
Daniel says in verses 24-28 "Then was the part of the hand sent from
him; and this writing was written." And this is the writing that was
written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy
kingdom, and finished it.
TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
That same night the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BC, by the Medes-
Persian Empire.
Now, the Persians were dominated by the Medes until the accession to
the Persian throne in 550 BC of Cyrus the Great. He overthrew the
Median rulers, conquered the kingdom of Lydia in about 546 BC and
that of Babylonia in 539 BC and established the Persian Empire as the
preeminent power of the world.
The Jews under Cyrus the Great:
Unlike the Northern Kingdom, a remnant from the once Southern Kingdom
was allowed to return and resettle Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
This came about in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. When in 586 BC,
Cyrus the Great, defeated and conquered the Babylonians.
The Persian Rule: The Medes / Persian Empire
In Daniel's vision (Daniel 8:3-4) we read concerning the coming of
the Medio / Persian Empire.
Daniel says; Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there
stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns
were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up
last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward;
so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that
could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and
became great.
Now, the "ram" of Daniel's vision is representing, the Medio /
Persian Empire.
The "two horns" is Darius the Great of the Medes, and Cyrus the
Great, the Persian. The higher horn was Cyrus the Great.
When Cyrus the Great conquered Babylonian Empire, the Persians
succeeded Neo-Babylonia as the major imperial power of the Near East.
The Persians presented themselves to their subject states as a
benevolent power concerned with maintaining peace and order
throughout their empire. The policy of Cyrus was one of religious
toleration, which allowed people to return to their homelands.
So, Cyrus allowed Sheshbazzar, a prince from the tribe of Judah, and
Zerubbabel to bring the Jews from Babylon back to Jerusalem.
Here they were allowed to return with the Temple vessels that the
Babylonians had taken, and the construction of the Second Temple
began, under the leadership of the Prophets Haggai and Zechariah,
where the Second Temple was completed.
The remnant of people, of the once Southern Kingdom became known as
the Jews.
Jew is the name derived from the patriarch Judah, first given to one
belonging to the tribe of Judah or to the separate kingdom of Judah,
recorded in 2 Kings 16:6, 25:25, Jeremiah 32:12, 38:19, 40:11 and
41:3.
The Jews fared well under Persian Rule, even through their return,
the reconstruction and rebuilding of the Temple was met by opposition
from some of the inhabitants of Palestine.
For almost a century and a half, after the prophet Nehemiah, the
Persian Empire exercised control of Judea, and the Jews were
permitted to observe their religious institutions.
Judea was ruled by High Priests who were responsible to the Persian
government, a fact which, insured the Jews a large measure of
autonomy.
However, it also made a political office out of the priesthood, and
sowed the seeds for future troubles.
For those running for office of High Priest was marked by Jealousy,
Intrigue, and even Murder, within the Temple precincts.
Which takes us to the Hellenistic Age -
Then, in approximately 331 BC, the Medio-Persian Empire, was defeated
as seen in Daniel 8:5-8, in the he goat, representing, Alexander the
Great.
And as I was considering (the ram) behold, an he goat came from the
west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and
the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram
that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and
ran unto him in the fury of his power.
And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler
against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there
was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to
the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could
deliver the ram out of his hand.
Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the
great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward
the four winds of heaven.
The Hellenization Period:
Hellenization is a term used to describe a cultural change in which
something non-Greek becomes Greek. The process can either be
voluntary, or applied with varying degrees of force.
The Empire of Alexander the Great included the Jews of Judah, the
remnant of the once Southern Kingdom.
However, it is said that he did not attack Jerusalem directly, after
a delegation of Jews met him and assured him of their loyalty by
showing him certain prophecies contained in their writings.
In approximately 323 BC, Alexander the Great died, and his kingdom
was divided and given to his four generals "the four notable horns"
of Daniel 8:8" and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and
for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
After Alexander's death, his kingdom was divided and given to his
four generals.
Out of the four, Alexander's Greek generals had carved out two main
kingdoms from his empire, the Ptolemies took Egypt and the Seleucids
Syria and the east.
The Jews of Palestine were caught up in the rivalry between the
Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms.
Palestine itself was a disputed territory, initially in the
possession of the Ptolemies before 200 BC but claimed by the
Seleucids and held by them until the Maccabaean revolution.
Under these large Greek kingdoms, Asia Minor, Egypt, the Levant,
Syria and Mesopotamia all were subject to the Hellenistic world. All
Eastern peoples, the Jews included, were a part of this
world. "Greek" ceased to be just an ethnic description and became one
of culture.
Hellenization concerned many different areas of life: language,
custom, religion, commerce, architecture, dress, government, literary
and philosophical ideals.
The Septuagint (the LXX Greek translation) of the Hebrew Scriptures
began in Alexandria, beginning the Pharisees party and other Jewish
Second Temple sects such as the Sadducees, and Essenes.
From 174 -163 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempt complete
Hellenization of Jews, and the Maccabees.
The Maccabeians Revolt: 165 - 63 BC.
Next came ancient Rome, and later the Roman Empire.
We read about the Roman Empire in the Prophecies of Daniel,
concerning four great beasts, which are the four Great Kingdoms, that
rise's out of the earth, as is recorded in Daniel 7:3-7.
The first beast was like a Lion, and was King Neduchadnezzar, of the
Neo-Babylonian Empire.
The second beast was like a Bear, and was Cyrus the Great of the Medo-
Persian Empire.
The third beast was like a Leopard, and was Alexander the Great of
the Grecia Empire, the four wings of a fowl is his Four Generals, and
the Four Heads, are the Four Nations under their control.
The fourth beast we read in Daniel 7:7 "After this I saw in the night
visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong
exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth…"
Ancient Rome was founded in and around 753 BC - 100 BC, and the first
seven kings of Rome.
It was the Brothers, Romulus and Remus who are synonymous with the
origins and founding of Rome. However, the origins of Rome are a
mixture of myth and reality, and murder.
For later in time Romulus, rose up and killed his brother, and after
that named the city "Rome" after himself, setting himself up as the
First king of Rome. Rome and the Roman Empire, was founded in Blood!
The development of Rome, continued under its first seven kings.
The Seven kings of ancient Rome were: Romulus - 753-715 BC, Numa
Pompilius - 715-673 BC, Tullus Hostilius - 673- 642 BC, Ancus
Martius - 642-617 BC, Tarquinius Priscus - 616-579 BC, Servius
Tullis - 579-535 BC, and Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquinius the Proud) -
535-509 BC.
The Growth of the Great Iron Teeth of Rome:
The seven kings of Rome left behind them an inheritance. A Legal
System, Class Structure, and Geographical division of the city into
districts. A census every five years permitted a more just taxation.
Indispensable engineering works were also undertaken.
