Surprise!

“And God said... let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26. What happened? When did man lose this God ordained dominion over all the earth? When and where did Satan advance to the position of ruler having gained all the power and dominion over all this earth?

At one time, Adam had in his possession the title deed to planet earth. God gave it to him. He held title to some of the nicest property in the universe. Initially Adam was sole owner, but all mankind would have eventually enjoyed an equal share in planet earth if not for Adam’s one little slip up. By rebelling against God, Adam and Eve signed over that title deed to Satan and Satan would hold title (dominion) to planet earth for literally thousands of years. As a matter of fact it’s still in his possession.

“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it,” Luke 4:5, 6. In the above verses, Satan claimed that authority over the earth’s kingdoms was delivered to him, and Jesus didn’t challenge that statement. Here’s a guarantee, Satan will never give even a portion of that power to anyone who won’t worship him. Jesus would never worship Satan, but ungodly men who are hungry for power will sell their souls for a chance to gain that power, and they have.

Satan is the ruler of this world and the prince of the power of the air and has been so, by popular election of mankind, since the days of Adam. “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2. Planet earth is a property currently governed by Satan’s supernatural minions of evil and they hate mankind. Most of mankind has been blinded to this truth since the first rebellion against God.

Since Satan possesses the glory of the kingdoms of this world, and can give it to whomsoever he wills, it should not surprise us to see the ungodly in positions of power in every nation. Is there any wonder that Americans have elected a man completely opposed to God to represent them? Most people follow Satan, not God, and that’s a sad fact.

Should we then be shocked and surprised when ungodly men are thrust into the public eye, men without any governing experience to speak of, and then to be elected by a majority vote to hold the highest office of our land? Can there be any doubt as to the supernatural force behind such a phenomena? Take a trip around the globe and try and find men of godly stature upholding God’s truths while running their countries. How many did you find? Are you surprised yet?

As believers we are in a daily battle with Satan and his minions of evil. Before we became a new creation in Christ there was no battle, no stumbling blocks, Satan owned us and that was that. After becoming born again this life became much tougher. What really makes this life difficult for believers to deal with is that we aren’t blind to God’s truth anymore. It has now become our responsibility to pass on this truth – the truth of the Gospel – to those who are still wearing blinders. But the opposition is fierce.

In our previous existence as unbelievers we couldn’t see Satan’s handiwork. Now that we are believers we see his evil in everything from the men and women running our federal government to even the small city government officials. Those who are deceived can’t see what’s happening in this country and the majority in this country are themselves satanically deceived. True believers, those who actually live a life devoted to Christ, have no doubt about what’s going on. Satan is ruler of this age, and has been for the last six thousand years, although, time’s running out and Satan knows it.

Satan’s lie remains unchanged, although presented differently in today’s vernacular. There really is no difference in what Eve heard from the serpent in the Garden of Eden, “Did God really say” and “Thou shalt not surely die” or the lie that is heard today all over the world. “Is there really a God, and if there is, would a loving God really send good people to Hell just because they aren’t Christians?” Satan never changes his tired old lies; it’s just that he always has a new parade of people traveling through this world that he can corrupt with those lies, always working at expanding his base of followers.

Speaking of followers, only through supernatural power is a man able to achieve what Obama has achieved in so short a span of time. For the most part this man was unheard of a short while ago and now reigns as quasi-king of the world. That’s scary folks. Many people see me as a racist and a bigot because I’m not following Obama. They can call me what they will, it won’t change the fact of who Obama is and who’s behind him. Nor will it change my mind about how the majority of folks in this country, as well as other nations around the world, are so completely deceived that the truth has become a lie, right has become wrong, good has become bad, up has become down, and light has become dark. Evil is evil folks, no matter how we dress it up.

At this point the emails will come flooding in telling me “Well Bush was just as bad” or “McCain would have been worse”. Those folks, having been motivated by satanic deceptions, now see a need to deflect any perception of evil from Obama and lay it at the doorstep of someone else. Have you ever noticed that nothing that is perceived to be evil ever sticks to this man?

Obama, through his proclamation of change has done what the devil is so good at doing; he’s tempted the masses with something better, a better life, and a more prosperous future. His idea of change is to do a makeover on the face of America. The jury is still out on what face he’s trying to put on America, but it’s beginning to look a lot like a Muslim face. Here’s a quote from that dressed up occupier of the office of President of the United States. “The Islamic faith has done so much over the centuries to make my country better.” That is a quote from your president America. Are you surprised yet?

