Anti-Christ and the world government.

INTRODUCTION

In March 2003 we see an intense debate-taking place in the US and all across the world about the role of the U.N in the Iraq crisis.

In 1991 George Bush senior supported by a U.N mandate pushed Iraq out of Kuwait, but did not overthrow Saddam Hussain,

because he did not have the mandate from the U.N to do so.  Today all the leftist, peace activists also want permission  from the U.N

to do anything anywhere in the world. Current world events are transforming the U.N, and it is evolving into a world government.

THE ANTICHRIST AND THE KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST

Today, the world stands at the crossroads of history. Islamic terrorism, rapid changes in

the geopolitical boundaries of  Europe, and the fluid situation around the world has

changed the world forever. The shocking fact is that tomorrow’s news was actually

foretold thousands of years ago in the Bible. The present crisis in the dawn of the

Millenium will culminate with the return of Christ to take His saints home to heaven,

which is called the “rapture.”

The prophetic sections of the Bible are for the comfort and instruction of those

believers in the face of the present predicted crisis. However, our Lord is in control and

nothing will take Him by surprise.

Most people believe that the Islamic terrorists may explode a nuclear device in

America and the subsequent events may lead to a climatic ending of this planet. Even

NonChristians believe that Armageddon looms over the horizon. A child of God who

understands Bible prophecy responds with calmness, peace, and hope, while those who

do not trust in Jesus Christ are overcome with fear. Christians are not looking to save this

world, but they are looking for a new heaven and earth in which Jesus Christ reigns.

Today’s politicians and religious leaders are trying to build a New World order

consisting of a world government, a world economy, and a world religion. The world will

not understand the signs of the times, so they will try to build a world government in

order to establish peace.

The Bible mentions three important requirements to establish the Antichrist’s kingdom:

1)      World government- (Revelation 13:7):

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:

and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

(Daniel 7:23)-Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon

Earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole

Earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

2)      Global capitalism- (Revelation 13:16, 17):

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive

a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell,

save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

3)      World religion- (Revelation 13:3, 4, 8):

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was

healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon

which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast saying, Who is like

unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And all that dwell upon the earth

shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain

from the foundation of the world.

ISRAEL

Israel is the major player in the last days’ events. The fact that the Jewish people are

back in the land after having been scattered to every corner of the globe for almost two

thousand years, is a miracle. Israel’s return to her homeland in 1948 is one of the most

significant prophetic fulfillments in all of world history. First, it completed God’s

promise to both scatter and then regather Israel (Ezekiel 36:24):

For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and

will bring you into your own land.

In 1967, Israel recaptured the city of Jerusalem. It was the first time that Jerusalem was

back in Jewish hands since 70 A. D. The fact that these things are happening at the

present has great significance, because the prophets have told us that these things would

come to pass at a very specific time- namely, the time of the end (Ezekiel 38:8):

After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the

land that is  brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against

the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the

nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

THE TEMPLE

Another most important Bible prophecy is that the Jews will rebuild their temple on the

temple mount. Today, Arabs control the temple mount which houses the Dome of the

Rock, the third holiest site in the Islamic faith. If Israel makes even a small attempt to

build a temple- jihad (holy war) will take place.

How the rebuilding of the temple will take place is not clear. Many believe that the

Dome of the Rock must be demolished before the temple can be built. This can happen

by supernatural actions such as earthquakes, or fire (for example, an underground nuclear

explosion could demolish that structure.) Some others believe that the temple could

actually be rebuilt in its original location, right alongside the Dome of the Rock, without

the Islamic mosque having to be removed. Since Jews and Arabs hate each other, how

can this happen? Rebuiding the temple, peace between Arabs and Jews, and a solution to

the Palestinian problem are at the very heart of Biblical prophecy and the birth of the

world government. One of the most important steps to form a world government will be

a peace treaty between Israel and the Arabs.

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

The Word of God is very clear that the reason the temple was destroyed, Jerusalem

burned, and Israel scattered in 70 A. D.  was because the Jewish people rejected and

killed Jesus. According to the promises of God, He sent them their Messiah. However,

because they were looking for a conquering hero to subdue all their enemies, to bring

them peace, and to sit on David’s throne, they did not recognize Jesus’ fulfillment of the

role of the suffering servant. They could not see that He had to come twice, because of

their sinful hearts and disobedience they could not recognize this truth.