Within a further 250 years Rome would subdue the surrounding peoples
such as the Etruscans, Samnites and Greek colonies, making herself
master of the entire Italian peninsula, warring to control the
Mediterranean sea, eliminate piracy and control international
commerce.
The Roman Republic:
The Roman conquest of Italy, the Punic wars, and Carthage on the
north coast of Africa.
Continuous war, the victories and spread of the power of Rome to all
parts of the Mediterranean had changed the character and aspirations
the people of Rome and the roman republic. With the fall of Carthage
the Mediterranean sea could be said to have become "a Roman lake" and
Roman citizens had grown a love for the finer things in life.
Tributes and taxes exacted from all parts of Roman territories
brought an enormous concentration of wealth within the roman republic
itself.
Tastes had become expensive and people increasingly aspired to the
luxuries and culture offered by the East. Art, spices and all kinds
of merchandise would be imported from the most distant lands in order
to satisfy the most exotic of tastes.
Then came - Crisis of the Republic of Ancient Rome, Sulla deposes
Marius. (Note) At this time Caesar was approximately 18 years old and
given the family ties and allegiances already mentioned you can see
how he was soon added to Sulla's lists of proscribed persons.
However he was fortunate enough that friends interceded for him and
Sulla had the young man spared saying something along the lines
of "In that boy there is many a Marius".
The wars continue, Sertorius in Spain, Spartacus and the Revolt of
the Gladiators, Cicero, Pompey and Pirates in the Mediterranean.
Cicero named hero of Rome, and then Pompey's Triumph.
The Caesar's of Rome or The Roman Empire:
Gaius Julius Caesar: 100 BC, to 44 BC, The First of Triumvirate Rule.
(Note) The full account of these feats and campaigns is included in a
book Caesar himself wrote and called his "Commentaries."
See Amazon for info - http://www.amazon.com/
The Second Triumvirate Rule:
Augustus Caesar - 63 BC- 14 AD. The First Emperor of Rome from 27 BC -
14 AD.
Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar a.k.a. Tiberius Caesar.
Now, Augustus had chosen his stepson Tiberius as his successor, the
son of his third wife Livia. Tiberius Caesar Augustus, was born
Tiberius Claudius Nero: He reigned from 14 AD - 37 AD.
The Bible tells us in Luke 3:1, that Tiberius Caesar, was the Roman
Emperor, during Jesus Ministry, here on earth, and was executed under
the authority of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea.
Pontius Pilate was governor, from 26 AD- 36 AD. In modern times he is
best known as the man who, presided over the trial of Jesus and
ordered his crucifixion.
The Jewish Struggles Continues:
The Destruction of the City of Jerusalem and it Temple in 70 AD.
The Diaspora era:
The results of the Roman response to the Jewish revolt shifted the
center of Jewish life from its ancient home to the diaspora. The
diaspora, is a scattering or sowing of seeds, and is used to refer to
any people or ethnic population forced or induced to leave their
traditional ethnic homeland.
Some Jews that remained in Judea (renamed Palestine by the Romans)
some were sold into slavery, while others became citizens of other
parts of the Roman Empire.
This is the traditional explanation to the Jewish diaspora, almost
universally accepted by past and present rabbinical or Talmudical
scholars, who believe that Jews are almost exclusively biological
descendants of the Judean exiles, a belief backed up at least
partially by DNA evidence, according to reports.
The learning of rabbis prospered in Babylonian religious academies
and found expression in commentaries on oral law and in
interpretations of the Torah. The commentaries on oral law in
Babylonia produced the Babylonian Talmud - the Hebrew and Aramaic
text that served as the basis of Judaism.
The rabbinic Judaism that had developed in Babylonia was a further
development of a form of Judaism that became dominant in Palestine,
due in large part to Roman recognition of rabbis as the religious and
political leaders of the Jews.
Throughout History, the Jews continue to receive unfair treatment and
bad dealings with Rome - Church / State, under Constantine the Great,
who converted to Christianity. His conversion ushered in a process
through which Christianity became the official religion of the Roman
Empire and Jews were considered subversive for their refusal to
acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah.
Many leaders of church and empire believed that Jews should not be
allowed to remain in the Roman Empire if they continued to practice
their religion, as Jews were seen as potential contaminants of the
true faith, which they rejected. However, this position was rejected
in favor of a view presented by Christian theologian
Saint Augustine.
Like other Christians, believed that the Jews fully deserved to be
degraded and humiliated. But instead of arguing for their destruction
or forcible conversion, he felt that they should live in a state of
poverty and humiliation. This way Jews might be punished for their
refusal to acknowledge the new revelation in Christ and might serve
as witnesses to the superiority of Christianity. Although harsh,
Augustine's position often served to save Jews in Christendom from
annihilation.
When Constantine established a New Capital in Byzantium, and renamed
the city, Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire. After Rome fell to
invaders in 476, the Roman Empire in the west collapsed, but the
Roman Empire in the east, which came to be known as the Byzantine
Empire, remained strong.
Attitudes toward Jews in the Byzantine Empire differed from attitudes
in the Western Roman Empire and the states that succeeded it. The
Byzantine Empire had far more Jews under its rule than did states in
the Western Roman Empire, and it dealt more harshly with them. Jews
under Byzantine rule often had difficulty making a living and, among
other obstacles, they were barred from building new synagogues
(places of assembly for prayer) or holding public office.
Next they came under Islamic Rule:
In the 7th century, and Islamic forces conquered much of the
Byzantine Empire in the 7th and 8th centuries.
For the most part Jews welcomed the change in rule. Although Jews
also experienced religious and economic obstacles under Islam,
conditions for them improved. For the first time in centuries the two
major centers of Jewish life, Babylonia and Palestine, were under the
same rulers. But the balance had shifted, and Babylonia had become
the more significant cultural and intellectual center. From the 8th
to the 12th century extraordinary cultural achievements took place in
the Islamic world, and Jews, especially in Babylonia, participated in
and benefited from those achievements.
Next they came under what is referred to as Under Christian Rule:
From the 8th century to the late Middle Ages, culture remained
largely stagnant and undistinguished in Christian Europe while
flourishing in the Islamic world. The Islamic conquests extended from
Babylonia to Egypt and included Palestine.
Beginning in the 8th century the kings of the Franks and the holy
Roman Emperors encouraged Jews to settle in Provence (now part of
southern France) and the Rhineland (now part of Germany).
Communities in Aix, Marseille, and elsewhere in Provence and in
Mainz, Speyer, and other cities of the Rhineland became early centers
of European Jewish life and retained their importance for centuries.
However, the situation of European Jews changed in 1096, the year of
the first Crusade, a military expedition to take control of the Holy
Land (Palestine) from Muslim rulers.
As the Crusader armies gathered, they directed their religious
hostility at Jewish communities of the Rhineland, massacring the
people and destroying the settlements.
Local authorities lacked the forces to stop the rampaging Crusaders.
