Recently, our family decided to get serious about directing a set portion of our monthly income toward God’s purposes.  This is an idea based on the Old Testament concept of tithing:

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! ‘But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’  ‘You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’”  Malachi 3:8-11 (NLT)

Old Testament law required some Israelites to give the first 10% of their crops or every tenth animal if they raised cattle to various purposes, including support of the Levites, the Temple priests, and the poor.

But tithing is an Old Testament law applicable to the Israelites.  The blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, exempts today’s believers from Old Testament rules and regulations such as tithing.  Nevertheless, we’re still expected to have giving hearts…

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.  Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.  How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”  James 2:19-20 (NLT)

This doesn’t mean that faith itself is worthless, or that good deeds are a necessary component of salvation.  What it does mean is that true faith will give rise to a loving heart and a life overflowing with good works.  True love for God doesn’t manifest itself in a perceived obligation to give, but in a zealous willingness to give:

“Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)

For the true believer, giving in honor of God is its own reward.  It doesn’t come from a sense of obligation.

So if a believer chooses to cheerfully give to others in honor of God, where should he direct his efforts?

That’s a good question, and one I set out to find an answer for.

The bible has a lot to say on the subject, and this article is more of a starting point than a definitive study.  But here’s a few places where you might want to consider directing your gift offerings…

Giving to the Poor

Giving to the poor is one way to honor God with our gifts:

“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord - and he will repay you!” Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)

According to the bible, giving help to the poor is the same as giving help to God Himself and such good deeds will not be forgotten…

“As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor.  Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”  2 Corinthians 9:9 (NLT)

Giving to the Hungry

The bible also sanctions giving to the hungry.  As this passage suggests, the early Christians were very giving in their donations to famine victims:

“During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.  This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.”  Acts 11:27-30 (NLT)

While mankind can not live off of bread alone, people still need food.  And a charitable Christian acts as God’s ambassador, bringing the Good News of Christ to the poor through the example of a personal act of generosity.

Giving to Those in Need

In addition to the poor and the hungry, we should, as a general rule, give to those in need:

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.  Always be eager to practice hospitality.”  Romans 12:13 (NLT)

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven!”  Luke 12:33 (NLT)

As Job points out, a refusal to help those in need can be indicative of a hardened and self-consumed heart.  But God’s Judgment will be lighter on those who are empathetic and generous:

“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?  Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans?  No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.  Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?  If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side, then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place!  Let my arm be torn from its socket!  That would be better than facing God’s judgment.  For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?”  Job 31:16-23 (NLT)

Some early Christians willingly gave of their own possessions to help fellow Christians in need, and God’s blessing was upon them all:

“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.  The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.  There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.”  Acts 4:32-35 (NLT)

So giving to those in need, especially fellow Christians in need, is one place where you can direct your gift offerings in honor of God.

Giving to Your Own Household

Of course, all giving must start in your own household.  As Jesus points out, zero tolerance legalism is no excuse for abandoning responsibility for your own family:

“But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’  In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents.  And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.  You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”  Matthew 15:5-9 (NLT)

And as Paul states, Christian love and compassion begins in the home:

“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” 1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT)

And…

“If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.” 1 Timothy 5:16 (NLT)

So if you’re wondering where God wants you to direct your gift offerings, one place to start looking is those within your own family…

Giving to Spread the Gospel

God also wants us to give of our resources to help those who preach and teach the Gospel of our Lord.  Hard work should be adequately compensated, and being a faithful teacher and preacher of the Word of God is hard work:

“Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.”  Galatians 6:6 (NLT)

As Paul states, those who preach the Good News of Jesus Christ should be supported just as those who worked in the Temple were supported by the Old Testament Israelites:

“Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.  In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.”  1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (NLT)

The Old Testament Temple workers were supported by the tithes and gift offerings of those who benefited from use of the Temple.  Likewise, those who benefit from hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ should support those who help spread it:

“Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, ‘You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.’  And in another place, ‘Those who work deserve their pay!’”  1 Timothy 5:17-18 (NLT)

Preaching the Word of God is real work, no different than the work of a day laborer who toils in the field.  This work should be respected and supported.

Again, Paul sheds light on the subject:

“As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.  Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.  I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.  At the moment I have all I need - and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:15-19 (NLT)

“Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?  I ‘robbed’ other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.  And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be.”  2 Corinthians 11:7-9 (NLT)

What could be more precious and life enriching than the Word of God?  It’s more valuable than all the food and gold and silver and riches of the world.  Yet many of us will eagerly pay the merchant in full and on time, while denying champions of God adequate provision for food, clothing, and shelter.  Why?

God wants us to give in many ways, and one of the most important is giving in order to spread the Gospel.

Giving As The Holy Spirit Compels You

Does giving to spread the Gospel mean that Christians should lavish money on local church organizations, local preachers, or televangelists?

No.  Not necessarily.

There’s a great distinction between the world’s idea of “the church” and the true body of Christ.

Remember, the Apostle Paul did not preach from the pulpit of a fixed point brick-and-mortar building in 30 minute increments one day a week.  He was a man without a home - a vagabond traveler who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would listen.

Supporting the spreading of the Gospel doesn’t necessarily mean we should give 10% of our weekly earnings to our local church minister (no matter how much our local church ministers would like to convince us otherwise).  There are many ways to support the Gospel of Christ through gift offerings of prayer and service and money given to missionaires, itinerant preachers, and others.  Some of the best ministries in the world are headquartered on the Internet - sites like Rapture Ready, Rapture Alert, Prophezine, and others.

We’re encouraged to give as we’re moved by the Holy Spirit…

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ‘And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”   Matthew 25:37-40 (NLT)

As such, giving should not be confined to the local chapter of the Red Cross or the local bricks-and-mortar church.  It’s much more personal.  Giving, as directed by the Holy Spirit, is a one-on-one experience.  Human being to human being, with God acting as the connecting presence inbetween.

The presence of the Holy Spirit produces a well-spring of love and compassion that should compel us to give to those in need, to give eagerly of our own free will…

God Wants Us To Give Of Our Own Free Will

Because God has given us so much through the gift of salvation, purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, our joyous gratitude should produce an abundance of generosity toward others…

“Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.  They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.  For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.  They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.  They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.  Since you excel in so many ways - in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us - I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”  2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NLT)

If you’re blessed with great monetary riches, you should use your wealth to further God’s purposes as directed by the Holy Spirit.  Put your trust in God, not money.  Use your abundance and position of strength to help others, to be generous to those in need:

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.  Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.  By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”  1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)

Remember always that the wealth of this world is fleeting, but the riches of God are forever.  For how you allocate your resources and where you direct your gifts in this world will determine your position in the next:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”  Luke 16:10-11 (NLT)

And it doesn’t matter how much you give, but how much you give relative to your ability…

“Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.  Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.  Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.’”  Mark 12:41-44 (NLT)

That said, you should always give willingly, not out of a sense of obligation.  In the end, God will reward us all accordingly…

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full - pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Don’t Call Attention To Your Gift Offerings

One final note…

When giving for God’s purpose, beware of your human pride.  For many have fallen into the trap of giving in order to receive human praise for what they have done.  As Jesus says, such people have already received their reward - fleeting and worthless human praise…

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.  When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do - blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”  Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT)

So when you give, it’s best to do so in secret, if possible.  Then, only God will know your good deed, and your only motive is praise from God - a valuable and everlasting reward!

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Rumors of Iran, Israel, and war are everywhere you look in today’s news headlines, and for those with knowledge of bible prophecy, this should command immediate attention.

Why?