THE SEALED EASTERN GATE

Jesus Christ, the true Messiah will come down on the Mount of Olives, opposite to the

temple mount (Zechariah 14:1-5):

Behold the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of

thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be

taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go

forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in

the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives,

which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the

midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great

valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward

the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the

mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the

earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come,

and all the saints with Thee.

Then a great earthquake will split the earth from the Mediterranean, through the Mount

of Olives to the Dead Sea. Christ will cross the Kidron Valley as He did on Palm Sunday

almost two thousand years ago. This incident is prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel

(Ezekiel 43:1, 2, 4, 5):

Afterward He brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:

And, behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and His

voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with His glory. And the

glory of the Lord came, into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is

toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and,

behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.

The prophet Ezekiel told Israel that the Eastern Gate of the temple would be shut until

Jesus Christ comes (Ezekiel 44:1, 2):

Then He brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which

looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the Lord unto me; This

gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it,

therefore it shall be shut.

Amazingly, this gate has been closed for many centuries. Ordinary people or secular

historians may consider it a coincidence, but according to the Word of God, it cannot be

opened without heavenly sanction. The original Eastern Gate is also sealed under the

accumulated rubble directly in front of the present sealed Eastern Gate, which we can see

now. The Muslims under Sulaiman the Magnificent were aware of the prophecy of the

coming Jewish Messiah, and they sealed this gate when they rebuilt the city walls more

than four hundred years ago. To prevent the coming of the Messiah through the gate, they

built a large graveyard in front of it. In their religion, a priest would be defiled by

walking through a graveyard, so they felt that a gravesite would prevent the Messiah

from fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy.

Twice in the Twentieth century, an attempt to open the closed Eastern Gate failed.

On December 9, 1917, Grand Muffti, the Arab leader of Jerusalem, tried to open this

gate. He had ordered the other gates of Jerusalem sealed to deter the approaching Allied

Army, led by the British General Lord Allenby. Since he needed one gate open, he

ordered his workmen to open the mysterious sealed gate. As the workmen picked up their

sledge hammers, Lord Allenby’s biplane flew over the city telling the Arabs to “flee

Jerusalem”. Miraculously, without a shot being fired, the soldiers fled the city. It was

delivered into the hands of Great Britain, which had one month earlier promised the Jews

“a national homeland” with the famous Belfour Declaration. The workmen fearfully put

down their sledge hammers and the gate remained sealed as the prophet had prophesied.

Again, in 1967, the ancient prophecy was fulfilled. King Hussein of Jordan had

conquered the old city of Jerusalem in 1948, including the temple mount. For the first

time in centuries, the Jews were forbidden to worship at their sacred Western Wall. King

Hussein decided to build a hotel for Arab pilgrims on their section of the Western Wall-

closing off this area to Jewish worship forever. However, the planned hotel would be

built over the Magreb Gate, which all pilgrims presently use to enter the temple mount.

The king needed to open another gate to allow Muslim worshippers entrance to the

El Aksa mosque on the temple mount. In violation of Bible prophecy, he ordered his

workmen to open the sealed Eastern Gate. On June 6, 1967, as the workmen prepared

their air hammers to shatter the huge stones, Israel aircraft preemptively attacked the

Arabs. The warplanes destroyed the Arab nations’ military installations within hours.

Within six days, Israel vanquished her enemies and the plan to open the Eastern Gate

failed again. The Eastern Gate is still sealed. The gate will remain sealed until the day

when the promised Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ will enter into His kingdom. (The

above information was taken from the book, Heaven by Grant R. Jeffrey.)

DANIEL’S SEVENTY WEEKS

Hundreds of years before the time of Jesus, the prophet Daniel was given an overview

of God’s upcoming dealings with His chosen people. While Daniel was in captivity in

Babylon, he was praying for God’s mercy upon the children of Israel. Then the angel

Gabriel appeared to him. He told Daniel that God had heard his prayer, and wanted to

give him understanding of what would happen to Israel in the future. It is that overview

which helps us understand the role of Israel, the temple mount, and the Antichrist in the

last days.