In some communities, the Jews preferred to commit collective suicide
rather than fall into the hands of the mobs.
The Crusades inaugurated a new era in the life of the Jews of Europe.
Next, takes us to the Late Middle Ages: 1096 TO 1492
After the Crusades began in 1096 and aroused hostility toward Jews,
surviving Jewish communities in central and northern Europe became
increasingly isolated from the surrounding culture.
Although Jews still exercised a fair degree of control over their
religious and cultural affairs, their circumstances did not encourage
thinking about much beyond their religious traditions.
A time of Persecution: 1215, Expulsion from Western Europe, Migration
to Poland, 1300s - 1400s, and Golden Age in Spain, 12th and 13th
centuries.
In 1391 intensive anti-Jewish preaching led to attacks on many Jewish
communities. To escape death many Jews accepted baptism and
conversion to Christianity. Many others converted without overt
coercion.
Because of this cane the Inquisition and Expulsion from Spain:
In 1478 King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I introduced an
Inquisition to Spain to inquire into the status of recent converts to
Christianity, whether former Jews or former Muslims. The Inquisition
was not, as is often thought, an agency for the persecution of Jews;
its sole responsibility was to determine whether newly baptized
Christians had converted insincerely. Once baptized, converts could
not return to their previous faith, and only baptized Christians were
subject to the Inquisition's authority.
In 1492, after Ferdinand and Isabella re-conquered the last piece of
Spanish territory under Islamic rule, they decided to expel all the
unconverted Jews and Muslims who remained in Spain. To avoid the
expulsion order, many more Jews chose to convert, but tens of
thousands chose to leave. Most went to neighboring Portugal, although
many found their way east to Italy and to the lands of the Ottoman
Empire, including Greece, North Africa, Palestine, and Turkey.
Portugal proved to be a short-term refuge because in 1497, where King
Manuel I decided to forcibly convert the Jews of Portugal to
Christianity. However, because he did not immediately establish an
Inquisition in Portugal, many converts continued to secretly conduct
themselves as Jews as best they could. In time, the descendants of
these Marranos openly returned to Judaism outside the Iberian
Peninsula.
The expulsion of the Jews from Spain also marked the end of the
wholesale expulsion of Jews from European countries, at least until
the Nazi era of the 1940s. However, expulsions of Jews from major
European cities continued to occur from time to time until the
beginning of the 20th century.
Next came the 16th Century - the 18th Century:
Many changes occurred in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century.
These changes influenced science, religion, philosophy, and
industrial and economic life. They had an impact on Jewish life and
thought as well.
But first, countries in Western Europe had to readmit Jews. Return to
Western Europe, 16th century, Growing Religious Tolerance 17th
century,
Debate over Rights for Jews 18th century, Emancipation and Reform,
France 1791, Hasidism in Eastern Europe Russia18th - 19th century,
Modernization and Fragmentation 15th - mid- 18th century, in Europe,
The 19th century - Racial Anti-Semitism, and Emancipation for the
Jews. In the 1870s hatred of Jews took a new form, called anti-
Semitism.
Zionism and Other Responses to Anti-Semitism:
Most Jews in Russia who reacted to anti-Jewish outbursts did so by
immigrating to other countries. Others, the fewest of all, began
working toward a return of Jews to a homeland of their own in
Palestine, which was then under Ottoman rule. The effort to create an
independent Jewish state in Palestine became known as Zionism, after
Zion, the hill in Jerusalem on which the ancient Temple stood.
Zionism meant a clear rejection of the possibility of Jewish
integration into the Western world.
Jewish Culture - The political issues of emancipation and the quest
for religious reform dominated Jewish culture in the 19th century,
but Jewish culture also flowered in other areas. Jews emerged as
writers of secular literature, enriching English, French, and German
literature with novels, short stories, poems, and essays.
Modern literary genres also developed in Hebrew and especially in
Yiddish.
Although Hebrew literature had few readers at that time, Yiddish
literature revolutionized Jewish reading and thinking habits. This
literature became an effective tool for modernizing the thought of
Jews in Eastern Europe,
The 19th century ended with Jewish life in political turmoil in
Europe and a Jewish community fragmented over religious and political
views. No unified response to the many challenges emerged, nor could
it, given that European Jews were hopelessly divided regarding the
central issues facing the Jewish community.
Which this comes the 20th Century, which we will get into later.
As we reviewed the history of the Jews, down through the centuries.
Do you know what is the most amazing and interesting thing is here?
Think about this!
Even though, they went for almost two thousands years, without a
Homeland, they still maintained their National Identity!
This is something that is total unparalleled in mankind's history.
For no other nation has been able to maintain their National
Identity, for more than 300 years, without a Homeland.
However, God not only "Preserved" the National Identity of the Jews,
he also promised he would re-gather them back into their Homeland.
In Ezekiel 37:21-22 we read… Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will
take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be
gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their
own land:
And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of
Israel…
This generation has watched the fulfillment of this prophecy.
The Bible tells us that Israel would be re-gathered back to their
Homeland. That's old news now, in 1948, the State of Israel was
reestablished.
The Bible tells us they would re-gain the Biblical City of Jerusalem.
In 1967, they regained the Biblical City of Jerusalem.
In the prophecies of the Old Testament, God told his prophet's in a
modern day language "that he was going to preserve them, as a
National group of people, because, in the last days, he was going to
bring them back to their Homeland."
In 1948 what did God do? He brought them back into the land!
And the Nation has been increasing, from the returning Jews, from
every nation, under the heavens, from where they had been scattered
in time!
What is it taking place today?
In Zechariah, (the next to the last book of the Old Testament) in
Chapter 12, verse 1-3 we read;
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which
stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth,
and formeth the spirit of man within him.
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people
round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and
against Jerusalem.
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all
people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces,
though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
Now, Jerusalem is a City that's not that large, it has No Nature
Resources, No Harbor, No River, and No Reason to be Irrelevant on the
modern would scene.
It's important to whom? To the Jews!
Is it important to Islam?
No! Islam had it for over a thousand year, and let it turn into
rubble.
Until they discovered it was important to the Jews, then it became
very important to Islam!
Even in the Christian community, we like to visit there! But not
enough to die for! So the ideal of Zechariah's prophecy, that
Jerusalem would be a burdensome stone, to the entire world, on its
face seems mind boggling and bewildering.
As we look around today, as you sit there reading this, the staff
people in every major capital, of every nation that is
Internationally relevant, are struggling to what posture to take, and
how to deal with what the intelligent people call the struggle for
Jerusalem.
In Zechariah chapter 12, the LORD said he was going to make
Jerusalem "a cup of trembling." 25,000 year ago, we couldn't have
believed this!
Jerusalem, which was once laid in ruins, surrounded by worldliness?