Because, when it comes to the end times, the bible has a lot to say about Israel and war with her neighbors.  In fact, Iran is specifically mentioned in this context…

2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel identified modern day Iran (Persia) as a key player in the last days Gog / Magog invasion:

“This is another message that came to me from the Lord: ‘Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others.’” Ezekiel 38:1-6 (NLT)

In addition, Psalm 83 identifies Syria as a land that will conspire to destroy the nation of Israel:

“‘O God, don’t sit idly by, silent and inactive! Don’t you hear the tumult of your enemies? Don’t you see what your arrogant enemies are doing? They devise crafty schemes against your people, laying plans against your precious ones. ‘Come,’ they say, ‘let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence.’ This was their unanimous decision. They signed a treaty as allies against you – these Edomites and Ishmaelites, Moabites and Hagrites, Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites, and people from Philistia and Tyre. Assyria has joined them, too, and is allied with the descendants of Lot.”  Psalm 83:1-8 (NLT)

All that said, why should it matter that the prophets long ago identified these nations as end times enemies of Israel?

Because…

Through careful study of the scriptures, one can see today’s geopolitical landscape aligning itself for fulfillment of these very end times bible prophecies.  And, of course, in order to fulfill end times bible prophecies we must be in the end times, and the scriptures reveal that Jesus Christ will return as the final fulfillment of all end times prophecy.

So current events in the Middle East should serve as a reminder of Christ’s imminent return.

In fact, the Lord Himself expected his disciples to carefully examine the Word of God so as to be prepared for His return:

“So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:42 (NLT)

Jesus went so far as to rebuke the Pharisees for not recognizing the signs of the times, for the religious leaders of His day had full knowledge of the prophecies of the Messiah, yet they still chose not to believe in Him:

“One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus’ claims by asking him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven. He replied, ‘You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow, red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You are good at reading the weather signs in the sky, but you can’t read the obvious signs of the times!’” Matthew 16:1-3 (NLT)

This passage reveals the expectation Jesus had for the people of His day.  He expected them to fully recognize and eagerly await the time of His first coming. Should we expect any less in regard to His second coming?  Without a doubt, he holds our generation to the same standard of accountability.

Because the Lord commanded us to be watchful, we need to pay careful attention to today’s headlines. 

Here’s a few recent ones:

Armies Drilling Nonconventional Attacks

According to the Jerusalem Post:

“Israeli soldiers from the Home Front Command and American soldiers from the Ohio National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force (CERF) have already begun drilling a scenario in which missiles with nonconventional warheads are fired at Israeli cities.  [Read more…]”

The 2006 Lebanon war illustrates the danger Israel faces from rocket attacks.  If Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities, the odds are good that Iran will supply terrorists on the Israeli border with the means to arm those rockets with chemical, biological, and/or nuclear warheads.

French FM: Israel Could Strike Iran

Also in the Jerusalem Post:

“The French foreign minister suggested that time was indeed short for a solution to the Iranian threat. ‘There is the time that Israel will offer us before reacting, because Israel will react as soon as they know clearly that there is a threat.’  [Read more…]”

Israel is adamant.  They will not allow a nuclear Iran.  Iran is equally adamant.  They will not disband their nuclear ambitions.  Something has to give, and the world will know sooner rather than later.

Armageddon Time

As part of an interview with Middle East experts Victor Davis Hanson and Robert Baer, Peter Robinson writes the following in Forbes:

“What is the probability that Israel will strike Iran within the next six months?  ‘Forty-nine percent,’ said Baer.  ‘I would say 50-50,’ Hanson replied.  The final observation: Iran would retaliate.  ‘Iran’s deterrent doctrine is to strike back everywhere it can,’ Baer explained. ‘We should expect the worst.’  Iran would attack American supply lines in Iraq and command Hezbollah to start a civil war in Lebanon. It would fire surface-to-surface missiles at every oil facility within range, wreaking devastation in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states while removing millions of barrels of oil a day from the world markets. The economy of the entire globe would suffer a paroxysm. The Middle East could descend into chaos. The U.S. would experience the worst crisis in decades.  [Read more…]”

If anyone doubts the seriousness of this situation, this article should serve as a wake-up call.

Iran Buys North Korean WMD for Syria, Midget Submarines for Both

From DebkaFile:

“On Oct. 20, DEBKAfile’s military sources disclosed that Syria, Iran’s second ally with an Israeli border, has decided to transfer one-third of its missile stockpile to the Hezbollah in Lebanon, topping up its arsenal with 250 medium-range surface rockets that can cover central as well as northern Israel, which was heavily blitzed in the 2006 war.  [Read more…]”

Just as Victor Davis Hanson and Robert Baer suggest, all reports seem to indicate that Iran is arming its allies and sponsored terrorist groups in preparation for a conflict with Israel.

All these headlines point toward impending disaster in the Middle East.

Israel will never allow another Holocaust of the Jewish people to take place.  Yet, Amadinejad and his fellow Islamic fanatics are determined to use weapons of mass destruction to eliminate the Jewish state forever.

To this end, Iran has funded terrorists groups like Hamas and Hezbollah on Israel’s borders.  They’ve armed them with sophisticated weapons, and given the chance, Iran will provide those same terrorist groups with nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons.

If Israel does strike Iran, and the predictions of Victor Davis Hanson and Robert Baer prove true, Iran will strike back in every way imaginable.  In most cases, Iran will use proxy groups to retaliate so they can deflect as much international criticism as possible and play the role of an innocent victim.

In fact, reports that Syria has transferred “one-third of its missile stockpile to the Hezbollah in Lebanon, topping up its arsenal with 250 medium-range surface rockets that can cover central as well as northern Israel” may foreshadow the fulfillment of bible prophecy.

The prophet Isaiah warns of a day when northern Israel will lie in ruin, while Damascus, the world’s longest continuously inhabited city, ceases to exist:

“This message came to me concerning Damascus: ‘Look, Damascus will disappear! It will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted. Sheep will graze in the streets and lie down unafraid. There will be no one to chase them away. The fortified cities of Israel will also be destroyed, and the power of Damascus will end. The few left in Aram will share the fate of Israel’s departed glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 17:1-3 (NLT)

Given the news reports, it’s easy to imagine a scenario in which Syria and Iran use Hezbollah as a proxy to launch WMD rocket attacks on northern Israel.  Such attacks would cause widespread devastation, and in all likelihood, Israel would respond in kind, not just against Hezbollah, but Damascus and the other terrorists havens of the region.

Of course, all of this speculation.  The exact scenario is not a foregone conclusion.   But at some point, Isaiah 17 will be fulfilled.  And browsing current headlines, it’s more likely now than ever before…

So does that mean the Forbes article right?  Is it “Armageddon Time”?

No.  Not yet.

The battle of Armageddon is not in the immediate future.  According to the end times timeline, several additional events must take place before the world’s armies gather at Armageddon.

But the recent rumors of war do constitute a definitive sign of the end times, and if war is on the immediate horizon, it’s possible we could soon witness the fulfillment of Psalm 83, Isaiah 17, and/or Ezekiel 38-39.

Remember the words of our Lord:

“Jesus told them, ‘Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”  Matthew 24:4-8 (NLT)

The end is yet to come, but current events in the Middle East constitute a bona fide birth pain signaling the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When He comes, let Him find us diligently engaged in His work…

When it comes to Satan, hell, and bible prophecy, a number of myths and misunderstandings have taken root over the years.

It’s important to correct these myths, because people need to know the truth.