Daniel’s prophecy provides the key to the entire drama of the last days. Daniel was

told that 490 years had been given to the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:24-27):

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to

finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation

for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision

and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand,

that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem

unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:

the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after

threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the

people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and

the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are

determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in

the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and

for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the

consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

By the end of these 490 years, Israel would make an end of her sins, enter the age of

everlasting righteousness, and accept her Messiah. However, the prophecy was broken

down into several parts. The first 483 years, Daniel was told, were to be measured from

the time of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This decree was given to

Nehemiah in 645 B. C.

Archaeological discoveries and extensive research by Sir Robert Anderson, the one-

time head of the criminal investigation division of the Scotland Yard, have conclusively

proved the pinpoint accuracy of the prophetic Word of God. Sir Robert Anderson was a

writer, and one of the pioneers of the Plymouth Brethren movement. His research shows

that it was exactly 483 years to the day, from the time that Nehemiah was given

permission to rebuild Jerusalem until what we know as Palm Sunday. It was on that day

that Jesus was presented to Israel as their long awaited Messiah and King (Matthew 21:4,

5): All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,

saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek,

and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

(Mark 11: 9, 10): And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying,

Hosanna; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom

of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Ultimately, Jesus was not received by Israel as her Messiah. Just as Jesus had said,

they declared, “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14).

Exactly 483 years after the day when the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem had been

given, Israel failed to recognize her day of visitation and rejected the real Messiah. At

that exact moment the prophetic clock of God’s dealing with Israel stopped, seven years

short of the 490 years that had been given to Israel. Why did that clock stop? Because

Israel rejected Jesus Christ, and because as the prophecy indicated, the Messiah had to be

“cut off not for Himself.”  In 33 A. D., indeed the Messiah was cut off (killed), but it was

not for Himself; it was for us. God gave His own Son to die for our sins. Those who

believe in Him receive eternal life. Now God’s attention was no longer focused upon

Israel, but upon a new entity called the Church: the group of people all over the world

who would accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

This doesn’t mean that Israel was rejected forever. As the Word of God says, the world

which had previously been divided into Jews and Gentiles, was now made up of three

different groups: the Jews, Gentiles, and the Church of God (1 Corinthians 10:32):

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church

of God.

Furthermore, the prophecy of the seventy weeks is a constant reminder that there are still

seven years on the prophetic clock, which is interrupted by the Church Age, when God’s

focus will once again be directed toward Israel.

When will this seven-year period begin? If the prophetic clock stopped with the birth of

the Church, it could not begin again until the Church is gone. This event is known as the

“Rapture”. The Rapture is the great hope that Jesus has given to all believers, that in the

last days there will be a generation of Christians who would never know death. These

believers will suddenly be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the clouds (I Thessalonians

4:17): Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with

them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with

the Lord.

The Biblical teaching of this “catching away” is that it will occur at the beginning of a

period of time known as “the Tribulation period” or “the time of Jacob’s

trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7):

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s

trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

The Tribulation period will last seven years (483+7=490). One week actually means

seven years, not days. One week of seven years is still left unfulfilled.

THE NEW ERA

The magic words for the world nations after the collapse of the Soviet Union were

capitalism and democracy.

The Antichrist will enter on the world stage by arranging a miraculous peace treaty

with Israel and the Arabs. The treaty will not only guarantee their protection, but will

also allow them the right to rebuild their temple and reinitiate the Old Testament

sacrifices. The document signed may be the constitution of the world government.

The Middle East peace will signal to the whole world that the New Age has finally

begun. Because of constant war in the Middle East and explosive conditions all over

the world, the world will long for peace. The Antichrist will arrive on the scene

with an offer of peace. He will be a popular or democratically elected leader.

Daniel chapter nine gives the first clue by which the Antichrist can be clearly

identified. The world will not know who the Antichrist is until “he will confirm a

covenant with many for one week” (Daniel 9:27). When the world knows of the

Antichrist, he will be in the role of a peacemaker. During this first half of seven years,

Israel feels at peace and secure, so the covenant must provide full guarantee for

Israel’s national security.