Here in Zechariah, in modern day language God is telling us "that a
day is coming, where the entire world will have their eyes on
Jerusalem, trembling." Knowing, that the next world war that breaks
out, will be over that city, which has no meaning on the world scene,
in general.
Israel is, as to say, a little nothing place to the world, which
can't be explained logically, or rationally.
For, even Israel significant, as a religious site, can not explain
the world focus on this tiny little nation. If we compare the annual
number of tourists visiting Israel, as tourists, visiting a single
shrine in France or Italy, we would see that more people visit a
single shrine, than those that visit Israel!
Most in the world today, believe, a nuclear exchange will take place
in the Middle East! Ask anyone, if they think there will ever be a
resolve, between the Arabs, Palestinians, Persians and the Jews?
Most see it as a "No Win" situation! For the one thing we have seen
in the world today and down through history, is the growth of Anti-
Semitism!
In Jeremiah 29:18b we read… and will deliver them to be removed to
all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment,
and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have
driven them:
Here we need to stop and take a look at, how Israel is mostly
standing alone!
In Zechariah 12:3, the LORD tells us that "the whole world will be
gathered together against Jerusalem! And in that day will I make
Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden
themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of
the earth be gathered together against it. "
If you look at Deuteronomy 28:37, you see a picture of Anti-
Semitism. "And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a
byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee."
Other words; Israel, God is saying to the Jews "you are going to be
hated, persecuted, killed, like no other people."
A lot of the minority groups that think they've been oppressed, and
dwelt with harshly? In reality, there has not been any nation or
minority group that's suffered like the Jews have over two thousand
years, and is continuing, still today!
The 20th Century:
6 million Jews perished at the hand of the Nazis. Even after the
Holocaust, fifteen hundred were killed after being released, to
return back to re-claim their homes!
And today, the blood shed continues!
Anti-Semitism still exists today, for God foretold it!
But, what he was saying, figuratively speaking on my part… "a
thousand Hitler's cannot wipe you out! For I am going to preserve you
as an identifiable, ethnic group of people. Because, in the last
days, I am going to bring you back into your land." Today,
Anti-Semitism, is the spirit of the Middle East, and the world!
It's seen in the Iranians (Persians) who what to wipe Israel of the
face of the map. It's seen through out a majority of the Arabs
communities, it's seen in the Muslin and Islam communities, and its
even seen as well in some of the citizens of the USA!
Here's we will look at another prophecy, to show we are indeed,
living in, the last of the last days.
The Bible tells us, that the Nation of Israel Blossoms:
In Isaiah 27:6 we read; He shall cause them that come of Jacob to
take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the
world with fruit.
Here God is saying "Those that come of Jacob (Israel) That he (God)
will cause them (the descendants of Israel) to blossom and bud,
and "fill" the world with fruit."
Looking back through Israel's history, there was a time, that Israel
was a barren land which laid waste! It was only inhabited by a small
group of Jews, which the Bible calls a remnant.
Islam, possessed the land for two thousand years, and gave it up,
because it was unproductive, and had no resources!
Then God starts bring the children of Israel back to their Homeland,
and the land begins to blossom, and bud.
I've spoken with associates, who have visited Israel, and they tells
me of the beauty in the green the pastures and fields, and the beauty
of the flowers all over the land.
Looking back to a report from 1995, where Israel had become the 3rd
largest exporter of fruit in the world. Flowers they sell to Holland.
In Ezekiel 36:35 we read; And they shall say, This land that was
desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and
desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel has
increased irrigation in the land, for several generations. Even
photos from space shows this once desolate land of Israel is now lush
with vegetation, where the lands around Israel are mostly barren!
God said this would happen, and it's been happening, since 1948.
The Temple of Jerusalem:
Though out the Bible, there are many passages of scriptures,
regarding the prophecies and the future of the Nation of Israel,
concerning the Temple of Jerusalem. Now, in order for these
prophecies to come to pass, we see, that the Temple of Israel, most
be rebuilt!
It's interesting to note here, that the Jews have been and are very
interested in rebuilding their Temple. Groups have been meeting, just
for this purpose.
I receive a monthly Magazine called Levitt Letter See
http://www.levitt.com/ for information on the magazine,
Already, today, they have made some of instruments to be used for
sacrifices and Temple worship,
I have spoken with associates who have visited Jerusalem, and today,
you can see the displays of these instruments, which have been made
according to Leviticus Law.
You see, one of the next events to take place is the rebuilding of
the Temple.
We read in the Holy Scriptures, regarding, the Temple of Jerusalem,
in the last days. Jesus tells us of it, Apostle Paul speaks of it,
and John the Revelator tells us of it, in the Book of Revelation, and
they all make references to the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Temple Institute of Jerusalem has made over 63 of the 103
instruments to be used, there are several hundred young men, being
trained as priests in the Temple, and research has been conducted on
the precise location of the Temple.
See Temple Institute for further details;
http://www.templeinstitute.org/
For there is something deep within the heart and soul of Israel,
concerning this Temple. They already have the plans, the stones, the
instruments, and the robes.
In reality, they are ready to go!
And the Temple of Jerusalem will indeed be rebuilt! For God's
prophets, told of it, Jesus spoke of it, Paul tells us of it, and
John the Revelator saw it!
And the spirit of "the antichrist" will be the one to see to it, and
God will permitt it to happen!
With this lets go to Revelation 11:1 where we read; And there was
given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise,
and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship
therein.
John the Revelator was told to rise and measure "the Temple of God,
and the altar…" Now, as we all know, the Temple was destroyed in 70
AD, by General Titus and his armies.
Its interesting to note here, that John's recordings and visions took
place starting around 90 AD. That's 30 years or so, after the Temple
had already been destroyed!
For this Temple of the Book of Revelator, is the "Third" Temple, that
one day will be rebuilt! God foretold all of this, through out His
Word!
These are God's great signs that we are indeed living in, the last,
of the last days!
God told us of the Moral decline of the World! It's been and is
happening!
God told us of the Increasing of Knowledge and Technology! It's been
and is happening!
God told us of the Environmental damages that would come! It's been
and is happening!
For these are God's Great Sign, of His Prophetic Design!
You ask does God exist or how do I know God exist?
Just look at Israel! Everything, exactly as God said would happen to
them, has happened! These are the facts! And we have been witnessing!
For they are being fulfilled right before or very eyes!
However, there is more yet to come!
And because what he foretold has already happen! You can rest a sure,
that, that which is yet to happen, will indeed happen, just as the
Bible the Word of God, said they would!
You can try to discredit the Bible!
You can dispute the Bibles teachings!
However, the Bible remains, and stands, because of the contents
within, and the very fact, that it claims, within itself, that it is,
The Word of God!
The New World Order:
From here we will take a look at Bible Prophecy, concerning the One
World Government, the One World System, that will be
needed "Politically" and "Religiously" in the last days, for mankind
to survive. Today, Its called "Global Unity."