Not only the truth about what is, but the truth about what’s going to be…

The bible has a lot to say about Satan, hell, and the future.  And knowing what the bible says helps us to develop a worldview grounded in truth and perspective.

If we want to understand the world around us, now and in the future, it’s essential to know what the bible says.

So let’s address two widespread myths which persist to this day…

Myth #1: Satan Resides in Hell

One of the most persistent cultural myths in our lifetime is the idea that Satan resides in hell.  In the images of pop culture, Satan is pictured as the undisputed ruler of hell.

But according to the bible, Satan is not in hell.  In fact, according to the bible, Satan splits his time between this world and heaven.

This concept is clearly illustrated in the Book of Job, when Satan himself comes before the Lord…

“One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.”  Job 2:1 (NLT)

It’s clear from this passage that Satan isn’t a prisoner of eternal torment in hell as conventional wisdom so often states.

On the contrary, the bible portrays him as having regular access to God.  The Book of Revelation calls him, “the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10 (NLT)

This verse paints a portrait of Satan as a heavenly figure who accuses the followers of Christ day and night before the Lord of Creation.  In its entirety, this prophetic passage also clearly states that Satan will be thrown down to earth…

“For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10 (NLT)

And that begs the question…  Thrown down from where?  The obvious implication is that Satan will be thrown down from heaven, where he currently resides.

If this is true, where do we get the idea that Satan resides in hell?

Well, we get it from the bible…  But what is often misunderstood is that hell is not Satan’s present residence; it’s his future destination.

Right now (the pre-Tribulation period), Satan is in heaven.  But his days in heaven are numbered.  God will not endure Satan’s presence forever, and the time which is marked for Satan’s permanent exile from heaven is the mid-point of the Tribulation.

As the Book of Revelation reveals…

“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” Revelation 12:7-9 (NLT)

It’s a commonly held belief that Satan and his rebellious angels were banished from heaven long ago, but that’s a myth.

Satan’s banishment is a future event, one slated for the last days.

And Satan will not become a resident of hell until after the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ, when he is bound and thrown into the lake of fire…

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon – that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan – and bound him in chains for a thousand years.  The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished.” Revelation 20:1-3 (NLT)

And that leads us to a second myth…

Myth #2: Satan Will Rule Over Hell

The second myth involves Satan’s ultimate role in hell.

If you buy into the conventional wisdom, Satan is the undisputed ruler of hell, a place where he wields power over fellow inhabitants, torturing them day and night.

But the bible paints a different picture…

It’s a picture of Satan as a defeated being who is mocked mercilessly and ridiculed by the very people he led astray…

“In the place of the dead there is excitement over your arrival. The spirits of world leaders and mighty kings long dead stand up to see you. With one voice they all cry out, ‘Now you are as weak as we are!  Your might and power were buried with you.  The sound of the harp in your palace has ceased.  Now maggots are your sheet, and worms your blanket.’” Isaiah 14:9-11 (NLT)

Rather than facing an eternal future as dictator of hell, Satan faces a humbling future as the lowest of the low in hell…

“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning!  You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.  For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.  I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.  I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’  Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths. Everyone there will stare at you and ask, ‘Can this be the one who shook the earth and made the kingdoms of the world tremble? Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wasteland? Is this the king who demolished the world’s greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?’” Isaiah 14:12-17 (NLT)

Despite his ambition, this is Satan’s ultimate fate.

And he knows it.  After all, Satan also studies the scriptures, as evidenced by his use of scripture in his temptation of Jesus:

“Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.  And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Matthew 4:5-6 (NLT)

Here, Satan exhibits full knowledge of Psalm 91:11-12, and you can be absolutely certain he knows Isaiah 14, Revelation 12, Revelation 20, and the rest of God’s Word.

That’s why, when Satan is thrown down to earth, he arrives in great anger.  Because he knows his time is short…

“Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!  And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!  But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”  Revelation 12:12 (NLT)

In a last ditch effort to avoid to his fate, Satan will attempt to annihilate the Jews…

“When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.”  Revelation 12:13 (NLT)

Why is Satan trying to annihilate the Jews?

Because, if he’s successful in doing so, he wins an enormous victory over God.

After all, God made a promise to Abraham…

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.’” Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)

And God’s promise included the land of Israel…

“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’” Genesis 12:7 (NLT)

If Satan can eliminate the physical descendants of Abraham, then he makes God a liar.  Does this help shed some light on why anti-Semitism persists and why Hitler so vehemently pursued the Holocaust?

Satan was, and is, behind it all.

But this hatred isn’t reserved exclusively for the Jews.  God’s promise to Abraham included Abraham’s spiritual descendants as well…

“Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.  If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.”  Romans 4:13-14 (NLT)

And who are Abraham’s spiritual descendants?

Those who forge “a right relationship with God that comes by faith.”

When Satan is thrown down to the earth, he will ruthlessly pursue those people too…

“And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children – all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.”  Revelation 12:17 (NLT)

Does this help you better understand Christian persecution throughout the ages?

Satan hates Jews and Christians, because both are beneficiaries of God’s promise to Abraham…  God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants.

Right now, Satan commands great influence over the inhabitants of this world…

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)

But Satan’s rule is destined to come to an end, and he knows it.

That’s why the Tribulation is such a terrible time in human history.  Knowing he has little time, Satan will deploy the full use of his power in a feeble attempt to prove God’s Word false and avoid his ultimate destination…  Hell.

As a result, terrible times are coming, but those with faith will avoid the great time of testing…

“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it.  And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God – the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.” Revelation 3:10-12 (NLT)

In the meantime…

We should trust in Christ.  We should obey His commandments, and use what little time we have left on this earth to bring glory to God.  We should preach His Word to those who will listen.  And we should show love for friends and enemies alike, doing unto to others as we would have them do unto us.

We should live our lives as faithful servants of Christ, and look forward to the day when we hear a loud voice shouting across the heavens…

“It has come at last – salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night.  And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.  And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.  Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!  And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!”  Revelation 12:10-12 (NLT)

Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus!

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Recently, I read a blog post and accompanying comments which addressed an article I had previously written.  Unfortunately, the post and some of the comments focused on challenging the Word of God and denigrating believers in Jesus Christ.

But this is nothing new.  We’ve seen these types of comments before.

They go something like this…

“The bible is a fairy tale.”
“God is completely made up.”
“Why won’t God show Himself?”
“Where’s the evidence of God?”
“Christians are idiots with blind faith in fairy tales.”

Some of these statements are blatantly false opinions unsubstantiated by fact, while others are legitimate questions.  The remainder of this article will attempt address these points for the non-believer.

Is God Made Up?

God is certainly not a figment of man’s imagination.  In fact, it’s the idea that God doesn’t exist that’s a concept invented by mankind, not the other way around.

As God is quick to remind us…

“Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm 14:1 (NLT)

It’s pure foolishness to deny the existence of God. 

Why?

Because evidence of His existence is all around us, a point which will be addressed in detail momentarily.

But right now, we should be more concerned with where this idea comes from.  Why do so many people outright reject the idea of God’s existence?  After all, even demons acknowledge God as evidenced by the following:

“As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.  As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, ‘Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!’  For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him.”  Luke 8:27-29 (NLT)

Not only do the demons acknowledge God’s existence, but also His power, because they beg for His mercy:

“The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.” Luke 8:30 (NLT)

So if demons acknowledge God’s existence, why are so many people confused?

One reason is because the Prince of this world has successfully convinced many people that belief in God is incompatiable with rational thought and logic.

But is this really the case?

Blind Faith?

One of the favorite stand-by slanders utilized by those who deny the existence of God is the following…

“I don’t accept the truth of ancient texts with blind faith.  Our ancestors just made up the idea of God because they couldn’t explain the world.”

