On The Brink Of War?
On The Brink Of War?
By Mike Taylor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prophecy writers have been preaching the soon return of Jesus Christ and we wonder how soon? The indicators of the soon return of our Lord are all around us, but it has been fuzzy, but grows much clearer as time passes. Much like a picture developed in a dark room, as we see the image slowly coming into view. News reports have been coming fast and furious in the last few weeks, and from this perspective, I see the puzzle of end time events growing much more into focus with each passing day.
MOUNTING NEWS FLASHES
Let’s examine a few of these indicators that the time is short for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Start with the economic troubles in Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain and most of Europe that has even affected our economy, as the world economy has become closely tied to one another. First news flash is that it’s been reported that the Vatican has taken a stance of encouraging a One World Authority for peace and posterity as an answer to the economic turmoil gripping the globe. It was reported on the website Catholic News Service the following:
“A Vatican document called for the gradual creation of a “world political authority” with broad powers to regulate financial markets and rein in the “inequalities and distortions of capitalist development. The document said the current global financial crisis has revealed “selfishness, collective greed and the hoarding of goods on a great scale.” A supranational authority, it said, is needed to place the common good at the center of international economic activity.” The logical start offered up by the Catholic Church is the United Nations with one central authority to regulate the world economy.
Second news flash is there has been a push by the Roman Catholic Church to unite all religions into a One World Religious authority and I submit will be headed by the Catholic Church and it’s pope. Rome has brought all the world religions including pagan religions to the Italian town of Assisi in front of the St. Francis Basilica to set the groundwork of a one world religious movement. Many writers are starting to write about this push that began with the groundwork being laid by Pope John Paul II and continued by Pope Benedict XVI. This is a part of the prophetic puzzle that is growing clearer with each passing day. These two pieces of the end time puzzle are growing more into reality. Then let’s take a look at the continued unrest in the Middle East. Another piece of this end time puzzle is being played out on our news cast nightly. Instability in the region has been gaining steam, during this so called Arab spring. The nations that surround Israel have been in revolution overthrowing their leaders. Starting in Tunisia, it has spread to the other neighboring Arab countries, such as Egypt, now Libya, and unrest growing in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. What this has accomplished is the solidarity of these Muslim nations being changed from dictatorships, and transforming them into religious theocracies ruled by Sharia Law and the Koran and fueled by known terrorist groups with world conquest on their minds. These new governments will pattern themselves along the lines of the greatest threat in the Middle East, Iran. As we know, Iran has been working feverishly to develop nuclear capabilities and the Western world has been impotent to stop them. Threatened sanctions and diplomatic maneuvers have not slowed the government of Iran from building what the free world fears, a nuclear bomb. Couple that with Iran’s ranting of wanting to destroy Israel and wipe them off the face of the map from their leader, Mahmoud ( I’m a total nut job), only intensifies the fears the world feels and Israel’s rightly perceived threat to their sense of security and peace.
WAR AND RUMORS OF WAR
What could tip the fragile economic condition of the world we live in? What one word would send our world into a tail spin? What’s that word? It is WAR! It is especially true when you use it in context with the Middle East.
If you have been following the developments in the area it is reported that Iran, if they made an all out push for a nuclear weapon could achieve it in 6 months. For several years, I have been wondering not if, but when Israel would either with help from the USA, or unilaterally on its own, attempt to destroy the nuclear installations of Iran. It appears that new saber rattling is being reported coming from Israel. In the Asia Times written by Victor Kotsev, he reports the following news flash:
“Through a number of leaks and well-publicized war exercises, the Israeli government has dramatically increased its threats against Iran in the past days. Since the Israeli military likes to act by surprise, it seems this specific escalation is a bluff designed to help pass tougher diplomatic measures against the Islamic Republic at the United Nations Security Council, specifically following the anticipated publication of an important report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) next week.