For the World is being condition, and the phases of development, has
been taking place., and that too, right before our very eyes!
We read in the Book of Revelation, that in the last days, the world
will be gathered together, in a sort of "Global Community" under the
control and leadership of "One Man" who will be empowered by the
dragon a.k.a. Satan himself.
This man is known through out the Bible as the man of peace, the
beast, the antichrist, the man of sin, and the son of perdition.
In Revelation 13: 3b-4 we read… and all the world wondered after the
beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the
beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the
beast? who is able to make war with him?
The Bible tells us, that a Global Leader will arise, he will be the
most attracted guy the world has ever seen, and the world will
embrace him!
He will be a man of peace, financially, and not militarily,
However, he will become militarily powerful, for the praise to him at
the time will be Who is like unto the beast? "who is able make war
with him?" But he doesn't start out this way.
As we look around, many things indicate that we are going through a
transitional period, a type of conditioning, when it seems that
something is indeed, on the way out, and something else is painfully
being born.
The following will be offensives to some!
Just remember we are Christians, before we are Republicans, Democrats
or Liberians!
For what is taking place, behind the scene, on a spiritual level, is
Satan's conditioning the world for his rise to power, through
mankind's ignorance or for a better word "lack of knowledge".
The terms One World Government, One World System, Global Unity, or
First Global Civilization is used to identify the concept of a New
World Order.
Something of which all parties of the US, and the Global Community is
connected to, whether they are Republican, Democrat, or Liberal.
The "spirit" of Antichrist, is being set in motion, and the world is
being conditioned, through world policies!
Now, the term "New World Order" has been used by various Presidential
Leaders, to refer to a "New Period of History" evidencing a dramatic
change in World political and through the Balancing of Power.
The Balance of power in International relations, is a central concept
in realist theory. Within a balance of power system, a state may
choose to engage in either balancing or bandwagoning behavior.
In a time of war, the decision to balance or to bandwagon may well
determine the survival of the state.
The first usage of the term surrounded Woodrow Wilson's the 28th
President of the United States and his "Fourteen Points" and call for
a League of Nations following the devastation of World War I.
In short; the Fourteen Points were listed in a speech delivered by to
a joint session of the United States on January 8, 1918.
In his speech, Wilson intended to set out a blueprint, for lasting
peace in Europe after World War I.
The idealism displayed in the speech gave Wilson a position of moral
leadership among the Allies, and encouraged the Central Powers to
surrender.
See Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for details.
The phrase, New World Order, was used sparingly at the end of the
Second World War when describing the plan's for the United Nations,
and Bretton Woods System, in part because of the negative association
to the failed League of Nations the phrase would bring.
In short; The Bretton Woods system of international monetary
management established the rules for commerical and financial
relations among the world's major industrial states.
The Bretton Woods system was the first example of a fully negotiated
monetary order intended to govern monetary relations among
independent nation-states.
In retrospect however, many commentators have applied the term
retroactively to the order put in place by the WWII victors as a "New
World Order."
However, the most widely discussed, application of the phrase came at
the end of the Cold War,
By Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev and George H.W. Bush used the term to
try and define the nature of the post Cold War era, and the spirit of
great power cooperation that they hoped might materialize.
Gorbachev's initial formulation was wide ranging and idealistic, but
his ability to press for it was severely limited by the internal
crisis of the Soviet system.
Bush's vision was, in comparison, much more circumscribed and
pragmatic, perhaps even instrumental at times, and closely linked to
the First Gulf War.
The "Conditioning" and the "First Stages" was set in wen hundreds of
Political, Business and Religious leaders got together in San
Francisco, for the First Annual State of the World Forum, headed by
Mikhail Gorbachev.
"There mission statement was to build the First Global Civilization. "
Their proposal included creating a Common Language, creating a Single
Currency, and the combining and accepting of all religions".
One of the leaders said; The Universe is seeking to fulfill "itself"
through us! Mre than 600 innovative leaders from 50 countries came
together.
Since then, over 4,000 people from nearly 100 countries have gathered
for annual and regional forums in San Francisco (where the Forum
holds its annual conference), Moscow, Washington, DC, New Delhi,
Islamabad, Guanajuato (Mexico), Brussels, Belfast and Monterrey
(Mexico).
The fourth annual State of the World Forum took place on October 27 -
November 1, 1998 in San Francisco. Where, over 700 leaders from over
100 nations and tribes gathered to discuss World Issues.
Ranging from preventing deadly conflict and abolishing nuclear
weapons; sustained peak performance; the current instability in the
global financial markets; meeting the irreducible needs of children;
creating a world safe for differences; investing in women; to the
greening of capital.
The 1999 State of the World Forum was held at the Fairmont Hotel, San
Francisco, California, on October 1 - 6, 1999.
The Forum gathered over 800 luminaries, leaders and futurists from
around the world to develop and examine systemic solutions that
impact business, politics and human development into the next
millennium.
The 1999 Forum was designed for creating partnerships and envisioning
a sustainable and compassionate civilization. It featured more than
100 of the world's most highly regarded speakers and innovators, and
included over 50 breakout sessions exploring key trends for the
future, models of innovation and tools for leadership.
Mikhail Gorbachev, was the first world leader to come out publicly
with talk of a "New World Order," and he did so nearly two years
before George Bush even caught the vision.
In his historic address to the United Nations on December 7, 1988,
the Soviet Prime Minister made this dogmatic and even prophetic
statement: "Further global progress is now possible only through a
quest for universal consensus in the movement towards a New World
Order."
George H.W. Bush, just before leaving for Helsinki, Finland, early in
September 1990 to discuss the Persian Gulf crisis at his summit
meeting with Soviet President Gorbachev.
President George H.W. Bush expressed the hope that "the foundation
for the New World Order would be laid in Helsinki" and that it would
be established under the United Nations. At the news conference with
Gorbachev following their historic meeting,
President Bush declared optimistically: "If the nations of the world,
acting together, continue as they have been we will set in place the
cornerstone of an international order more peaceful than any that we
have known."
George Bush had been a good and faithful servant of the "brotherhood"
and as no one before him, had made the "One World" agenda his main
focus.
In August of 1990. U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Charles W. Freeman
Jr. sent a cable to Washington from Saudi Arabia in which he argued
that U.S. conduct in the Gulf crisis would determine the nature of
the world.
Bush would then refer to the "New World Order" at least 42 times from
the summer of 1990 to the end of March 1991. They also note that
Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney gave three priorities to the Senate
on fighting the Gulf War. (1) Prevent further aggression, (2) Protect
Oil Supplies, and (3) Further a New World Order.
Then in 1993 the New World Order was established as a Legitimate
National Agenda - by Democrat President named Bill Clinton.
Since both Bush and Clinton were beholding to the same secret orders
codes and financiers.