One result of the covenant is that Israel will be allowed to rebuild her temple in

Jerusalem. The Antichrist will be known as the greatest man of peace. How ironic

that the man who will cause so much misery and destruction appears first as a hero for

peace. Although he might appear initially as a man of humility, his ultimate goal in all

his actions will be to exalt himself (Daniel 11:37):

Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor

regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

World events will seem to vindicate his faith in massive and destructive weapons.

Daniel describes a series of coalitions that rise against the Antichrist during the seven-year period.

But those alliances are no match for the power of this ultimate ruler (Daniel

11:40-42): And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and

the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and

with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and

shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many

countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom,

and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand

also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

The apostle John also describes the Antichrist’s reliance on military might and power.

In Revelation six, John pictures the events that inaugurate the seven-year Tribulation

period. The era begins with a rider bent on worldwide conquest (Revelation 6:2):

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and

a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

SATANIC COUNTERFEIT

Many victories he achieves are due to supernatural forces at work behind the scenes.

Ultimately, the Antichrist is a pawn in the hand of Satan.

The apostle Paul provided a chilling picture of the Antichrist (11 Thessalonians 2:9,10):

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and

lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;

because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The appearance of the Antichrist will be accompanied by a display of miracles

unparalleled since the time of Jesus and the apostles.

Satan’s power is limited. He is not all-powerful, nor is he all- knowing or omnipresent.

Satan will work to enhance the credibility of the Antichrist by bestowing on him

miraculous powers. This superman will have more powers than anybody else on this

planet.

The world searches desperately for peace, apart from God. Modern men want all the

benefits without accepting any of the responsibilities. They look for a leader who will

offer hope without asking people to acknowledge their sin. That leader could be just on

the horizon. He will appear as the answer to the world’s prayers – a man who can bring

peace and prosperity to a world racked by pain.

The world will be so mesmerized by his miracles that his other actions will scarcely be

noticed. Military might will be his top priority. The world will wake up to his total

control, but by then it will be too late. People will be forced to pay homage to this evil

ruler because they know the consequences of disobedience. “Who is like the beast? Who

can make war against him?” (Revelation 13:4). In the end, the man of peace will turn out

to be the man of lawlessness, but for most people still on earth, the discovery will come

too late.

REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE

There will be an alignment of ten nations in the Mediterranean. In Daniel  7:7, 24, this

is symbolized by ten horns on a beast that represent the last world empire, the Roman

empire in its final and revised form.

The Common Market is the forerunner of another confederacy of nations – a united

states of Europe from the Atlantic to the Ural mountains. Napoleon and Hitler dreamed of

a greater Europe. In January 1, 2002, Europe adopted “euro” as their currency. Today, the

European Common Market is emerging as the dominant player in politics and economics.

In 1958, six nations – Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West

Germany formed the European community. The goal of this community was the

economic unification of Europe.

Dramatic events that have shaken Europe in the late 1980’s and 1990’s hastened

Europe’s drive for unification. Many satellite countries of the Soviet Union’s Warsaw

Pact joined in the European union. There are fifteen members at present, and it may

increase up to twenty-five members.

Europe sprang from the soil of nationalism. Isolated tribes and confederacies united by

a common language or common religious heritage, form the basis of most

European communities. Europe searches for the secret to a united continent. If a united

states of Europe is to be formed, it will need strong leadership to forge the various

nations into a political union.

DANIEL

Daniel was carried off to Babylon as a royal hostage in 605 B. C. He rose rapidly to

become a leading statesman in Nebuchadnezzar’s government.

Daniel’s prophecies make more sense when we understand the structure of his book.

Daniel wrote his first chapter in Hebrew, and the chapter serves as an introduction to

the book. In it we learn how Daniel came to be in Babylon, and why he received God’s

blessing on his life. But beginning in chapter two, Daniel changes both languages and

topics. In Daniel 2:4, Daniel switches from writing in Hebrew to writing in Aramaic

(“Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic”). The languages are similar, but

the effect on Daniel’s readers is as dramatic as if he had switched from writing in English

to writing in Greek. Daniel wrote chapters two to seven in Aramaic before switching

back to Hebrew at the beginning of chapter eight.