The insinuation is that if you accept the existence of God and God’s Word (the Bible), then you must throw all rationality and common sense out the window.  Why?  Because there’s no evidence any of this stuff is true!

Does that line of irrational thought sound familiar? 

It should.  I’ve heard it all my life, and this line of reasoning is just plain ignorant of the facts.

Why?

Because it…

1) Equates faith with a blind unquestioning acceptance
2) It assumes no evidence of God exists

Both are incorrect assumptions.

Faith is not blind acceptance, and faith is not an irrational embrace of uproven tradition.

Faith is trust.  Trust and belief that someone will hold true to their word.

And trust is built on reputation.

For instance, you might trust someone if they have a history of integrity, a track record of reliability, and an impeccable reputation of trustworthiness established over a long period of time.  In such a case, it’s reasonable and rational to expect the person’s trustworthiness will continue.

I have faith in Jesus Christ not because my ancestors did, and not because I cling to a false hope…  It’s just the opposite! 

I have faith in Jesus Christ because I trust God.  I trust Him to keep His Word.

Here’s what God had to say hundreds of years before Jesus Christ came into this world…

“I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.”  Deuteronomy 18:18 (NLT)

God promised a prophet from among the Israelites.  He promised to put His own words in that prophet’s mouth. 

Then when God sent His prophet, He and His servant John testified on His behalf…

“Then John testified, ‘I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’” John 1:32-34 (NLT)

My well-reasoned, rational reason to have faith in Jesus Christ?  …Because God said to trust Him!

And given His track record, I’ll take God’s Word over the words of the world. 

Will I fall victim to false hope?

Don’t count on it…

“And anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.” 1 Peter 2:6 (NLT)

So why do I trust God’s Word?  What makes God so trustworthy?  What’s His track record?

And why would anyone accept anything written in the Bible as true?  Where’s the evidence?

Once I show you, you won’t equate faith in Jesus Christ with blind acceptance.   Instead, you’ll understand that faith in Jesus Christ is nothing more than trust in the Word of God.  And God has proven He deserves our trust.

The Evidence of God

One of the common arguments put forth by those who discount God’s existence is the following:

“Okay, if God exists…  Where’s the evidence?”

Unfortunately, most believers are unprepared to respond properly.  As a result, the self-righteous questioner believes he’s won his argument.

Yet nothing is farther from the truth.

There’s plenty of evidence of God’s existence.

Creation is one.  Bible prophecy is another.  And both directly testify to people who live today, and there’s no denying the reality of either.

Creation

The very existence of creation is evidence enough of God’s existence.

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skies display his craftsmanship.  Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.  They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.  Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 (NLT)

Creation speaks to every person on a daily basis, literally proclaiming God’s existence to the world.  So how can anyone say there’s no evidence of God?

They can’t…

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”  Romans 1:20 (NLT)

On its own, creation provides such indisputable evidence of God’s glory that people “have no excuse for not knowing God.”

So, in an effort to explain away God and creation, non-believers evolve various theories as to how creation came into existence…  Notice who’s engaged in the creative, ever-evolving storytelling here?  Hint, it’s not Bible believers.

So who’s irrational?  The man who looks at a snowflake and believes an intelligent designer created it?  Or the one who looks at the same snowflake and chalks it up to random chance?

Bible Prophecy

As if creation weren’t enough, God created a written account of His Word and gave it to the world.  He challenged mankind to test it and to live by it.

But have non-believers objectively tested God’s Word?

No.  If they did, they would be aware of hundreds and hundreds of fulfilled prophecies written in some cases thousands of years prior to their fulfillment.  They would realize the statistical improbability of 100% of these prophecies reaching fulfillment, and they would believe in God.

After all, mankind can’t even fortell the direction of tomorrow’s stock market.

Yet God regularly fortells the rise and fall of nations centuries in advance!

And throughout the Old Testament, He points to this unique ability as evidence of His existence:

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.” Isaiah 42:8-9 (NLT)

“‘Present the case for your idols,’ says the Lord. ‘Let them show what they can do,’ says the King of Israel. ‘Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods.’” Isaiah 41:21-23 (NLT)

“This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: ‘I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future.’” Isaiah 44:6-7 (NLT)

So, how does God’s promise stand the test of time?

It stands up perfectly.  Hundreds of prophecies fulfilled, one-hundred percent accuracy.

This article doesn’t contain enough room to address every one of prophecies.  But there’s one that’s undeniable to the modern day non-believer…

The birth of Israel as a nation.

Israel

Non-believers can dismiss the messianic prophecies as unfulfilled by claiming the Gospels were written by the followers of Jesus and that Medieval historians revised history.

But you can’t make the claim of historical revisionism when a prophecy is fulfilled in your own day.

And God’s Word was fulfilled in plain sight, for all the world to see, in May 1948.  That’s when Israel became a nation for the first time in almost 2,000 years.

2,600 years ago, the prophet Isaiah spoke on behalf of God, who promised to gather Israel’s children from the four corners of the earth and bring them back to the land He promised them:

“‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west and from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.” Isaiah 43:5-7 (NLT)

God also promised through the prophet Jeremiah to bring the people of Israel out of exile and back into their land:

“‘But the time is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when people who are taking an oath will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ For I will bring them back to this land that I gave their ancestors.” Jeremiah 16:14-15 (NLT)

And, as if that weren’t enough, God reiterated His intentions through the prophet Ezekiel:

“Therefore, give the exiles this message from the Sovereign Lord: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you were scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.” Ezekiel 11:16-17 (NLT)

The promise to restore Israel as a nation isn’t made just once, twice, or even three times in the Bible, but numerous times.  Space constraints simply don’t allow for an exhaustive look at all of God’s prophecies concerning Israel.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that long before the Jewish people ended an almost 2,000 year exile from the land of Israel, God promised their return.

These promises weren’t “made up” by mere men…  How could they be?  Who but God could have foreseen the Jewish exile and subsequent regathering?  What other nation of people in the history of the world faced a forced exile yet retained all the elements of their cultural, religious, and social heritage?

The modern day nation of Israel is bombshell testimony of God’s existence…

“Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NLT)

Which opens the door to even more evidence…

The Holy Spirit

Aside from creation and fulfilled bible prophecy, the Holy Spirit offers further evidence of God’s existence.  Those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ can testify to the existence of the Holy Spirit, which gives regular testimony of God’s existence.

As Jesus promised:

“But I will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.” John 15:26-27 (NLT)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)

As Paul points out, the Holy Spirit transforms a person.  So those people are a testimony of Christ’s existence:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Unfortunately, evidence of the Holy Spirit is hidden from the non-believer:

“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, ‘Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?’ But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (NLT)

Believers in Christ can understand these things, because they “have the mind of Christ.”  But in the eyes of non-believers, the Holy Spirit and God’s existence sounds foolish.

Why Won’t God “Show” Himself?

Another typical argument put forward by the non-believing public is this one…

“If God exists, where is He?  Why won’t God show Himself?”

This shows ignorance on two fronts…

First, God shows Himself every day through the Holy Spirit to countless believers.  But since non-believers themselves can not experience the fruits of the Holy Spirit, they make an assumption that it does not exist.

Second, it ignores creation, bible prophecy, and the historical background of God “showing Himself” to mankind.

After all, God used to regularly show Himself to mankind.  Unfortunately, the non-believers of the Old Testament era got upset and asked God to no longer reveal Himself in the same way…

“And they said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!’” Exodus 20:19 (NLT)

Why did they make this request?  Because God scared them!  He spoke with thunderous authority, and He made demands of mankind that mankind did not want to adhere to…

So what did God do?