Politicians come and go, and at this point in time in this country we are strapped with some of the most ungodly politicians ever to walk the halls of congress or sit in the office of the President. Personally, I’m not surprised.

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” 1 Samuel 8:7. Something we would all do well to remember is how much Israel wanted a King. Even after Samuel told them all the evil things a king would demand of them they refused to listen. “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 1 Samuel 8:19. Israel demanded from God a king and because God wouldn’t violate the national will of the people He gave them what they wanted. They were attracted to Saul because of his outside appearance. But inside, Saul was not near as attractive, not so godly a man. Israel made a huge mistake in seeking Saul as king. God wanted to be their King but He was out voted.

A few thousand years later history repeats itself. America was once a nation where God was King, but He has now been voted out. America is now looking to a man and his outside appearance and listening to his articulate speech for their deliverance. America has voted into office a new king who is as poor of a king as Israel’s Saul ever was. If we can’t learn from history we are doomed to repeat it, so the old adage goes. So, now that America has made her choice, God will not violate her national will. We are now strapped with a man for at least the next four years who will be the vehicle in which America rides out her final assent into oblivion. Surprised yet?

It’s painfully obvious that godly leaders aren’t going to surface any time soon. All we can do to fight the scourge on the land is to be in continual prayer and remember who wins in the end. At any rate, this world shouldn’t be all that attractive to us. The word of God sufficed for Jesus to fend off Satan in the wilderness, and that same word of God is completely sufficient for us as well.
Satan may be the prince of this world but true believers in Christ are not of this world and we have a King who is God and He rules and reigns over us with love and compassion. Knowing we have a Heavenly home waiting for us should keep us going even in the face of such evil adversity.

I pray that God will extract His Church before we undergo many more surprises, such as an excessive amount of persecution. I fear for the brethren that we will all see and feel a hefty dose of isolation from the Obama government before the caught up. Brethren, keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh.

Warrior

I’ve been thinking about Ariel Sharon lately. I don’t know why.

The former Israeli prime minister, foreign minister, defense minister and fabled general now lies in a coma, existing somewhere between this life and the next. “Arik” suffered a massive stroke three years ago while serving as prime minister. Thus ends the career of an extraordinary figure in modern history.

Now 81, Israel’s legendary fighter exhausted his body and mind during the entire history of the modern Jewish state. Confronting Arab terrorism pre-state (he was born on the kibbutz of Kfar Malil, a “Sabra” — native Israeli — to parents who were Lithuanian Jews, he fought in the War of Independence of 1947-49; the Sinai Campaign of 1956, the Six-Day War of June, 1967, the Yom Kippur War of 1973, led the invasion of Lebanon to root-out PLO killers, then directed operations against terrorism launched in 2000.

For many, Sharon’s magnificent career was stained permanently when he oversaw the withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. Zionists and other supporters of Israel considered (probably correctly) that pulling 8,000 Jewish citizens from the midst of a million Palestinians was tantamount to handing a psychological victory to the psychopathic Palestinian leadership. Some speculated that Sharon initiated the entire withdrawal to draw attention away from his corruption investigation.

Perhaps I’m naïve and idealistic, but I prefer to believe that Sharon fought only for Israel’s existence right up to the end. I find it difficult to believe that the fearless man who survived wounds at Latrun and in the Sinai would endanger his countrymen in order to avoid criminal prosecution. After all, what was a court going to do to a 78-year-old man who sits at the table of Israel’s greatest fighters of all time?

I once talked with a diplomat who knew Sharon. We were discussing the Gaza pullout a few months after it had taken place. The diplomat was aware, of course, of the vicious criticism Sharon had endured for ordering the pullout.

“But I have a different perspective of Arik,” he said slowly. “You see, in 1973, he gave us our life and our nation.”

The quote remains embedded in my mind.

The year that he referred to was a watershed in the Middle East. Israel, still high from the stunning, biblical, miraculous’67 war, was caught flat-footed by the Egyptians and Syrians on the very eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Tactically, it was a brilliant, brilliant move on the part of the Arabs. Israel’s soldier sons and daughters were mostly at home.

Then Egyptian and Syrian tanks moved across the borders in the south and the north. Suddenly, Israel was physically endangered. Had the Arabs succeeded, they would have linked-up in Tel Aviv and destroyed Israel.

