PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LAST
of the last days sign to keep
watch on today is the appearance of Antichrist. All
indicators point to his soon coming rise and as we enter 2011 it
appears that the countdown to the mark has began. some
important indictors are as follows:
I N D I C A T O R 1
The Political Stage is Set
Daniel 2 & 7
The political stage is in place for the rise of
Antichrist. Through the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel the
prophet outlines the nations that would rise up throughout history
and lead us to Antichrist. These nations are Babylon,
Media-Persia, Grecian Empire, Roman Empire, Great Britain/United
States, and Russia. These nations will lead to the dividing of
all nations into ten political/economic unions which will be put in
place by Antichrist when he puts into effect his cashless
economic system. Only in our present age has a truly global
realignment of all nations under ten political unions been possible.
I N D
I C A T O R 2
Global Apostasy
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Before Antichrist appears, an apostasy of the church will take
place. The only way this man of sin and evil could appear is
if he is given a welcome mat. That welcome mat is the apostasy
of the church, which is a church without the Holy Spirit...a church
that thinks it is Christian when it is far removed from God....a
church that seeks "life lessons," "principles for living," and
"psychological strength," from the Bible without understanding the
message of the Bible as written by the authors of its various
books...a church striving for God to bless it with material
abundance versus God's will. So far into apostasy has the
church fallen that it believes it is ready to be raptured to meet
her God. An apostate church is not ready to meet God
face-to-face. The coming of Antichrist and his great
tribulation on God's people will purify God's people and make them
ready to meet God and the rapture.
I N D
I C A T O R 3
Movement Toward the Mark
Revelation 13
Only in our twenty-first century has it been possible to have a true
global, cashless monetary system. Revelation 13 is clear that
Antichrist will establish this system by requiring every man, woman,
and child to receive a mark that will allow them to buy and sell: those without the mark will be put to death. The countdown to
the mark has begun as world leaders continue to cry out for a world
economic system. Our own president has plans for all internet
users in America to have a unique online identity to eliminate all
the different passwords they use and to make their surfing and
identity safer. Sounds like the step needed to transition to a
national ID card and then to a global ID or mark. (See
the CBSNEWS article here.) How close we
are to the rise of Antichrist and his economic system is seen in the
following
statement in a January 2011 financial newsletter that I subscribe
to:
"Between now and the end of 2011, we will see a nerve rattling
eruption of global chaos--caused by leaders around the
world tinkling with the financial system...."
He goes on to write:
"By this next phase of the great financial crises will, in the end,
usher in a new America, a new World Order, a new monetary system for
the world, and debt repudiation for governments, citizens, and
institutions."
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It's all in the open, in the mainstream, yet we continue to watch
and sleep...watch and sleep...watch and sleep.
I N D I C A T O R 4
Call to Repentance
Revelation 2 & 3; Matthew 25
It is time for the church to rise out of their slumber and fall to
their knees in repentance. Not a repentance that will turn the
direction the world is headed in reverse--that will not happen.
We are not looking at a repentance--a revival--that will change the
present course of world events, but a repentance that will change
the course of our hearts. This is what Revelation 2 & 3 is all
about. Here we have a picture of the apostate church and their
need for repentance. Repentance is focused upon the individual
to give them strength to endure the tribulation they will soon enter
into at the hand of Antichrist. Nowhere do we find that the
church is called to repent to change the course of world events.
The present church is void of relationship with God through the Holy
Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that makes us true Christian.
Without the Holy Spirit we may claim the name of Christ, understand
the doctrines of Christ, and do many good things in Christ's name,
but not be in relationship with God and therefore be headed for
hell. The call to the church is to repent by allowing the Holy
Spirit to truly live within us. After Jesus explained the
coming events of the last days in Matthew 24, he then encourages in
Matthew 25 to prepare for these days by ensuring that the Holy
Spirit is alive and well within us.
In Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus warns that even though we may be watching
for his coming we may not be ready to be received by Him when He
returns since the Holy Spirit is not in us. If the Holy Spirit
is not in us, God does not recognize us as His own. We must
prepare for Christ's coming now--today--by making sure we truly have
the Holy Spirit.
In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus warns that the Holy Spirit is not given to
lay idle within us...we must be faithful stewards of God's Holy
Spirit in us by allowing Him to work with and through our minds,
spirit, and body. We must prepare for Christ's coming by
allowing the Holy Spirit to be active within us.
In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus warns that if we do not take care and look
after fellow Christians--even the lowest and most ungifted--we will
be cast into hell. Notice that these versus speak specifically
of fellow Christians. Also consider that the lowest and most
ungifted of Christians will be a fellow king, a joint-heir, equal to
the highest and most gifted of Christians, when we enter God's
kingdom. It is only pride and vain glory that causes us
to think we
are something when we are nothing, causing division and segregating one
Christian from another. We must prepare for Christ's coming
now by focusing our attention on our fellow brothers and sisters in
Christ. Christ does not want anyone as a member of His family
who is not willing to care for His family now in this life,
regardless of whether they are rich or poor, gifted or ungifted,
educated or uneducated.
C O N S I D E R A T I O N
There is no doubt that these are the days of Antichrist
when the last pieces of his appearing are being sat in place.
It is now just a matter of time--a short time, my lifetime, maybe
this year or 2012, when Antichrist will appear and establish his
cashless, economic system. The call to the church is to
repent...but do you hear the voice of your God? Do you
hear? We do not have to think or wonder if God has
spoken. He is alive! His presence can be known!
His voice can be heard! Do you hear? Our
present age demands a hearing Church.
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