Is it possible they may have engineered the change of Presidents by
manipulating the American people to pull the plug on Bush?
George Bush may have actually been running a campaign to "Lose" the
Presidency.
I feel we the People are like a frog that's been tossed in a pot of
cold water, and the heat is gradually, being turned up! Now, if you
take a frog and put him in a pan of hot water, he's gonna kick
around, and possible, jump out. However, if you put him in a pan of
cold water, he's gonna feel right at home.
Then, you turn the heat on very low, and as his body adapts to the
change in temperature, he's cooked before he realizes, what is
happening!
For the Globalizers saw this as democracy's finest hour - through
manipulation, the democratic system installed a Socialist, New Age
Leader with the charismatic appeal of John F. Kennedy to do their
bidding!
During Clinton's reign, The New World Order Socialists publicly came
out of the closet in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The powerful and popular lobby called the Progressive Caucus, now
began openly espousing the principles of Socialism. And the State of
the World Forum, was replaced by Bill Clinton's Global Initiative.
George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton took up Mikhail Gorbachev's torch,
conducting annual meetings in New York, simultaneous with the United
Nations General Assembly meeting. Same players, new location, but the
crowd is growing, and so is the money for global projects.
To help complacent Americans accept the new government intrusions,
Clinton propagandists instilled fear of just about every crisis they
could conjure up.
The catchword of the nineties was "crisis."
We were told we had a health care "crisis" and in so, justifying the
government takeover of one-seventh of the U.S. economy.
We were told we had a ecological "crisis" and in justifying the
government to impose far reaching new regulations on businesses.
We were told we had a child care "crisis" which also justified the
government to extend its reach into the family.
What's interesting about President Clinton was his use of Executive
Orders to bypass Congress and the will of the American people.
In violation of the Constitutional balance of powers, Mr. Clinton
said he would… "legislate by Executive Order if Congress did not bow
to his legislative agenda, I have a continuing obligation to act, to
use the authority of the presidency and the persuasive power of the
podium, to advance America´s interests"
There was no debate, no media coverage, and no vote ... just
President Clinton signing into law whatever he believed "is the right
thing to do." "Stroke of the pen. Law of the land. Kinda cool," said
Mr. Clinton´s senior advisor Paul Begala.
Failing to get this dictatorial mandate past Congress, liberals in
the White House and Congress subverted the 10th Amendment
by "greenmailing" the states into submission.
The liberal strategy was to withhold tax revenues from the states, if
states did not surrender constitutional rights and submit to
legislative mandates voluntarily.
With the government takeover of much of the American economy, health
care, and the family well under way, Socialists turned its attention
next to a "constitutional crisis".
While the media and across America, attention was focused on
butterfly-ballots and elderly voters who could not complete a ballot,
beneath the surface was brewing yet another incremental attack on the
Constitution of the United States of America by Socialists determined
to quietly overthrow this country.
As has been their technique for years, Socialists understand that
they will not be able to radically change this country over night.
Rather, theirs is a step-by-step incremental approach of first
undermining the foundations of this country by creating doubt and
distrust by the TV-educated and uninformed American public.
On August 1998:
President Bill Clinton warned that the United States was facing a
long, ongoing struggle between freedom and fanaticism, between the
rule of law and terrorism...
So, is the U.S. prepared for the consequences of what it now insists
is a global war on terrorism?
Experts on terrorism... say that if the Clinton Administration is
true to its words, Washington is embarked on a decades long battle in
which Americans may find themselves increasingly targeted on the
streets of their own cities
In 1999 Bill Clinton initiates Project Megiddo, signaled law
enforcement agencies to tap into any group that held to apocalyptic
views of the coming new millennium.
As part of the project the FBI circulated flyers asking for citizens
to contact the FBI with information on groups or individuals who fit
into the following categories;
Right Wing Extremists, Defenders of the Constitution, Those who make
numerous references to the Constitution Doomsday type Religious
groups,and Lone Individuals, Those who attempt to police the police
President Bill Clinton, September 6, 2000, at the United Nations
Millennium Summit… National sovereignty and territorial integrity
should take a back seat to "keeping the peace…"
In November, 2000, as politicians and lawyers descend upon Florida
for hand recounts upon recounts, Americans were fed a daily dose of
propaganda designed to sway them away from the Constitutionally
established norm of electing Presidents in this country - As the
agenda's for the New World Order, marched on!
For this attack on the Constitution did not come as a surprise. It
was simply part and parcel of an ongoing and systematic dismantling
of our Constitution. Which today is being done, through elected
Judges, including the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal!
And, brothers and sisters, in so doings, the Democrats and
Republicans alike are not only being duped by the Socialist
propaganda, but in many cases are championing it.
In 2000, George W. Bush elected president of the United States of
America.
With the son of the man who introduced the New World Order to America
now in place, George W. Bush's mandate was to further his father's
agenda of extending government control over American citizens and
empowering the tentacles of a One World Government into foreign lands.
With, George W. Bush, recognizing that no Socialist movement can
succeed unless it has control over the movement of its citizens and
insider intelligence of those who oppose them,
The Globalizers along with President G.W. Bush needed
another "crisis" to move the New World Order agenda along. And Satan
was there to set the crisis in motion!
Which takes us to Osama Bin Laden, and the morning of September 11,
2001, when 19 terrorists, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, hijacked four
commercial passenger jet airliners, and crashed them into the World
Trade Center towers, and the Pentagon.
The fourth airliner, flight 93, where, passengers and members of the
flight crew attempted to retake control of their plane from the
hijackers; that plane crashed into a field near the town of
Shanksville, in rural Somerset County.
The terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001 was a tragedy
of epic proportions.
However, this was just the crisis that the Globalists and George W
Bush needed, to forward their agenda of the New World Order, under
the disguise of the War on Terror!
We all remember George W. Bush speech from Barksdale Air Force Base.
Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward. And
freedom will be defended.
I want to reassure the American people that the full resources of the
federal government are working to assist local authorities to save
lives and to help the victims of these attacks. Make no mistake, the
United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these
cowardly acts.
I've been in regular contact with the Vice President, Secretary of
Defense, the national security team, and my cabinet. We have taken
all appropriate security precautions to protect the American people.
Our military at home and around the world is on high alert status.
And we have taken the necessary security precautions to continue the
functions of your government.
We have been in touch with leaders of Congress and with world leaders
to assure them that we will do whatever is necessary to protect
America and Americans…
George W Bush on October 2001, declares war on terrorism and invades
Afghanistan to oust the Taliban leadership, and to destroy Al-Qaeda.
It's interesting to note here, that this crisis, also broadens the
door for Homeland Security, as radio and television talk shows across
the land debate the giving up of our rights under various scenarios
especially involving travel, and also leads to the Iraq War, and the
Global War on Terrorism.
On March 2003, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq asserting that Iraq
was in violation of UN Resolution 1441 regarding weapons of mass
destruction and had to be disarmed by force.