After days of apocalyptic fighting, the Israelis slowly began to turn the tide. Still, it looked as if territorial gains made six years before would be lost. After all, Egypt wanted the Sinai back and Anwar Sadat had famously vowed to achieve that even if it meant one million dead Egyptians. Syria’s godfather of terror, Hafez Assad, was determined to recapture the Golan Heights. Israel furiously met the Syrian challenge. The Sinai Peninsula was the key, however.

Sharon, by then a recently retired brigadier general, was called up and given command of an armored division. The Egyptians had already poured into the Sinai. Sharon — a man of action always — proposed a daring plan: a crossing of the Suez Canal.

Building a pontoon bridge across the canal, Sharon’s forces then emerged on the other side and, a curious thing happened; Egypt’s Third Army “could not see” where the Israeli forces were. The wily general said he was prepared to kill Egypt’s Third Army. Sharon was within range of Cairo before the U.N. scrambled successfully in hammering-out a cease-fire. Israel was saved.

Thus began a decades-long push for peace negotiations, led by the international community. From that time to this, the Arabs have never budged an inch from their impossible demands; Israel has already turned over the Sinai and allowed the PLO mafia to flood the West Bank with weapons and terrorists.

Some of us who support Israel are critical of any moves toward negotiation with the Palestinians. I’ve heard many pro Israel Christians, almost with panic in their voices, lament the possible establishment of a Palestinian state.

Look, I can’t imagine anyone more opposed to that than I am. However, I live in the Middle of the United States, not the Middle East. Decisions there are more complex.

What I do know is that God raises men up like Sharon, at precisely the moment He wants them to enter the world stage. Sharon fulfilled his role; his military victories and drive to establish Jewish communities in the biblical heartland will forever stand as a monument to Providence working in the world.

Moshe Dayan, Sharon’s equally famous mentor (remember the eye patch?), was both tough in the Jewish warrior tradition…and pragmatic.

In the years after Israel’s stunning victories in Arab-launched wars, Dayan would comment on the possibility of negotiations with the Arabs: “I’m waiting for the phone to ring.”

In the next breath, he would urge the Israeli cabinet to understand that the Palestinians would never recognize Israel. He also led the drive to settle the heartland with Jews. Dayan’s later plan for the removal of Israelis from Judea and Samaria (“the West Bank”) was cut short by his own death from cancer.

Sharon’s similar plan a generation later was ended with his stroke.

Can we accept, then, that the Lord raises men up and puts them down for specific purposes?

I met Sharon once. In his Tel Aviv office, he cut an imposing figure, although he wasn’t a tall man. His handshake was crushing. We spoke about the political situation, military situation, and the prospects for peace. “Perhaps in 50 years,” he said without a trace of exaggeration.

For what it’s worth, I believe that right up to the end, that was who Sharon was. He did not want to concede an inch to his killer-cousins. He did the best he could.

If you ever think of it, stop and ask the Lord to bless this man now. Let us hope that in the shadowy place where he lies, the Lord who made his people eternal will come to Arik and reveal Himself to His servant. He has already passed into legend. Let us pray fervently that he passes into a restful eternity.

The Antichrist: Who Is He?

The Bible tells us that in the last days one man will rule the world. He will rule over the entire human race politically, economically, and religiously, speaking great blasphemies against God and setting himself up in the Temple as God himself. But this man will not be God. He will be the very antithesis. He will even lead a rebellion against God, but he will be destroyed by the King of kings. History has deemed him the Antichrist, but he is known by other names as well, each being fully indicative of his character:

The Little Horn – Daniel 7:8 (NLT)
The Fierce King, a Master of Intrigue – Daniel 8:23 (NLT)
The Prince Who is to Come – Daniel 9:26 (NLT)
The Worthless Shepherd – Zechariah 11:17 (NLT))
The Man of Lawlessness – 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NLT)
The One Who Brings Destruction – 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NLT)
The Beast – Revelation 13:11 (NLT)

Through careful study of the Scriptures, we can learn much about the origins, disposition, and career of the one human being who will be the literal embodiment of Satan himself.

His Nationality
The Bible provides us with some detail regarding the nationalistic origins of the Antichrist. Although much debate surrounds his national identity, the Book of Daniel clearly states that he will come from the people whose armies destroy the Temple.

“A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple.” Daniel 9:26 (NLT)

The City and the Temple were destroyed in A.D. 70 by Titus and the Roman legions, but Titus was not the ruler referenced in this verse. For Daniel 9:27 describes the ruler as one who will make a seven-year treaty with Israel, put an end to the sacrifices and offerings, and set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration. These are events that will be fulfilled in the life of the Antichrist. According to Daniel, the Antichrist will come from among the people who destroyed the Temple. Therefore, we can be certain the Antichrist is of Roman descent.