Gentleman that He is, He honored their request.  God promised to no longer speak in thunderous tones from a mountain top.  Instead, He promised to send a prophet to speak on His behalf…

“Moses continued, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lord your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai.  You said, ‘Don’t let us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘What they have said is right.  I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.’”  Deuteronomy 18:15-19 (NLT)

The prophet God sent is Jesus Christ.  He is the physical and human manifestation of God Almighty Himself…  the very thing the non-believers demand!  Yet, in spite of His coming and fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies, non-believers continue to insist, “God does not exist…”

They continue to proclaim…

“There’s no evidence.”

They continue to demand…

“Why doesn’t God show Himself?”

Yet, God did and does show Himself.  His name is Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

While the non-believers of this world continue to insist a belief in God is utter foolishness, the exclusive domain of irrational intellectual Neandrathals who embrace fairy tales…  God has something else in mind.

It turns out the joke is on the intellectually arrogant.  For in the eyes of God, the wisdom of this world is nothing more than mere foolishness:

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’  And again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.’” 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 (NLT)

God exists.  Evidence abounds.

And God will soon show Himself to the world through the Glorious Appearing of His Son, Jesus Christ…

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Last month, Fox News interviewed world famous physics professor Michio Kaku to discuss the creation of a revolutionary battery by Angela Belcher of MIT…

Watch Michio Kaku on Fox News

But the star of the discussion wasn’t Belcher’s breakthrough or battery technology itself, but rather an entirely new phase of technological development, which Prof. Kaku describes as “a Second Industrial Revolution.”

This is significant because it’s one of the first times a mainstream media network has mentioned molecular manufacturing in a realistic context.

Below are some excerpts of Prof. Kaku’s comments, followed by my own thoughts…

“A virus cuts and splices other molecules together. At the key juncture, then you manufacture billions of these things.  This could set off a second industrial revolution. Imagine molecular factories creating Pentium chips.  Molecular factories creating batteries.”

Think molecular manufacturing is impossible?

Some people do?

They’re wrong.

How can I be so certain?

Because humans are molecular machines.  So are plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses.  Each of these organisms has the ability to self-replicate and to manufacture copies with molecular precision.

Prof. Kaku hits the nail on the head when he draws the parallel between a virus and manufacturing system.  Once humanity gains control over a process viruses have utilized since the beginning of time, things will never be the same again.

As Prof. Kaku states…

“It could create a second industrial revolution. The first industrial revolution was based on mass production of large machines. The second industrial revolution could be molecular manufacture.”

And

“We’re talking about a new way of manufacturing almost everything. Instead of having robots that are gigantic and clumsy, you now have molecular robots, because what does a virus do? A virus cuts and splices and dices other molecules. So why not use that molecular ability to create a whole plethora of things for the computer age and the electric age? And so this could remove many bottlenecks in our manufacturing industry.”

So what does this Second Industrial Revolution look like?

Nanofactory Animation

The YouTube video below provides an incredible visual representation of a tabletop nanofactory, a future household appliance with an internal molecular manufacturing capability…

Watch the Animated Nanofactory

From Animation to Reality

Could the animation above simply be “a movie trailer” of things to come?

More than two years ago, I wrote a post on this site titled “Molecular Manufacturing in 3 to 5 Years?”

And the YouTube animation above is at least that old…

My point?

Molecular manufacturing is well on its way to becoming reality, and the world needs to be prepared.  Such a powerful technology in the hands of one individual or a small group will inevitably lead to world government and an atmosphere where freedom and liberty are severely threatened…

Why?

Take some time to review these past posts…

The Necessity of Global Government Confirmed
Deception In The End Times
Why Global Government Is Inevitable
Material Abundance In The End Times
Paving the Way for the Antichrist
Who Will Develop Molecular Manufacturing?
Revelation 6 (Part 1): The Rider on the White Horse
Revelation 6 (Part 2): The Rider on the Red Horse
Revelation 6 (Part 3): The Rider on the Black Horse
Revelation 6 (Part 4): The Rider on the Pale Green Horse

You might view these observations as idle speculation, but the rational mind should view them as evidence of an imminent event of profound significance.

What’s that upcoming event?

It’s not the start of the Second Industrial Revolution…

It’s the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

If you have yet to understand the significance of this time, that the world we live in is radically different than the world of past generations, then let this serve as a wake-up call. 

Two thousand years ago, Peter spoke of our generation…

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’” 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)

Does a Second Industrial Revolution sparked by molecular manufacturing sound like a world where “everything has remained the same” since the times of our ancestors?

Of course not.

Simple observation reveals a world where social and technological change is taking place at a rapid, exponential pace. 

This isn’t random chance.  It’s a sign of something to come.

That something is not the singularity, and it’s not molecular manufacturing.

It’s the return of Jesus Christ.

If you’re wise, you’ll take note and make preparations for His return…

“See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12-13 (NLT)

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As the ticking of God’s prophetic timeclock brings us closer and closer to the day of the Lord’s return, believers need to be on guard against false teachers and false teachings.  By means of laziness, deception, apathy, willing rebellion, and myriad other methods, people today seem more apt to indulge in and adhere to blatantly false doctrine than ever before.  Not only is this a sign of the end times, but it’s a threat to the eternal heavenly destination of innumerable souls.  Christians should be on guard against the false teachings of our day so that we can educate our friends and neighbors who might be at risk of being deceived.

For as the news of our time illustrates, false teachings and deception are widespread, even in “the church”…

Americans Accept “Array of Faiths”

From OneNewsNow:

A new survey finds Christianity is no longer the default faith of most Americans.  The survey was conducted by The Barna Group, which found that half of Americans believe Christianity is just one of many options for genuine faith. George Barna, the group’s founder, believes the study confirms that more Americans are adopting a pluralistic mindset.  “Americans are increasingly very accepting of a diverse array of faiths,” he notes. “They’re less likely to think that Christianity is right or accurate in what it teaches.” [More…]

According to the rest of the story, most Americans are developing their views on faith from “conversations they have with friends” rather than the Word of God as outlined in the Bible.  Despite the fact that Americans are more literate than most of the people who have lived throughout history, the overwhelming majority refuse to read the bible for guidance in daily living, choosing instead to follow their own teachings and desires. 

Almost 2,000 years ago, Paul warned of this time in a letter to Timothy:

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)

The following exerpts from the Friday Church News Notes on The Way of Life website, only serve to underscore the depths to which America has fallen.

More Emerging Coolness: The Purple People Leader

From WayOfLife.Org:

Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, has announced a series of talks on leadership principles entitled “Purple People Leader.” Whatever can be said about these people, one thing is sure; they are worldly cool. The name is a take on the silly 1950s pop song “Purple People Eater.” Since it hit #1 on the Billboard chart in 1958, the song has sold one hundred million copies. It is about a “one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater” that comes to earth to play in a rock & roll band. Furtick says, “Rather than run from culture we have chosen to harness it…” [More…]

Harness the culture?  Be “Worldly Cool”?

Embracing this world is not embracing God Almighty, but rather, the god of this world:

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”  2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)

Those who think the Word of God needs worldly culture to be relevant simply don’t understand the message of the Gospel.