Following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime.
George W. Bush then committed the U.S. to establishing democracy in
the Middle East starting with Afghanistan and then into Iraq.
Admits all this came also George W. Bush, and the EU - European
Union.
Bush began his second term with an emphasis on improving strained
relations with European nations.
The European Union (EU) is a supranational and intergovernmental
union of 25 independent democratic member states.
The European Union is the world's largest confederation of
independent states, established under that name in 1992 by the Treaty
on European Union the Maastricht Treaty.
Now, we as a nation, are no longer threatened from without, by a
group of balding hard-line Communists! We are now threatened from
within by a group of intelligent, well-dressed, who over the coming
years are continually, with their intentions of convincing America
and the nations of the world that the only way to lasting world peace
is the establishment of a New World Order.
It's interesting to look at what is going on in each country, and not
just America. There appears to be a hidden agenda towards a Global
Socialist Centralizes Government.
Reaganomics made this quite clear, George H. W. Bush administration
made this quite clear, Bill Clinton administration made this quite
clear, and George W. Bush, administration made this quite clear.
It's been happening in the major nations around the world - Britain,
France, Germany, and etc.
I see where Politicians are subverting their own national interest
for a One-World Government, a New World Order.
Now some would see me as a Conspiracy Theorist, (In some way) I guess
you can say I am.
However, that is not the over-all picture. I am a Christian, before I
am a Republican, Democrat or Liberal. So I look at both sides of the
political coin, the over-all picture, and see Satan on the rise,
(working behind the scene) conditioning the world for his advent, and
his rise to power, through the advancement of knowledge, and world
policies of today.
Now, one of the vehicles, which are driving this agenda, is
the "Idealist" who believes it is best for the Planet.
However, the real driving force behind these agenda's is "Nuclear
Proliferation" for the world leaders see the possibility, we are
heading for a disaster if something is done.
Mankind knows that our Knowledge and Technology, has come so far
today, we now possess the means and the capability, to destroy our
self.
The Atomic / Nuclear Age:
A nuclear weapon is a weapon which derives its destructive force from
nuclear reactions of fission or fusion. As a result, even a nuclear
weapon with a relatively small yield is significantly more powerful
than the largest conventional explosives and a single weapon is
capable of destroying an entire city.
In the history of warfare, nuclear weapons have been used only twice,
both during the closing days of WW II. The first event occurred on
the morning of 8/6/1945, when the United States dropped a uranium gun-
type device code-named "Little Boy" on the Japanese city of
Hiroshima. It had the energy of anywhere between 12.5 and 15 kilotons
of TNT.
The second event occurred three days later when the United States
dropped a plutonium implosion-type device code-named "Fat Man" on the
city of Nagasaki, with the energy equivalent of about 20 kilotons of
TNT.
The use of these weapons, which resulted in the immediate deaths of
around 100,000 to 200,000 people and even more over time, was and
remains controversial, to critics around the world. That charged that
they were unnecessary acts of mass killing, while others claimed that
they ultimately reduced casualties on both sides by hastening the end
of the war.
However, as the spirit of man, grapples with these issues, the only
means by which not to accomplish "self-destruction" is
through "Global Supervision".
Today, we are caught in the middle of the War on Terrorism, and to
unite Globally, through the UN, to stop the spread, and to prevent
them from obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
The leadership in the world today is pursuing an agenda that presumes
that there is gonna have to be a single administration on the planet
earth.
However, the challenge before mankind is how to get there, non-
violently, if possible!
The next issue we will look at here, is Religious Unity.
We see how the world's agenda is moving towards a One-World
Government (A New World Order.)
It's the only way that mankind sees we can survive. So we have to get
rid of wars and rivalry between nations.
But, we are also heading for a One-World Religion or a Unity of All
Religions.
For most of the wars fought on earth, and even today, have been from
or over religious faction. So, not only is a One-World Government
needed, but also, a One-World Religion.
Now, there has been an ecumenical movement, moving us into that
direction, and Pope John Paul II was the leader of it, this can not
be denied!
For the whole world of today is interconnected its not just one
country off by themselves! Between policy of trade, travel and ones
interdependency to survive on planet earth, Humanity sees this
as "sooner or later people will have to realize, a need to work
together."
However, what the Pope was trying to do, was to get people to see
their problems were individually superficial, and that more of a
greater world-view should be expressed.
Pope John Paul II main drive was world peace, and one ultimate
religion, uniting all religions together, According to Encyclopedia
Britannica online:
In 1986 Pope John Paul II invited the leaders of all major religions
to Assisi Italy, for a universal prayer service for world peace.
There were 136 of the world's major religions, including Buddhist,
Muslims, Witchdoctors and even Spiritualist, praying together, for
world peace.
Here, the Pope was seeking common grounds from all people, of all
faiths and from all beliefs.
Now, to say, that the Bible, God's Holy Word, also alludes to the
leadership of the city of Rome, especially, in an ecclesiastical
sense, and the rise of the Vatican in a role of an ecumenical
movement, in the last days, sounds absurd?
However, in Revelation 17:1b, 3-5 we read the futuristic vision of
John the Revelator, and the angel says to him… I will show unto thee
the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a
woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy,
having seven heads and ten horns.
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked
with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her
hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
It's interesting to note here that the Church of Rome is referred to
as - The Mother Church.
It is also interesting to note that the colors Scarlet, and Purple
are the official colors of the Vatican.
It is also interesting to note that the angel reveals to John that,
first. (verse 9) "the seven heads are seven mountains on which the
woman sitteth…" Rome is a city built on seven hills / mountains.
And second (verse 15) the waters, the angel said "The waters which
thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes,
and nations, and tongues."
Roman Catholic Church, the largest single Christian body, composed of
those Christians who acknowledge the supreme authority of the bishop
of Rome, the pope, in matters of faith.
The word catholic (Greek katholikos) means "Universal" and has been
used to designate the church since its earliest period. The Roman
Catholic church is made up of "peoples, and multitudes, and nations,
and tongues."
Now, if you have studied the "narrowness" and the "conservativeness"
of Catholicism, over the last thousand or fifteen hundred years!
To say that Rome would be a leader in the New Age, or in a
pantheistic sense "the belief that God and the material world are one
and the same thing and that God is present in everything" is
manifestly absurd!
And yet, as we watch and the more we study, these major themes laid
out in the scriptures, and the more you take and look at the world
horizons in perspective.
Then the more it seems, we are heading right into the period of time
that the Bible has so much to say about!
And of course, all of this climaxes around this unbelievable and
bizarre concept (to some) that Jesus Christ, the Creator of the
Universe, became man, to fulfill our destiny, on our behalf, and is
going to return, to straighten this entire mess out!
Are we the Generation that will witness the Return of Jesus Christ?
What do I believe?