However, being of Roman descent does not automatically mean that the Antichrist will be Italian. It simply means he must come from among those people who were part of the Roman Empire of that time.

Daniel Chapter 8 provides us with further insight. In it, the angel Gabriel explains Daniel’s vision of a Ram and Goat as events relating to the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great. In a claim verified by history, he states that following the death of Alexander, the empire will be divided into four parts. From one of those four parts, the Antichrist will arise:

“The shaggy male goat represents the king of the Greek Empire. The four prominent horns that replaced the one large horn show that the Greek Empire will break into four sections with four kings, none of them as great as the first. At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people.” Daniel 8:21-24 (NLT)

Daniel Chapter 11 provides an in-depth examination of the history of the breakup Alexander’s empire, describing historical events relating to the King of the North and the King of the South. The latter part of the chapter describes the Antichrist, identifying him with other historical figures who have held the title “King of the North.” This, along with the passage cited above, clearly links the Antichrist to the Northern Kingdom of the divided Greek Empire. This kingdom was ruled by one of Alexander’s generals, Seleucus, who ruled the areas of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume the Antichrist will also be linked to these geographic areas.

Is the Antichrist Jewish? Although there is no definitive answer, two Bible verses provide us with reason to believe that he will be. The first appears in the Book of Genesis when God prophesies the coming of Israel’s Messiah and Satan’s Antichrist.

“From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NLT)

Later on, when Jacob is blessing his sons, he makes this prophecy about Dan:

“Dan will govern his people like any other tribe in Israel. He will be a snake beside the road, a poisonous viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so the rider is thrown off.” Genesis 49:16-17 (NLT)

This reference to a serpent striking a heel may indicate that the Antichrist will be a Jew from the tribe of Dan, but many reasonable people are divided on this issue.

So how do we rectify these seemingly contradictory prophecies concerning the Antichrist’s nationality? Is he Roman? Italian? Jewish? Assyrian? Greek? He doesn’t necessarily have to be exclusively one or another. He could be an Assyrian Jew born and raised in Italy, or any number of possible combinations. We don’t know for certain, but history indicates that each of these prophecies will be harmonized when the Antichrist appear.

Two thousand years ago, the seemingly contradictory prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah were all harmonized in the life of Jesus Christ who was a Nazarene born in Bethlehem who came out of Egypt. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see how this was possible, but for the Jewish scholars who lived before the time of Jesus, these prophecies were the topic of much debate.

That debate continues today in regard to prophecies of the Antichrist. But in reality, we won’t know the absolute truth until he appears. As such, it is wise to study these prophecies and teach them to others, so that the people of the Antichrist’s generation will be able to positively identify him based on sound Scriptural evidence.

His Personality
Throughout the Bible, we are granted insight into the personality and disposition of the Antichrist. We are told how he will act, what he will do, and where he will get his power. Although far from exhaustive, the Scriptures provide us with many clues.

Arrogance
The Antichrist will be arrogant:

“This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.” Daniel 7:8 (NLT)

“The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god there is, even blaspheming the God of gods.” Daniel 11:36 (NLT)

The Antichrist will be so filled with self-love and arrogance that he will launch a rebellion against God Almighty. He will place himself above all others, and even set himself up in the Jewish Temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Satan’s Power
The Antichrist will be empowered by Satan:

“He will become very strong, but not by his own power.” Daniel 8:24 (NLT)

“This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (NLT)

“And the dragon gave him his own power and throne and great authority.” Revelation 13:2 (NLT)

The Bible clearly states that the Antichrist will derive his power from Satan. In fact, following the Devil’s banishment from heaven (Revelation 12:9), he will indwell the Antichrist, making this man of lawlessness the literal embodiment of Satan.

Beholden to Power
The Antichrist will be consumed with power, and power alone will he worship:

“He will have no regard for the god of his ancestors, or for the god beloved of women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all. Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses – a god his ancestors never knew – and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and costly gifts.” Daniel 11:37-38 (NLT)

“They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast. ‘Is there anyone as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” Revelation 13:4 (NLT)

The Antichrist will only acknowledge one power, a military power he possesses. His power will be so great, the people of the world will marvel in wonder and worship it, asking the rhetorical question of who among them is able to fight against his mighty kingdom.

His Life

In addition to various aspects of his character, the Bible provides us with numerous details concerning the life events and career of this man of lawlessness, beginning with his meteoric rise to fame from among ten kings.