However, given the exceptionally high and rising regional tensions (not all of which involve Israel directly), a larger war in the Middle East is a distinct possibility. Thus, the Israeli rhetoric can be interpreted in two additional ways (all three are not mutually exclusive): as an attempt to deter a possible first or second strike by Iran and its allies, and as a campaign to prepare public opinion, both at home and abroad, for hostilities. “
When Israel does attack, not if, but when, Iran will pull out all stops to attempt to make Israel pay and facilitate their belief that their mission is to bring about an Islamic Caliphate. Of course, we know that Iran will rely on it’s proxies to do it’s dirty work, as they may be crippled militarily and have been preparing for just such a scenario via Hezbollah, Hamas, and now with the uprising and the fall of dictatorships all over the Middle East, using these nations for a coordinated attack. I see a possible fulfilling of Psalms 83.
83:1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
83:2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
83:4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
83:5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
83:6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
83:7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
83:8 Assur also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
83:9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
Who are these people that make these plans that are noted in bold type? These are the ancient names of the people of the Muslim nations that surround Israel this day.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
I’m not saying this attack by Israel will happen this weekend, as Israel when they have attacked the atomic reactors in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, or Syria a few years ago, it was in total surprise. You didn’t know about it, till it was over. Only thing I see different right now, is the flight path of direct line attack over Iraq being opened up, as the USA will withdraw all our troops by the end of this year. It will be a direct flight path to their intended targets. Let’s also couple that with new stealth capabilities that Israel has developed to make their attack virtually unseen on radar until it’s too late. This will be a massive campaign and Israel has been preparing for this event for years. Iran has no air defense except from the ground, as their air force is from the time the Shah was in power and is inferior to Israel’s modern force. Ground to air missiles will be shooting in the dark with Israel’s stealth capabilities and evasive maneuvers to become invisible targets.
We know that the intelligence of the Israeli government is much more sophisticated than any news report, and they know when the window of opportunity will close for a successful strike. When Iran is suddenly struck with Israeli lightening speed, their only reprisal, I envision, will be through their proxies surrounding Israel. God has promised Israel that He would give them the land from the great river of Egypt to the River Euphrates, north to and including Syria, and south to the Arabian Peninsula. What will be the outcome of this battle? I suggest that the God given promise of the land promised to Abraham will be redeemed by the help of Almighty God fighting on the side of Israel, much like the 1948, 1967, and the 1973 wars that they should have lost, but God was with them.
Why do I think this? If you look at the Battle of Ezekiel, which I believe follows on the heels of the afore-mentioned Islamic defeat, you find in chapter 38, we read the following:
38:2 Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal, and prophesy against him,
38:3 And say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince (ruler) of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal.
38:4 And I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords--
38:5 Persia, Cush, and Put {or} Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet,
38:6 Gomer and all his hordes, the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north and all his hordes--many people are with you.
Notice that you find none of the names of the peoples mentioned in Psalm 83 in the neighboring nations as they have been destroyed and also, note that the verses speak of a city without walls, a city living in peace as noted in this passage of Ezekiel:
38:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
When has Israel in all of its modern history since 1948 been as Ezekiel describes them in the verse 11? Never you say? You would be right, never. God will be their champion in both fights. It is more evident in Ezekiel than in Psalms 83, as it is revealed that God is doing the fighting and destroys Israel’s enemies on the mountains of Israel by using signs that can only be rendered as Divine in nature. Read the full chapter and digest the quick end to the enemies of Israel that dare come down upon God’s people or His Land. On the heels of this huge defeat of the Gog-Magog coalition, a man of great public stature will bring about a treaty for 7 years of peace. I believe that country, headed by this man is what we call the Anti-Christ!
How many years will be between Psalm 83 and the war in Ezekiel? We don’t know, but the focus of this sermon is that the next war that leads to the unveiling of the Anti-Christ could be close at hand. Israel will own all of the vast oil and gas fields of most of the entire Middle East after this next war and what better prize than for the armies of Gog-Magog to try and come down and take the riches of the Middle East from this upstart called Israel and their God?
Now here is the exciting part for you and me. When this Ezekiel war is quickly fought and lost by this Gog-Magog coalition secured by the power of Almighty God, I believe it will bring to the forefront a man with the number of his name adding up to the number 666. My bible says that he will be revealed according to God’s Word, II Thessalonians chapter 2:
2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
If you have been following my sermons for any length of time, you know the answer to who and what is being talked about here. Verse 9 speaks of one who has the power of Satan with signs and lying wonders. Who is that man? Correct, the Anti-Christ is who Paul is speaking of. But there is one thing that must happen before he can be revealed. What is that? Verse 7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. Who is being taken out of the way? There is something holding back this unspeakable evil, a force that keeps the full power of Satan at bay, and prevents Satan from doing as he would like to do, that is destroy mankind. What is that Force? It clearly is the Holy Spirit. God will remove all hindrance for Satan doing unimaginable evil.