Rock Star Karaoke At Saddleback Church

Also from WayOfLife.Org:

The latest edition of Saddleback Church’s publication “The Slice of Life” advertises “Rock Star Karaoke.” The announcement says, “Are you a single adult looking to blow off some steam and sing your heart out? Then join us for Rock Star Karaoke this Saturday, January 24 at 8:00 p.m. in Tent 2 and sing your favorite hits and watch others do the same! This is your chance to feel like a rock star, so bring your friends!” [More…]

Here’s what Paul had to say about such things in his letter to the Romans:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”  Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Paul is explicit in his assertion that copying the behavior and customs of this world is not in conformance with God’s will.  Just because such events enjoy worldly success by successfully assembling thousands in “a church” doesn’t mean they are activities sanctioned by God:

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”  Proverbs 14:12 (NLT)

Conformance to the Word of God should be our measuring stick for success, not any worldly outcome.

Televangelism Empire in Choas Over Family Split

From OneNewsNow:

Once one of the nation’s most popular televangelists, the Rev. Robert H. Schuller is watching his life’s work crumble.  His son and recent successor, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, has abruptly resigned as senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral. The shimmering, glass-walled megachurch is home to the “Hour of Power” broadcast, an evangelism staple that’s been on the air for more than three decades. [More…]

Who is Robert Schuller?  According to the article:

He studied marketing strategies to attract worshippers and preached a feel-good Christianity, describing himself as a “possibility thinker” and spinning his upbeat style into a 10,000-member church and a broadcast watched by millions worldwide. [More…]

We’ve seen this time and time again.  Does the Gospel of Christ need a marketing strategy?  Is it not worthy of attracting people on its own merit?

Later in the article, we read this disturbing tidbit:

The Schullers consider the church a family business and the younger Schuller’s 2006 appointment was sanctioned by the Crystal Cathedral’s parent denomination, the Reformed Church in America.

Apparently, the Schuller family considered their ministry “a family business,” not an outreach for bringing the Gospel of Christ to those in need.  Peddling the Word of God for profit is nothing new.

We’ve seen it before:

“Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.  He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!’”  Matthew 21:12-13 (NLT)

Receiving money for preaching the Gospel of Christ is not contrary to God’s will.  However, when money becomes a person’s primary motive for evangelism, then something has gone drastically awry.  One can not serve two masters.  Either you serve Christ, or you serve money.  But you can not serve both.

As we look around us, many religious organizations are crumbling.  Others seem fine in their outward appearance, but in reality, they’re rotten to the core.  These organizations have been built on a foundation other than Christ, and any such organization is doomed from the beginning.

That’s why our guide should never be worldly organizations whose motives and agendas conform to the world.  Instead, our guide should be the Holy scriptures:

“But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.  In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money.” 2 Peter 2:1-3 (NLT)

Always question doctrines and teachings, whether old or new, to see if they conform to the Word of God as laid out in the Bible.  Only in the Word can you find the final authority on the truth. 

Always investigate matters for yourself, and don’t depend on others, for in this world, false teachers are always among us:

“But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.  I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”  Jude 1:3-4 (NLT)

Today, the world is host to an endless array of false teachers who will tell a willing public that anything and everything is acceptable to God.  They will point to God’s unending grace as evidence for believing their lies.  But don’t listen to them.  Listen to the Holy Spirit within you.  For the Holy Spirit of God does not chase after worldly desire:

“But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said.  They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.  These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.”  Jude 1:17-19 (NLT)

As false teachers multiply, the Lord’s return draws ever closer.  In such times, we should strengthen each other and those around us by remaining alert at all times.

Let the Word of God always be our guide; let the Glory of Jesus Christ always be our focus.

Britt

Since posting “Is Barack Obama the Antichrist?” I’ve received a number of emails from well-intentioned individuals who have been quick to point out the folly of my reasoning in definitively stating that he is not.  Most responses have centered around Barack Obama’s lineage and how he can still fulfill the prophecies of the Antichrist for varying reasons which differ depending on the emailer.

This is my fault.  I apologize for writing a post that was incomplete in its analysis of the prophecies which identify the Antichrist and his various character traits.  As previously stated, I certainly understand why this speculation surrounds Barack Obama.  He is a unique figure in modern American politics.  However, he simply does not fulfill the prophecies of the Antichrist.

Our authoritative source on the Antichrist’s identity should not be human theories or speculations, no matter how badly we want them to be true.  Our authoritative source should be the Word of God only.  When we turn to scripture, we will find the unfiltered truth.

Here’s what Paul had to say about the Antichrist:

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.  Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.  Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed – the one who brings destruction.  He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?  And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.  For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.  Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.”  2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (NLT)

Notice what Paul says – “Do not be easily alarmed or shaken by those who say the Day of the Lord has already begun.”  Although we are certainly living in the end times, the Tribulation has not yet begun.  And the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, will not be revealed until the Tribulation begins.

As Paul states:

“And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.  For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.  Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed…”  2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (NLT)

The Antichrist is currently being held back by the Holy Spirit which indwells every believer on earth.  Once the followers of Christ are taken into heaven following the rapture, then and only then, will it be possible for the identity of the Antichrist to be revealed.  According to Paul, the Antichrist’s identity will remain a secret until that time.

Does Paul say, “You’ll have suspicions about who the Antichrist is, but they’ll only be confirmed after the rapture and once the Tribulation begins”?  No.  Paul states, “it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.”  This is a clear statement from Paul that prior to the Tribulation, no one will know the Antichrist’s identity.

Undoubtedly, I’ll still get emails saying I’m wrong, and Paul didn’t really mean what he said – that what Paul really meant was that Christians couldn’t be certain about the identity of the Antichrist until that time, but in the meantime, they could know or have an idea or certainly make an educated guess.

Yet, the scriptures are clear.  Paul plainly states that, prior to the Tribulation, the identity of the Antichrist “will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.”

If this is the case, then why study prophecies concerning the Antichrist?

This is a good question.

As Christians, it’s our duty to study the scriptures and teach others as guided by the Holy Spirit.  By teaching scriptural prophecies concerning the Antichrist, we will enable those who are living on earth during the Tribulation to clearly understand who the Antichrist is once he is revealed.  Our hope is that his widely recognized fulfillment of these prophecies will verify the accuracy of scripture for non-believers, and in turn, they will become believers who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Current speculations on the identity of the Antichrist don’t serve this purpose.  Instead, they serve to undermine prophecy and Christianity in the eyes of non-believers.  Those who don’t take the time to study the scriptures look back on various historical Christian speculations concerning the identity of the Antichrist and see a long list of failed candidates – Nero, Charlemagne, Napoleon, Hitler, Ronald Reagan, Saddam Hussein, and countless others.  In due time, when Barack Obama’s name is added to the list of failed candidates, all the current speculation surrounding him will have come to nothing.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should diligently study prophecy and the Word of God, but we shouldn’t spend our time diligently scanning the geopolitical landscape in a search for the Antichrist.  We should spend our time diligently scanning the scriptures and searching the sky for Jesus Christ.

He is our hope.  He should be our central focus.

The identity of the Antichrist will be revealed at its appointed time.

Britt

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This site has long warned of the implications of the development of molecular manufacturing and how such a development fits into the context of bible prophecy.  As we get closer to the day when Christ returns, we can also observe a noticeable exponential increase in the development of advanced human technologies.