Rises From Among 10 Kings
“It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them.” Daniel 7:7-8 (NLT)

“His ten horns are ten kings who have not yet risen to power; they will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. They will all agree to give their power and authority to him.” Revelation 17:12-13 (NLT)

Ten kings will give their power and national sovereignty to the revived Roman Empire. From among them, the Antichrist will appear, and he will become the preeminent ruler among them.

Subdues 3 of the 10 Kings
“Three of the first horns were wrenched out, roots and all, to make room for it.” Daniel 7:8 (NLT)

Apparently, three of the ten kings will oppose the Antichrist and his brazen grab for power. In the struggle that ensues, he will defeat them, and his control over the new Rome will become absolute.

7 Year Treaty with Israel
“He will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven” Daniel 9:27 (NLT)

The Antichrist will make a treaty with the people of Israel for a period of seven years. The details and nature of this treaty are yet unknown, but many have speculated that in a bid for Middle Eastern peace, Israel will agree to rely on the Antichrist for its national defense.

He Will Conquer Many
Revelation Chapter 6 describes the Antichrist as a great conqueror riding on a white horse. He goes out to conquer many, and he wields a great sword. In his conquest, he will kill a sizeable portion of the world’s population.

Will Rule Politically, Religiously, and Economically
“He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, whose death-wound had been healed.” Revelation 13:12 (NLT)

The Antichrist will exercise all the authority of the first beast, which is the revived Roman Empire. He will require the world to worship and give allegiance to this empire, which will be resurrected from the dustbin of history.

“And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT)

Not one person will escape the reach of the Antichrist and his governmental dominion.

“He required everyone – great and small, rich and poor, slave and free – to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.” Revelation 13:16-17 (NLT)

The Antichrist will have unprecedented control over the world’s financial transactions. He will have so much power that he will be able to determine on a case-by-case basis which individuals will be allowed to buy or sell anything.

Unprecedented Destruction
In his insatiable quest for personal glory, the Antichrist will cause an unprecedented amount of destruction.

“He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does.” Daniel 8:24 (NLT)

Abomination of Desolation
Jesus prophesied of a time of great tribulation, such as the world had never seen, nor ever will see again. He said this time period will begin with the desecration of the Jewish Temple:

“The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” Matthew 24:16 (NLT)

The Antichrist will fulfill this prophesy by standing in the Jewish Temple and proclaiming himself to be God. He will set up an image in the Holy Place and demand the world worship it.

“He will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. Then as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the end that has been decreed is poured out on this defiler.” Daniel 9:27 (NLT)

“He will exalt himself and defy every god there is and tear down every object of adoration and worship. He will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

Destroys All Religion But His Own
The Book of Revelation describes the revived Roman Empire as being dominated by a prostitute. This prostitute symbolizes idolatrous religion, and although Satan loves idolatry, in the end time he will only tolerate worship of himself. As a result, it will become state policy of the revived Roman Empire to destroy all religion with the exception of worship of the dragon.

“The scarlet beast and his ten horns – which represent ten kings who will reign with him – all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire.” Revelation 17:16 (NLT)

Wages War Against the Saints
As part of his campaign to create universal worship of himself, the Antichrist will set out to destroy those who are faithful to God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

“And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and overcome them.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT)

“He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception, defeating many by catching them off guard. Without warning he will destroy them. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.” Daniel 8:24-25 (NLT)

Kills Two-Thirds of the Jewish People
In his rage against the Jewish people, the Antichrist will manage to kill two-thirds of the Jewish race.

“Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die, says the Lord. But a third will be left in the land.” Zechariah 13:8-9 (NLT)

Wages War Against Jesus Christ
In his arrogance, the Antichrist will lead a rebellion against Jesus Christ, and gather the world’s armies to wage battle against the Lord and his heavenly armies.

“He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle.” Daniel 8:25 (NLT)

“And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These miracle-working demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:13-14 (NLT)

His Ultimate Destruction
Despite his worldly success, the reign of the Antichrist will be relatively brief – no more than seven years. Ultimately, he will be held accountable for his actions, and he will face the wrath of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Camps at Armageddon
While gathering the armies of the world to Jerusalem to wage battle against the Lord, the Antichrist will set up his camp and gather his armies in a place called Armageddon, the modern day city of Megiddo, Israel.