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And skipping down to verse 13:
12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. (Israel)
Let’s make a clear statement here. If the Holy Spirit is being removed and Satan is being cast down to the earth, never to be allowed back into the heavens, then if our Comforter, our Spiritual Counselor, and our deposit of God’s Holy Spirit within our spirit is being removed from this earth, then we who have that promise of redemption will be removed at the exact same time. Understand one thing, my reader. The tribulation is designed for one thing, the removal of sin from this earth and for refining Israel as gold is refined in the furnace. When Israel understands that the Messiah that came to them over 2000 years ago, they will cry out, as Jesus said in Luke chapter 13:
13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Then Israel will realize what they have done to the Lord of Glory, their prophesied Messiah who they killed in anger, but to fulfill God’s plan:
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Now let’s take a quick summary of where this puzzle is showing what may be on the horizon in the near future. The economies of this world are collapsing, number one. The beginning for the push for a One world Religion and Government are being designed right before our eyes, number two. Unrest in the Middle East will eventually explode into possibly WWIII at the greatest, or a Mid-East war in the least because of an attack by the Israelis on Iran’s nuclear installations that could be happening at any moment in the future, puzzle piece number three. Follow this on it’s heals of the conquering of the Middle East oil producing economies by Israel, a battle for control of this vast wealth by the Gog-Magog invasion and the revealing of the Anti-Christ to the world. But before the final puzzle piece is revealed, scripture says that the Church is removed along with the Holy Spirit. How much time in this scenario do you think it would take for all these events to being fulfilled? My friend, it could take several years, it could take ten years, but the point is, signs are saying that man’s history of self rule is drawing fast to a close. The revealing of the Anti-Christ will start the beginning of the Tribulation where peace will be illusive and as smoke in the wind. When this 7 year treaty has been signed, if you witness it, then you will have most likely missed the calling of the church to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The next 3.5 years from that time will be bad, economically, socially, spiritually and probably physically.
When this man who speaks of peace and looks like a saint trying to bring peace to the world, then without warning this man will approach the Temple in Jerusalem that he has allowed to be built as a part of this 7 year treaty and will stand in the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem and proclaim himself, to be a god. Then all of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and all of the land held by Israel will realize that they have made a treaty with the devil and the Great Tribulation will have begun where if God allowed it, no man would be spared because of war, famine, and the wrath of Almighty God being poured out on an unrepentant mankind. My reader, I assure you that you do not want to be witness to the beginning of a 7 year treaty, much less a man standing in the Temple of God, proclaiming that he is God. It will be hell, quite literally, on earth. If you think that a Christian must endure the Tribulation and that Jesus Christ sacrifice didn’t finish the job, and we , the church saints, must be purified right along with Israel who is in spiritual rebellion and darkness, then my friend, you have more of a problem than the timing of the rapture of the church, as in your mind, Jesus and His blood sacrifice was insufficient to purchase your redemption. The Tribulation is designed to purify Israel and to remove sin from the earth in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ to rule with a rod of Iron for a Thousand years, called the Millineum.
My friend, do not be counted with the spiritual rebellion of Israel not accepting their Messiah. The nation of Israel are God’s people and He will save them out of this awful time and save them all, not losing one, but what about you? If you’re not Jewish, you have no idea that you will even have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. If war breaks out in the Middle East in the near future, your chance for making eternity with God may be very short. Make that decision today, as the Holy Spirit wishes to bring you home with our Lord and Savior. Want to know how to make that decision, which is the most important decision that you will ever make? Read the Gospel of John slowly and let God’s Holy Spirit reveal who this Man, Jesus was and is today. He is wishing to come into your life. Won’t you answer the call?
This is Pastor Mike Taylor, wishing God’s salvation for your life. If there is anything I can help you with, pray with you about, or show you the way to salvation, give me an email to realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org. God bless you, till we hopefully meet at Jesus feet.