This should come as no surprise.  Jesus warned his disciples in the Olivet Discourse that the time just prior to His Coming would be marked by tribulation:

“For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.”  Matthew 24:21 (NLT)

Reading through the headlines of our day, it’s easy to imagine such a time…

Russia’s Emphasis on Nano Weaponry

From the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies:

Take this with at least a grain of salt, probably more, and recognize that you’re reading an English translation from Spanish of news items taken from Russian media and translated from Russian into Spanish.  Still, after all those caveats, and remembering the penchant of Russian leaders for hyperbole, this report has an ominous ring to it: The Russian Military Complex (RMC)successfully applies nanotechnology in the production of weapons and war materials, informed the government vice president, Serguei Ivanov.  Ivanov added that this field ofscience can radically change the character of war and added that theworks of RMC will be completely financed. [More…]

Yet more evidence that the governments of this world are feverishly racing toward the development of molecular manufacturing.

Self-Assembled Spherical Nanostructures

From Chemie.De:

Nicola Armaroli and co-workers from CNR-ISOF, Bologna, Italy, and Davide Bonifazi and colleagues from the Università di Trieste, Italy, and the University of Namur, Belgium, have shown that conjugated molecules bearing complementary hydrogen bonding sites can self-organise into complex nanostructures, which resemble natural micellar systems. [More…]

As nature illustrates, molecular manufacturing already exists.  But this technological breakthrough brings humanity a step closer to the software control of matter, a step closer to the day when humans can harness the power of self-assembling molecules to construct objects and machines that most people believe are outside the realm of possibility.

Scientists Teleport Matter More Than Three Feet

From Fox News:

Scientists have come a bit closer to achieving the “Star Trek” feat of teleportation.  No one is galaxy-hopping, or even beaming people around, but for the first time, information has been teleported between two separate atoms across a distance of a meter — about a yard.  This is a significant milestone in a field known as quantum information processing, said Christopher Monroe of the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland, who led the effort.   [More…]

And yet another step is taken toward harnessing the power of nature.  When humans can capture the power of atomic communication, quantum computers of unimaginable speed and processing power become possible.  Such computers would dwarf today’s supercomputers by several orders of magnitude, placing previously impossible acts within reach.  One such possibility is a powerful computer network capable of identifying, tracking, and securing every financial transaction on earth.

A Fantastic Voyage Brought to Life

From ScienceMode.com:

Ever since the 1966 Hollywood movie, doctors have imagined a real-life Fantastic Voyage –– a medical vehicle shrunk small enough to “submarine” in and fix faulty cells in the body. Thanks to new research by Tel Aviv University scientists, that reality may be only three years away. [More…]

Our bodies already self-repair when we experience a cut of the skin or a broken bone.  Why not speed up the process by manipulating our bodies on the molecular level?  Such precision will lead to plunging mortality rates and dramatically improved health for the human race.

Unfortunately, human arrogance and disdain for God are likely to increase in parallel with these advancements.

Where Is All This Leading?

To understand just where this is all leading, we only need open our bible to the Book of Genesis, where we find the story of the Tower of Babel:

“At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words. As the people migrated eastward, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began to talk about construction projects. ‘Come,’ they said, ‘let’s make great piles of burnt brick and collect natural asphalt to use as mortar. Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world.’  But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. ‘Look!’ he said. ‘If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and give them different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.’  In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the people by giving them many languages, thus scattering them across the earth.” Genesis 11:1-9 (NLT)

In this story, God scatters the human race and confuses them with different languages. His reason for doing so is to avoid the inevitable disaster wrought by global government and a common language. Why are these things a concern? Because if they continue unabated, in due time, “nothing will be impossible” for the human race. This is more than a flippant comment by God. It’s a prophecy of things to come.

It’s a prophecy of something so bad, God put a stop to it the moment He first saw it. God knew that, left to pursue its technological development, the human race would one day challenge Him. After all, what was the motive for building the Tower of Babel in the first place?

“Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness!” Genesis 11:4 (NLT)

The human race set out to build a monument to its own greatness, exalting mankind above God and extending its tower far into heaven with the sole intent of usurping God’s glory and authority. This innate human desire did not end with the Tower of Babel. It continues to this day, and soon it will result in one final attempt to usurp the authority of God.

With human technology advancing at an exponential pace, that day will come sooner than most people think.

Britt

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Over 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel foretold of a day when a coalition of nations would gather together to invade the nation of Israel.  Known as Gog and his hordes, this coalition will attack at a time when Israel is recovering from a recent war and residing in a relatively peaceful state.  Notice that this attack occurs “after the return of her people from many lands,” an indication that this attack will be directed toward the modern state of Israel (whose people have been re-gathered in just such a way), and is not a reference to a past war or a war in the distant future.

The details of this future battle are found in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39:

“This is another message that came to me from the Lord: ‘Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others.’” Ezekiel 38:1-6 (NLT)

The nations cited by Ezekiel are each referenced here by the names of their Old Testament predecessors, yet they all represent nations which exist today. Centuries before Russia became a power on the world stage, biblical scholars identified Magog as the nation of Russia and Gog as the ruler of Russia. The other nations referenced in Ezekiel 38 are identified below, with the original Hebrew translation listed first, followed by its modern day equivalent:

Magog, Meshech, and Tubal = Russia
Persia = Iran
Cush = Ethiopia
Put = Libya
Gomer = Turkey
Beth-togarmah = Turkey, Armenia, and the Turkish-speaking people of Asia Minor

According to God, Russia will mobilize a coalition that includes these nations in “the latter days.”

It’s not surprising to see these modern day nations aligned against Israel.  After all, a significant number of Islamic radicals reside in each one of these countries, but while Russia, Iran, and Libya have a recent track record of antagonizing the West – and Israel in particular – the modern nation of Turkey does not.  In fact, Turkey is a member of NATO, a candidate for inclusion in the European Union, and is considered by many to be the world’s most successful Islamic democracy.  Its past relationship with Israel has been one of friendly cooperation.  Recent history simply does not indicate that Turkey has cause to attack Israel.

As a result, the question of Turkey’s complicity in the Gog/Magog invasion has baffled prophecy scholars until recent years, as many have had little reason to believe Turkey would join such a coalition.

Yet today’s headlines indicate a marked increase in friction between the nation of Turkey and its supposed ally Israel.  As Islamic radicalism has enjoyed political success in recent years, Turkey is becoming more and more anti-Western in its foreign policy.  And its hardline Islamic leadership’s shared disdain for Israel may well be the deciding factor which drives it into the arms of the Gog/Magog alliance.

Turkish Prime Minister: Israel Should Be Barred From UN

From the Jerusalem Post:

Turkey’s prime minister on Friday said Israel should be barred from the United Nations while it ignores the body’s calls to stop fighting in Gaza. ‘How is such a country, which does not implement resolutions of the UN Security Council, allowed to enter through the gates of the UN (headquarters)?’ Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.  [More…]

Why are most Islamic countries which don’t allow their own citizens to vote, allowed to cast votes in equal standing with other nations who respect freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and human rights?  Who is the UN to criticize Israel?

Rupture Feared in Israel-Turkey Relations

From WorldNetDaily:

Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip could affect its relationships with Turkey, impact U.S. Middle East policy and even push Turkey closer to Iran, which supports Hamas in Gaza, security experts say, according to a report from Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.  Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has decried Israeli action in the Gaza Strip, accusing the Jewish state of “perpetrating inhuman actions which would bring it to self-destruction.  Allah will sooner or later punish those who transgress the rights of innocents.” Although Turkey is a non-Arab Muslim nation, it has been one of Israel’s closest allies in the region.  [More…]

Although Israel and Turkey have long enjoyed a close relationship marked by cooperation, Turkey is now being driven into the arms of Iran – just as the prophet Ezekiel foretold 2,600 years ago.