“He will halt between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents there, but while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and there will be no one to help him.” Daniel 11:45 (NLT)

“And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.” Revelation 16:16 (NLT)

Destroyed Forever
Despite his arrogant belief that he can defeat God, the ultimate fate of the Antichrist was determined long ago. He will be completely destroyed in a rout of epic proportions.

“But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.” Daniel 7:26 (NLT)

Lake of Fire
As a result of his defeat, the Antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire (traditionally known as “Hell”) where he will be tormented day and night for all of eternity. His kingdom will meet the same fate, and be replaced by the Lord’s Millennial Kingdom which will bring long-sought peace on earth.

“Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” Revelation 19:20 (NLT)

Jesus offered the world by Satan…
In studying the prophecies of the Antichrist, we would be wise to refer to the Book of Matthew, where Jesus is tempted in the desert prior to his ministry. Here, we get a firsthand view of the deal brokered between the Antichrist and Satan:

“Next the Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. ‘I will give it all to you,’ he said, ‘if you will only kneel down and worship me.’ ‘Get out of here, Satan,’ Jesus told him. ‘For the scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.’ Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.” Matthew 4:8-11 (NLT)

Because He is faithful and true, Jesus turned down the Devil’s offer to rule the kingdoms of the world. However, at some point in the future, a man will arise who will accept this deal with the Devil. He will sell his soul for a brief and destructive career as the most powerful dictator in human history. He will hold absolute power, and he will be the personification of all evil. But his destruction is certain. He challenges the Prince of Peace, and Jesus wins.

He Is Risen

The passion of our Savior and Lord is at the heart of our redemption. Yet, that passion quickly becomes mute if we forget the resurrection. After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were locked behind closed doors. Their lives were in danger; their families were in danger. They, no doubt, saw themselves as the laughingstock of Israel. Jerusalem was still in an uproar and guards were standing watch over the Savior’s tomb. I understand there was a rumor in Jerusalem that friends tried to convince Joseph of Arimathaea not to give his tomb for the burial of this confessed Messiah. He is reported to have said, “Why not, He only wants to borrow it for three days.”

His disciples had lost one of their number to suicide; Judas’ death was horrible. It was so violent that all his bowels gushed out. As they contemplated the loss of their Lord, one out of their number, and their future, Godly women were carrying burial ointments to the tomb to add embalming spices to a hastily buried Jesus. I can imagine that after they found Jesus’ body gone and were rushing to the location of the eleven, the disciples heard them coming down the alleyway. They must have been screaming, “He’s alive, He’s alive; His grave clothes are there but He is gone.” The disciples’ fear was immediately broken and they openly ran to the graveyard. The immobilizing powers of fear and sorrow were gone because they had heard the tomb was empty. There is not one word of fear ever named again among His disciple s. Hope arose in their hearts like sunrise at midnight.

Thank God that we do not worship before a victim on a cross. There is no hope in such a sense. Apostle Paul settled this great truth in his discourse on the resurrection. He said, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:17-20).

Our hope is not in contemplating His wounds but rejoicing in His completed victory. The risen Lord they saw was so glorious in resurrection victory that they never talked about His mutilated body again. When they spoke of sharing His death, they spoke not of a lacerated body, but they spoke of death to their plans and dreams and a total surrender to His will. They turned the world “upside down” because His resurrection became their resurrection. “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day (after the resurrection) ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (John 14:19-20).

What glorious truth! Living a life delivered from sin by His death but raised in His resurrection is the New Testament standard. Apostle Paul did not see Him before He ascended to Heaven but He did see Him shortly thereafter. In his testimony before the Jews in Jerusalem he said, “And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus” (Acts 22:11). Later he testified to King Agrippa, “At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me” (Acts 26:13).

This victory of a glorified Jesus totally arrested Paul (then called Saul of Tarsus). It was so heavenly that he wrote to the Philippians of his new life and our hope and spoke of this glorious body that Jesus now possessed. Apostle Paul said, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

The early churches were powerful in ministry because they served a risen and glorified Lord. His “Glorious Body” was their assurance of their future “Glorified Body.” They never gloried in the lacerated and wounded earthly body that He offered on the cross; they gloried in the “Glorified Body” that reflects the absolute victory of the cross and the Resurrection.

“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13). The “Gospel of Jesus Christ” is the “good news” that He is not in a tomb or on a cross, but He is alive and at the Father’s right hand and soon to appear. Serve Him with great joy and unfailing hope.

Lazy People

In this age of psycho-babble, feel-good commentary, one can find an endless number of reasons the world is slipping into spiritual darkness. Preachers try to tackle the moral issues of our day by giving people a detailed description of every angle of the sin issue.