By Mike Taylor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prophecy writers have been preaching the soon return of Jesus Christ and we wonder how soon? The indicators of the soon return of our Lord are all around us, but it has been fuzzy, but grows much clearer as time passes. Much like a picture developed in a dark room, as we see the image slowly coming into view. News reports have been coming fast and furious in the last few weeks, and from this perspective, I see the puzzle of end time events growing much more into focus with each passing day.
MOUNTING NEWS FLASHES
Let’s examine a few of these indicators that the time is short for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Start with the economic troubles in Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain and most of Europe that has even affected our economy, as the world economy has become closely tied to one another. First news flash is that it’s been reported that the Vatican has taken a stance of encouraging a One World Authority for peace and posterity as an answer to the economic turmoil gripping the globe. It was reported on the website Catholic News Service the following:
“A Vatican document called for the gradual creation of a “world political authority” with broad powers to regulate financial markets and rein in the “inequalities and distortions of capitalist development. The document said the current global financial crisis has revealed “selfishness, collective greed and the hoarding of goods on a great scale.” A supranational authority, it said, is needed to place the common good at the center of international economic activity.” The logical start offered up by the Catholic Church is the United Nations with one central authority to regulate the world economy.
Second news flash is there has been a push by the Roman Catholic Church to unite all religions into a One World Religious authority and I submit will be headed by the Catholic Church and it’s pope. Rome has brought all the world religions including pagan religions to the Italian town of Assisi in front of the St. Francis Basilica to set the groundwork of a one world religious movement. Many writers are starting to write about this push that began with the groundwork being laid by Pope John Paul II and continued by Pope Benedict XVI. This is a part of the prophetic puzzle that is growing clearer with each passing day. These two pieces of the end time puzzle are growing more into reality. Then let’s take a look at the continued unrest in the Middle East. Another piece of this end time puzzle is being played out on our news cast nightly. Instability in the region has been gaining steam, during this so called Arab spring. The nations that surround Israel have been in revolution overthrowing their leaders. Starting in Tunisia, it has spread to the other neighboring Arab countries, such as Egypt, now Libya, and unrest growing in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. What this has accomplished is the solidarity of these Muslim nations being changed from dictatorships, and transforming them into religious theocracies ruled by Sharia Law and the Koran and fueled by known terrorist groups with world conquest on their minds. These new governments will pattern themselves along the lines of the greatest threat in the Middle East, Iran. As we know, Iran has been working feverishly to develop nuclear capabilities and the Western world has been impotent to stop them. Threatened sanctions and diplomatic maneuvers have not slowed the government of Iran from building what the free world fears, a nuclear bomb. Couple that with Iran’s ranting of wanting to destroy Israel and wipe them off the face of the map from their leader, Mahmoud ( I’m a total nut job), only intensifies the fears the world feels and Israel’s rightly perceived threat to their sense of security and peace.
WAR AND RUMORS OF WAR
What could tip the fragile economic condition of the world we live in? What one word would send our world into a tail spin? What’s that word? It is WAR! It is especially true when you use it in context with the Middle East.
If you have been following the developments in the area it is reported that Iran, if they made an all out push for a nuclear weapon could achieve it in 6 months. For several years, I have been wondering not if, but when Israel would either with help from the USA, or unilaterally on its own, attempt to destroy the nuclear installations of Iran. It appears that new saber rattling is being reported coming from Israel. In the Asia Times written by Victor Kotsev, he reports the following news flash:
“Through a number of leaks and well-publicized war exercises, the Israeli government has dramatically increased its threats against Iran in the past days. Since the Israeli military likes to act by surprise, it seems this specific escalation is a bluff designed to help pass tougher diplomatic measures against the Islamic Republic at the United Nations Security Council, specifically following the anticipated publication of an important report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) next week.