I believe we are living in the most significantly days of history,
this world has ever known! And that Bible prophecy is being
fulfilled, and that the coming of Jesus return, is at hand!
This is a time to make a decision, to except, who God is, and what he
has done!
In these studies, Part 1, 2, and 3, we've been talking about signs of
the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
In Luke's gospel, Jesus tells us, when we see these things begin to
come to pass, then look up and lift up your head, for your redemption
draweth nigh!
In Luke 21:28 we read "And when these things begin to come to pass,
then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth
nigh."
Notice, Jesus didn't say, when they are fulfilled, or when they are
complete! He said, when they "begin" to come to pass, then look up
and lift up your head, cause your redemption is drawing night or
approaching!
Jesus said that when they begin to come to pass, its time that we
need to be looking for his return!
If there ever was a time that we needed to be looking for the return
of Jesus, its today!
As we study the Bible, there are about a dozen of major themes that
are laid out in prophecy.
There's a whole theme about the Nation of Israel and the city of
Jerusalem.
There is a whole theme about Babylon, which is modern day Iraq.
There's a whole theme about Magog - Russia and its alies invading
Israel.
There are themes about the coming of a European Supper State.
There are themes about a One World Religion, and One World
Government.
As you look at each of these themes, it isn't "just one" of them that
is pointing to the return of Christ!
It's "everyone" of them that is being "Condition" and "Positioned"
before our very eyes!
Which brings us to the conclusion of this study.
Is the Bible Unique?
For many years of my life, I had embraced humanistic ideals, followed
alone with society and the norm! But, one day I came to the
realization, of what the Bible had to say, not only about the past,
but the present and the future, actually made sense, with the things
that I could see from observable evidence.
Which came not by, someone telling me how they saw things, are what
they believe! But what I saw and found out myself, according to God's
Word!
There were times I had to lay aside, childhood beliefs, traditions
and opinions of others, and enter the Bible with an open mind! At
times it cost me family relationship, friends, and it cost me
employment's.
But, as Jesus tells us in Luke 14:27-29; And whosoever doth not bear
his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of
you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth
the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after
he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that
behold it begin to mock him,
When it comes to the Bible I have come to discover it is God's Word
to humanity, it is the truth, it is reliable, we can believe in it,
and it is trustworthy, in every word!
For God gave me more friends, he healed family relationships, and
provided me with better employment than I ever had before!
When you look at all the books there are in the world, the Bible,
stands alone, most certainly, as the most Unique Book there is!
For it is the only book of Humanity, that "dare's" to place its whole
credence upon the fact that it is able to tell in advance things that
are going to take place!
For no other religious book would dare to make predictions on the
future, and then base its veracity, its truth, its accuracy, or its
precision on those things happening!
And not just one prediction! But hundreds of predictions!
The great discovery of today is that this Book of 66 books, a type of
library in itself, of which we call the Bible, was penned by forty
different men, over thousands of years.
We now see they are an integrated message system!
Other words we now discover that ever scripture, every name, and
every detail of the text is there by careful engineering and design,
transcending time itself!
Is there Hope for Mankind?
Some people look at the Book of Revelation and Bible prophecy, and
see in it as a time of gloom and doom! But, the Bible message is a
message of hope, the message of salvation, a message of turning to
God, the One who created the heavens and the earth.
And that we can have a personal, one on one relationship with Him,
that will last for eternity.
For the Gospel is the Good News, and we don't need someone in
humanity, to direct us, to show us, to lead us, to bow before, and to
confess before.
As I sit here thinking back through these studies, one might think
its a pretty hopeless situation or condition being laid out before us
today, and the destruction that's coming, and how am I going to
escape?
However, Jesus is coming to take us, those that believe in him, and
those that are following him out of here!
But, those of you who don't know Jesus, I don't want to persuade you
to come to Jesus as a fire escape!
Or as an umbrella from the approaching rains of time, or a shelter
from the approaching storms of life, the destruction coming upon this
earth, or from going to heaven or hell when you die!
You've got to have better reasons than these!
You come to him because you know He loves you, and because you love
him for what He's done for us, through Jesus, in his death, burial
and resurrection! You come to Him, because you believe this is the
truth!
And because you are guilty of sin, and because you want to get back
in touch with God, and be inline with His Will. In these you are
accepting the pardon that He has provided, and you then open your
heart to Jesus, and ask him in.
And then, you will be on your way, to spend eternity in heaven. With
all these things we have seen in these studies, you may be asking, is
there Hope?
Is mankind going to annihilate itself? Jesus said in Matthew 24, if
he didn't return, mankind would indeed annihilate itself! This will
be a time so terrifying if Jesus didn't return no flesh would be able
to survive!
In Matthew 24:22 we read; "And except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened."
But, the Blessed Hope is Jesus Christ, himself!
He is returning, and he is going to establish his kingdom on earth,
and there will be righteousness, and peace, and joy, and love and
harmony, with mankind.
Remember, Jesus said in modern day language "When we see these things
begin to happen, when you begin to see these things starting to take
place, that we can have hope, that we can look up, and to lift up our
heads cause redemption, draweth night."
For, Redemption is approaching, the doors of heaven are starting to
open, and he's getting ready to step out in the clouds. For God the
Father will say to God the Son, Son, go and bring by children home!
Some might be asking… How can I be sure, that he loves me, or that he
will take me?
In John 3:16-17 is the very Heart of God, and the Bible, where Jesus
says; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through him might be saved. "
Mankind, with all its Knowledge and Technology, and all it's
Immorality, and all its Greed, and its World Policies, are indeed
destroying itself!
But, I have some wonderful Good News for you!
There's a whole New Age coming, and Jesus Christ will usher it in,
and not man!
And you can be part of it! All you have to do is put your faith, your
trust and your hope in God's Son, the Savour of the World, Jesus
Christ, at this time.
You decide, open your mind and consider these things, then open your
heart, and realizing, just how much God loves you, in His plan of
salvation, and the purpose and plan for your life he has for you.
As the gospel song says;
Come just as you are, hear the Spirit call. Come just as you are,
come and see,
Come receive, come and live forever.
Come just as you are, hear the Spirit call. Come just as you are,
come and See
Come Receive, Come and live forever.
Life everlasting, strength for today, Taste the living water,
and never thirst again.
What must one do to be saved?
Acts 16:30-31, tells us to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you
shall be saved…"
Romans 6:23 tells us "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
In John 14:6, Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life. No
man comes to the Father but by me."
One of the great messages of the Bible, is it encourages us to study
and to test all things.
It is my hope, in Jesus, that you will search the Bible and
investigate the claims of Jesus and prove these things to be true or
not.
Don't listen to me, a preacher or anyone else, but, seek for
yourself, the truth!
As Jesus tells us in John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free."
The "truth" shall "make" you free. This gives us, a 100 % assurance
of salvation.