The lack of knowledge cannot be the main problem. We are very well educated about the problems of our generation, yet the world continues to grow darker with each passing day.

The reason sin abounds is simple: People are lazy. We are slothful, idle, immobile, inactive and whatever other terms describe just plain laziness.

When it comes to identifying the lazy, the finger of blame points mostly to Christians. The unsaved can't be held accountable for something they never pledged to uphold. An atheist is obviously not going to be instructing others to adhere to God's commandments.

Believers are the ones responsible for carrying the banner of the Great Commission. The poor spiritual condition of the world today is a testimony to the fact that the average Christian does not have a burning desire to help advance the gospel message.

Most Christians hold to the idea that they are not directly involved in the salvation plan. They didn't lead the world into rebellion, so why should they be required to guide people to the truth? Even believers who understand responsibility seem to think that the assignment of being an ambassador for Christ is a general rule that does not necessarily apply to them.


What is Laziness?
The French author Jules Renard once wrote, "Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired." Comic strip Blondie once had Dagwood Bumstead offer this bit of humorous wisdom about laziness, “You can't teach people to be lazy - either they have it, or they don't.”

Laziness, as it relates to believers, is the gross failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind, and all one's soul. It is the tendency to do nothing in the face of opportunity.

Laziness is also the failure of a person to properly manage the time and resources God has provided. Because we all have different skills and abilities, the quantity and quality of our work can never be a true indicator of dedication.

One person may be highly skilled at a task, yet lack the motivation to be productive. Someone else may have limited skills, yet choose to overcome shortcomings by putting forth more effort.

Because no action is required in the sin of laziness, it is one of the easiest of the seven deadly sins to commit. Unlike with pride, envy, anger, greed, gluttony and lust, sloth is performed through a passive response.

Lazy Critics
Over the years I have received every type of negative email the human mind can conceive.I firmly believe the main message presented by Rapture Ready is the truth, and someday the majority of my detractors will have to admit their errors.

Because every idea we present on the site is based in some way on biblical text, it baffles me that people are bold enough to make claims that are not backed by anything but their own twisted logic.

It is almost comical to read some of these curse-riddled messages from people who feel they have the authority to lecture me in spiritual matters. If they had done their research, they might have had a chance to stump me on some point.

The sad part is that they are likely wrong in their views because they are too intellectually lazy to search for the truth. I wonder how many lost people would find the truth if they just attempted to verify their beliefs.

Do You Really Really Want To Help Out?
Many times a year I get emails from people who want to help out with the site. Whenever I receive one of these emails, I always try to respond to their requests.

After providing a list of things they can do, I rarely hear from them again. I quickly figured out that 90 percent of the time, volunteers disappear after making a pledge of support.

I finally realized what happens in most cases. Some folks tell me they feel convicted to become better ambassadors for Christ, and I can tell from their sincerity that they are making that decision from the heart.

Unfortunately, for the most part the offers of help don't turn out to be genuine. The volunteers understand the need for doing good works. But because they have no commitment to take action, the result is just a mechanism for appeasing their conscience.

It is far easier to stand by as an observer and do nothing than it is to get involved in the difficult task of soul-winning. Some people have promised me their support, then failed to follow through. Weeks later these same people have come back and asked for my forgiveness. Then they have failed to follow up on their second pledge.

Because it is so easy to make empty promises, I question all volunteers about their commitment level. Most of them don't get past, "Do you really really want to help out?"

Managing Your Time and Abilities
For me, writing is a very difficult process. I often have a terrible time trying to translate my thoughts into an organized article, and my spelling is equally as bad.

My determination is what allows me to overcome these handicaps. I'll arrange and rearrange paragraphs dozens of times before they become presentable. As far as spelling and grammar goes, there's always spell check.

I may kick around ideas for an article for several months. As long as I plan to eventually finish the project, time really is not a factor. Once an article is written, all the delays instantly become null and void.

Many people view time as an obstacle that bars them from doing good works. They don't think they have the time, or are too busy on less important matters, so they refrain from becoming involved in spiritual materials.

Imagine that someone needs to go from Los Angeles to New York City, and the only means of transportation is a car that can only move 5 miles per hour. Because there are 2,462 miles between the two cities, the trip would take 20 days of nonstop travel.

The idea of having to take a month to travel from one end of the country to the other would be an insurmountable obstacle for most people. But before the days of cars and trains, this was the speed at which settlers moved from the East to the West.