However, given the exceptionally high and rising regional tensions (not all of which involve Israel directly), a larger war in the Middle East is a distinct possibility. Thus, the Israeli rhetoric can be interpreted in two additional ways (all three are not mutually exclusive): as an attempt to deter a possible first or second strike by Iran and its allies, and as a campaign to prepare public opinion, both at home and abroad, for hostilities. “
When Israel does attack, not if, but when, Iran will pull out all stops to attempt to make Israel pay and facilitate their belief that their mission is to bring about an Islamic Caliphate. Of course, we know that Iran will rely on it’s proxies to do it’s dirty work, as they may be crippled militarily and have been preparing for just such a scenario via Hezbollah, Hamas, and now with the uprising and the fall of dictatorships all over the Middle East, using these nations for a coordinated attack. I see a possible fulfilling of Psalms 83.
83:1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
83:2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
83:4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
83:5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
83:6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
83:7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
83:8 Assur also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
83:9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
Who are these people that make these plans that are noted in bold type? These are the ancient names of the people of the Muslim nations that surround Israel this day.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
I’m not saying this attack by Israel will happen this weekend, as Israel when they have attacked the atomic reactors in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, or Syria a few years ago, it was in total surprise. You didn’t know about it, till it was over. Only thing I see different right now, is the flight path of direct line attack over Iraq being opened up, as the USA will withdraw all our troops by the end of this year. It will be a direct flight path to their intended targets. Let’s also couple that with new stealth capabilities that Israel has developed to make their attack virtually unseen on radar until it’s too late. This will be a massive campaign and Israel has been preparing for this event for years. Iran has no air defense except from the ground, as their air force is from the time the Shah was in power and is inferior to Israel’s modern force. Ground to air missiles will be shooting in the dark with Israel’s stealth capabilities and evasive maneuvers to become invisible targets.
We know that the intelligence of the Israeli government is much more sophisticated than any news report, and they know when the window of opportunity will close for a successful strike. When Iran is suddenly struck with Israeli lightening speed, their only reprisal, I envision, will be through their proxies surrounding Israel. God has promised Israel that He would give them the land from the great river of Egypt to the River Euphrates, north to and including Syria, and south to the Arabian Peninsula. What will be the outcome of this battle? I suggest that the God given promise of the land promised to Abraham will be redeemed by the help of Almighty God fighting on the side of Israel, much like the 1948, 1967, and the 1973 wars that they should have lost, but God was with them.
Why do I think this? If you look at the Battle of Ezekiel, which I believe follows on the heels of the afore-mentioned Islamic defeat, you find in chapter 38, we read the following:
38:2 Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal, and prophesy against him,
38:3 And say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince (ruler) of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal.
38:4 And I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords--
38:5 Persia, Cush, and Put {or} Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet,
38:6 Gomer and all his hordes, the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north and all his hordes--many people are with you.
Notice that you find none of the names of the peoples mentioned in Psalm 83 in the neighboring nations as they have been destroyed and also, note that the verses speak of a city without walls, a city living in peace as noted in this passage of Ezekiel:
38:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
When has Israel in all of its modern history since 1948 been as Ezekiel describes them in the verse 11? Never you say? You would be right, never. God will be their champion in both fights. It is more evident in Ezekiel than in Psalms 83, as it is revealed that God is doing the fighting and destroys Israel’s enemies on the mountains of Israel by using signs that can only be rendered as Divine in nature. Read the full chapter and digest the quick end to the enemies of Israel that dare come down upon God’s people or His Land. On the heels of this huge defeat of the Gog-Magog coalition, a man of great public stature will bring about a treaty for 7 years of peace. I believe that country, headed by this man is what we call the Anti-Christ!
How many years will be between Psalm 83 and the war in Ezekiel? We don’t know, but the focus of this sermon is that the next war that leads to the unveiling of the Anti-Christ could be close at hand. Israel will own all of the vast oil and gas fields of most of the entire Middle East after this next war and what better prize than for the armies of Gog-Magog to try and come down and take the riches of the Middle East from this upstart called Israel and their God?
Now here is the exciting part for you and me. When this Ezekiel war is quickly fought and lost by this Gog-Magog coalition secured by the power of Almighty God, I believe it will bring to the forefront a man with the number of his name adding up to the number 666. My bible says that he will be revealed according to God’s Word, II Thessalonians chapter 2:
2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
If you have been following my sermons for any length of time, you know the answer to who and what is being talked about here. Verse 9 speaks of one who has the power of Satan with signs and lying wonders. Who is that man? Correct, the Anti-Christ is who Paul is speaking of. But there is one thing that must happen before he can be revealed. What is that? Verse 7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. Who is being taken out of the way? There is something holding back this unspeakable evil, a force that keeps the full power of Satan at bay, and prevents Satan from doing as he would like to do, that is destroy mankind. What is that Force? It clearly is the Holy Spirit. God will remove all hindrance for Satan doing unimaginable evil.