Turkey’s Drift Away from the West

From the Jerusalem Post:

A decade ago, Western and Israeli leaders could count on Turkey as an ally. A solid NATO member, Ankara took decisions based on pragmatic calculations of interest - and erred on the side of caution if at all. But under the rule of the Islamic conservative AKP, this has changed.  In the face of Hamas rockets, Israel could have expected more understanding from a country long suffering from aggressive PKK terrorism. The vehemence with which Turkish leaders attacked Israel, and their apparent willingness to convey Hamas’ position to the United Nations, came as a surprise to many.  [More…]

The remainder of the article delves into Turkey’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Georgia, and its seemingly pro-Russia policy stance which is a stark change from the recent past.  Each of these articles is indicative of a trend which will one day see Turkey break rank with the West and join the Gog/Magog alliance against Israel.

Israel-Turkey Relations In Prophecy

From Michael Mickey at RaptureAlert.com:

We know it has to happen. In fact I’ve been writing that it’s going to happen for a long time. What am I referring to? A couple of things involving one end times player actually, but today I’m going to focus my attention on a side of the issue I really haven’t dwelt on much before and that is how the nation of Turkey, presently a member of NATO seeking to gain European Union membership, is going to go from being friendly with Israel to an enemy of Israel and ally of the Russian and Iranian-led confederacy of nations predicted to attack Israel as prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39 - the battle of Gog-Magog as we commonly refer to it. [More…]

As Michael points out, he and many others have been confidently proclaiming for some time that this day would come – the day when Turkey would join the already budding alliance between Russia, Iran, Ethiopia, and Libya.  Why could these people confidently proclaim such a thing?

It isn’t because they have psychic powers, but because the Word of God foretold it:

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.” 2 Peter 1:20 (NLT)

The prophet Ezekiel, moved by the Holy Spirit, revealed more than 2,700 years ago that, in the last days, a coalition of nations led by Russia would gather together to invade the regathered nation of Israel. When this happens, God will use this moment in history to display His glory to all the people of the world.  On that day, many eyes will be opened and many hearts will be transformed.

May glory and honor be given to His name forever and ever!

Britt

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I continue to be dumbfounded by critics who deride the notion of Christ’s Second Coming because false prophets in years past have erroneously proclaimed the year and/or the day of His return.  Date setting certainly has no biblical basis, and the majority of Christians throughout history have had no hand in it.

In spite of this, Christians are commanded by the Lord to be alert and ready for His return at all times.  In fact, the Lord’s promise to return for His people is known as “the blessed hope” among Christians.  And those who believe in the fulfillment of this promise have been lumped by many non-believers into a general category with date setters.  This is a disastrous mistake because, although the bible condemns date setting for Christ’s return, Jesus Himself commanded His followers to be alert to the signs of the times, stating that when they appear, they will be as clear as the weather signs in the sky.

Despite the clarity of this position, many critics continue to point to failed date setters or past generations who suggested their era might witness the fulfillment of the end times prophecies as solid evidence that Christ’s Coming will never occur.  In their eyes, those who point out the fulfillment of bible prophecy in today’s headlines are no different, and therefore, only serve to confirm that “everything has remained the same since the world began.”

Little do they know that such an argument is actually confirmation of a bible prophecy recorded almost 2,000  years ago: 

“Scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’” 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)

Is this true?  Has everything remained the same since the world first began?  Of course it hasn’t.

I tackled some of the reasons why in a past article as well as a radio interview, and today’s headlines only strengthen those arguments…

Gene Parents Plan More Breast Cancer-Free Babies

From the U.K. Times:

The parents of the first British baby screened to be free of a breast cancer gene have spoken publicly about their “beautiful” daughter - and revealed that they plan to have more children free of the hereditary condition.  The parents are remaining anonymous to protect the baby, who was born last week. They are pioneers of a breakthrough in the fight against “hereditary” cancer. Though the parents could conceive naturally, they underwent IVF and genetic screening because three generations of women in the husband’s family had suffered from breast cancer. The procedure ensured that a gene associated with the cancer would not be present in the baby.  [More…]

I could be wrong, but I don’t think people were undergoing this procedure 2,000 years ago.  They weren’t even performing this procedure two years ago.

This article will inevitably spark a debate as to whether or not such a procedure is a good or bad development.  I believe God has given us the tools to improve the human condition, and we should certainly do so.  People have used life-saving surgical procedures and other techniques, such as the addition of pacemakers to improve and preserve life for some time now.

However, the bible warns that one day this power to manipulate God’s creation will lead to a direct confrontation between the human race and God Almighty:

“Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry. ‘And free ourselves from this slavery.’ But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:1-4 (NLT)

Once human beings remove the constraints of the biological bodies which currently enslave them, will they be content with what they have accomplished?  Or is it more likely that human beings still enslaved by sin will use their enormous power in a feeble attempt to free themselves from God’s rule?

China’s Population of Web Users Hits 298 Million

From Yahoo Tech news:

China’s fast-growing population of Internet users has risen to 298 million after passing the United States last year to become the world’s largest, a government-sanctioned research group said Tuesday.  The latest figure is a 41.9 percent increase over the same period last year, the China Internet Network Information Center said in a report.  [More…]

As China’s Internet population continues to explode, the world rushes inexorably closer to the day when every human on the planet will become part of a global network.  As broadband capacity continues to expand on an exponential basis, even those who were considered the most impoverished people in the world just a decade or two ago will be sporting hand-held devices with live Internet feeds.

Could this be what enables the whole world to look upon the bodies of God’s two witnesses in Revelation 11?

“When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them. He will conquer them and kill them. And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city which is called ‘Sodom’ and ‘Egypt,’ the city where their Lord was crucified. And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will come to stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. All the people who belong to this world will give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.” Revelation 11:7-10 (NLT)

As I previously stated in The Technologies of Revelation:

The verse specifically says “all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations” will stare at their bodies, not “some of” the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations. In our day, the technology capable of bringing this event to fruition remains unavailable to much of the world’s population. However, in the very near future, the cost of this technology will significantly decrease in proportion to its power, providing much of the Third World with the media access it currently lacks. As a result of a trend toward more powerful and cost-effective technologies, human progress will ultimately lead to the ubiquitous use of high-bandwidth video feeds on cell phones, PDAs, and other handheld devices most of us probably have yet to imagine.  [More…]

Even the most casual observer has to admit that the world of today is quite different from the world of our ancestors.

The Future of Technology

The following video has been forwarded around the web, and I think it makes a great case for the nearness of Christ’s return.

Click here to see the video.

This presentation is a vivid illustration of the unique nature of the times in which we live.  Human technological development is increasing at an exponential pace.

As previously stated in The Singularity and The Second Coming:

In the near future, the technological advance of human civilization will become so rapid today’s human mind will be unable to comprehend its implications. The point in time at which this occurs is generally known as “the singularity,” and many believe it will usher in a new era for the human race. Throughout the world, many intellectuals and futurists have noted their belief in the nearness of the singularity, with quite a few predicting it will occur within our generation.  Jesus also foresaw the singularity, citing it as one of the foremost signs of the end of this age and the nearness of His Return.  [More…]

According to Daniel, an exponential increase in knowledge will take place in the last days:

“But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” Daniel 12:4 (NLT)

According to this verse, two things will markedly increase in the end times:

1) Transportation
2) Knowledge

Not only will these things increase, but they will both do so exponentially.

So why do critics of Christ’s Second Coming fail to acknowledge such obvious signs?

Because they lack the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and without the Holy Spirit, the truth about where this world is headed seems like utter foolishness:

“But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT)

But for those who are humble and seek the wisdom of God’s Word, the times in which we live should be very clear.

Britt

If you find this site helpful, please consider a donation to support this ministry.