Because we have a lifetime to accomplish what God might expect of us, the rate at which we go about these tasks is not a central issue. The most vital component for achieving a fruitful life is our willingness to contribute. The smallest effort over the longest period of time is worth 100 percent more than a continuous state of disengagement.


Priorities
The act of being busy does not guard us from also being slothful. To be productive, we need to assign priorities to our daily activities.

Many people become lazy by making poor choices regarding their priorities. I have a half-brother who has always neglected to keep himself employed. As long as I've known him, he has been on welfare or living off one of his many girlfriends. However, when it comes to working on old cars, he has been very engaged in that endeavor. It's obvious that he has a priority problem.

I'm lazy about balancing my checkbook. Because of my spend-thrift habits, I have the option of using my bank statement to keep track of my money. If I were a shopaholic, it would then be a necessary priority for me to keep close tabs on my budget.

I find many misplaced priorities in the field of Bible prophecy. I know from experience many prophetic authors are only interested in prophecy because it puts money in their pocket. Any project that doesn't have a commercial value is of no interest to them. If you want to find out a preacher's true priorities, go to his official website and check to see how many free resource materials he offers.

Rapture Ready was started with the realization that there is nothing of greater importance for me to be doing with my time. Maintaining RR as my top priority is what has allowed me to stay focused all these years.




Laziness: That Means You, Buster
The motivation for writing this article came from my many years of experience with managing a web-based ministry. Before I began this site, I had the general impression that most Christians would be engaged in their faith.

It didn't take me long to realize that nearly all Christian endeavors are supported by a very small number of believers. Out of any group, you might find one percent active in the moral, political, and social issues of our day.

Because God has already forewarned that most Christians will fail to be active in championing the gospel message, every believer needs to be mindful of his or her own level of productivity.

No one is going to come knocking on your door, point a finger, and say, "You've been too lazy about your Christian faith." This is a determination we will have to make ourselves.

Scripture strongly warns that the slothful believer will suffer embarrassment and loss of rewards in the Kingdom of God. The failure to act on our responsibilities can lead to an eternity of regret. All the glory of heaven cannot hide the fact that one of our friends or family members may have died lost because of our lack of concern for their salvation.

Engagement is the only cure for laziness. No herbal remedy or motivation speech can cure laziness. A person will remain motionless until he or she finds the willpower to get up and go. It is simply fruitless to go beyond the call for action.




Your Involvement
One day, I was searching the internet and ran across the following note on a site about ballet. "When I started BalletWeb in 1996, there were very few good ballet sites on the Web. Now there are hundreds (and, of course, some pretty dreadful ones, too!) Since the need now seems to be well filled, and I no longer have the time or stamina to keep the site up to date, the most sensible thing seems to be to close it and clear the way for others," said Jim, the site's webmaster.

I chose to use the quote here not because I thought this guy seemed lazy. Jim's reasons for discontinuing his updates seem reasonable. What I found interesting was how his decision brings up the contrast between ballet sites and Christian websites.

Just as in the subject of ballet, there are hundreds of well maintained sites on prophecy. However, their abundance doesn't indicate we have reached any type of saturation point. The fact that our world is slipping deeper into wickedness is testimony to the need for more Bible-based sites.

The business of saving souls is far more important than commentary about people dancing around in tutus. The believer's need to propagate the gospel message should be a life-long commitment.

Since beginning Rapture Ready, I have relied upon the contributions of fellow believers to build up the content of this site. I have some articles that were written back in the early days of the internet. Over the years, I've completely lost contact with many of these people.

When each person has submitted an article, he has probably thought nothing of the impact it would have over these years. One person wrote a piece that has been on RR for nearly 18 years, and it now has been read by nearly a million people.

I often think about how pleased these folks will be on judgment day when they are presented with the fruits of their labor. The magnitude of their reward will be like someone who bought stock in companies like Microsoft or Dell Computer at their initial public offering and held the shares up until now. Because people keep track of their financial holdings, the windfall for people who invest in the site will be a sudden and shocking revelation.

The benefits of being a productive Christian do not need to be accidental. Everything we do for the sake of the gospel should be viewed as a value contribution. It's regrettable that most people neglect something that will someday garner God's praise.

There are many ways to defeat the spirit of laziness. You can start at home by witnessing to friends and family. Helping out in your local church is another option.

Opportunities abound here at Nearing Midnight. I don't think the day will ever come when I say have to refrain from extending offers to help with the task of building up the site. If you have an idea or desire to become involved in this ministry, you can contact me about helping out on some project.