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And skipping down to verse 13:
12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. (Israel)
Let’s make a clear statement here. If the Holy Spirit is being removed and Satan is being cast down to the earth, never to be allowed back into the heavens, then if our Comforter, our Spiritual Counselor, and our deposit of God’s Holy Spirit within our spirit is being removed from this earth, then we who have that promise of redemption will be removed at the exact same time. Understand one thing, my reader. The tribulation is designed for one thing, the removal of sin from this earth and for refining Israel as gold is refined in the furnace. When Israel understands that the Messiah that came to them over 2000 years ago, they will cry out, as Jesus said in Luke chapter 13:
13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Then Israel will realize what they have done to the Lord of Glory, their prophesied Messiah who they killed in anger, but to fulfill God’s plan:
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Now let’s take a quick summary of where this puzzle is showing what may be on the horizon in the near future. The economies of this world are collapsing, number one. The beginning for the push for a One world Religion and Government are being designed right before our eyes, number two. Unrest in the Middle East will eventually explode into possibly WWIII at the greatest, or a Mid-East war in the least because of an attack by the Israelis on Iran’s nuclear installations that could be happening at any moment in the future, puzzle piece number three. Follow this on it’s heals of the conquering of the Middle East oil producing economies by Israel, a battle for control of this vast wealth by the Gog-Magog invasion and the revealing of the Anti-Christ to the world. But before the final puzzle piece is revealed, scripture says that the Church is removed along with the Holy Spirit. How much time in this scenario do you think it would take for all these events to being fulfilled? My friend, it could take several years, it could take ten years, but the point is, signs are saying that man’s history of self rule is drawing fast to a close. The revealing of the Anti-Christ will start the beginning of the Tribulation where peace will be illusive and as smoke in the wind. When this 7 year treaty has been signed, if you witness it, then you will have most likely missed the calling of the church to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The next 3.5 years from that time will be bad, economically, socially, spiritually and probably physically.
When this man who speaks of peace and looks like a saint trying to bring peace to the world, then without warning this man will approach the Temple in Jerusalem that he has allowed to be built as a part of this 7 year treaty and will stand in the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem and proclaim himself, to be a god. Then all of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and all of the land held by Israel will realize that they have made a treaty with the devil and the Great Tribulation will have begun where if God allowed it, no man would be spared because of war, famine, and the wrath of Almighty God being poured out on an unrepentant mankind. My reader, I assure you that you do not want to be witness to the beginning of a 7 year treaty, much less a man standing in the Temple of God, proclaiming that he is God. It will be hell, quite literally, on earth. If you think that a Christian must endure the Tribulation and that Jesus Christ sacrifice didn’t finish the job, and we , the church saints, must be purified right along with Israel who is in spiritual rebellion and darkness, then my friend, you have more of a problem than the timing of the rapture of the church, as in your mind, Jesus and His blood sacrifice was insufficient to purchase your redemption. The Tribulation is designed to purify Israel and to remove sin from the earth in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ to rule with a rod of Iron for a Thousand years, called the Millineum.
My friend, do not be counted with the spiritual rebellion of Israel not accepting their Messiah. The nation of Israel are God’s people and He will save them out of this awful time and save them all, not losing one, but what about you? If you’re not Jewish, you have no idea that you will even have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. If war breaks out in the Middle East in the near future, your chance for making eternity with God may be very short. Make that decision today, as the Holy Spirit wishes to bring you home with our Lord and Savior. Want to know how to make that decision, which is the most important decision that you will ever make? Read the Gospel of John slowly and let God’s Holy Spirit reveal who this Man, Jesus was and is today. He is wishing to come into your life. Won’t you answer the call?
This is Pastor Mike Taylor, wishing God’s salvation for your life. If there is anything I can help you with, pray with you about, or show you the way to salvation, give me an email to realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org. God bless you, till we hopefully meet at Jesus feet.
Comments