Why the switch in language? In chapters two to seven Daniel wrote of events important

to all nations, so he wrote in the common commercial language of his day. Beginning

in chapter eight, he focused on events related especially to the people of Israel, so he

switched back to Hebrew. Chapters two to seven focus on events relating to the “times of

the Gentiles”.

God allowed Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians to destroy the Kingdom of Judah

and carry off the Jews into captivity. God’s purpose for the nation of Israel had always

been the establishment of His kingdom on earth with the coming of Israel’s Messiah.

But because of the nation’s disobedience, God punished the people by allowing them to

be defeated and deported. Daniel wrote to announce to the Jews that in spite of their

circumstances, God was still in control and working out His plans for the world. God’s

kingdom would yet come, and the Jews would one day be restored to the land of Israel.

Daniel wrote the Aramaic section of his book to explain to the Jews that God’s

kingdom was still coming. Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in (Daniel

2:24): Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy

the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise

men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the

interpretation.

He also explained the meaning of the stone that destroyed Nebuchadnezzar’s statue.

In chapter seven, Daniel pictured “one like a son of man” coming to

destroy the beasts roaming the world (Daniel 7:14):

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people,

nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting

dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not

be destroyed.

In Daniel chapters two to seven, the prophet explains what will happen between the

time when the kingdom of Judah was destroyed, and God’s future kingdom is finally

established. This is the period commonly called the “times of the Gentiles” - a time when

Gentile powers rule over the Jews and control the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem.

THE FOUR NATIONS

In the book of Daniel chapters two to seven, the prophet provides insight into the

Gentile powers that will rule Israel and the Jews from the time of Nebuchadnezzar until

the coming of God’s kingdom for Israel. Chapter two pictures the nations as four parts

of a giant statue, while chapter seven describes the nations as four beasts climbing from

the sea.

After describing the statue smashed by a stone, Daniel interprets the vision (Daniel

2:36):

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

In chapter seven, the vision confuses Daniel until an angel comes and interprets

it for him (Daniel 7:16):

I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this.

So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

What was the four-part statue seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream in Daniel two?

Daniel explains each part to the king. The head of gold represented Nebuchadnezzar

himself (Daniel 2:38):

And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of

the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all.

Thou art this head of gold.

The times of the Gentiles began when Nebuchadnezzar invaded, conquered, and

deported the Jews from Israel. This took place in 587 B. C.

Nebuchadnezzar, as the leader of the country that destroyed Israel, took top honors in

the line of Gentile nations.

Having interpreted the head of gold, Daniel moved to the second part of the vision-

the chest and arms of silver. Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian Empire would be replaced

by another kingdom. On October 12, 539 B. C., Babylon fell to Cyrus, king of the

Medo-Persian Empire (Daniel 5:30-31):

In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius

the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Daniel described this second empire as “the kings of Media and Persia” (Daniel 8:20):

The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media

and Persia.

After Daniel interpreted the meaning of the first two sections of the statue in chapter

two, he described the third part of the vision. The statue had “its belly and thighs of

bronze” (Daniel 2:32):

This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver,

his belly and his thighs of brass. . .

Daniel’s explanation of the belly of bronze is very brief (Daniel 2:39):

And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another

third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

Daniel confirms the sequence in chapter eight when he names the empire that

would follow Medo-Persia. Daniel identifies the empire pictured in chapter eight as a

“goat” who would destroy the Medo-Persian Empire (Daniel 8:21):

And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between

his eye is the first king.

Greece replaced Medo-Persia in 330 B. C. Daniel describes the first three empires in the

“times of the Gentiles” as being Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. All three controlled

the Middle East and ruled over the land of Israel. Daniel finally comes to the fourth part

of his vision, the “legs of iron”. Daniel again explains that the new metal on the statue

represents a kingdom (Daniel 2:40):

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh

in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it

break in pieces and bruise.

Daniel doesn’t name this fourth kingdom in his book, but the empire that defeated

Greece, conquered the Middle East, and controlled the land of Israel was Rome. Daniel

explained that when the kingdom of God –pictured as a stone –finally came, “it struck the

statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them” (Daniel 2:34):

Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image

upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

This fourth empire would be the empire ruling over Israel when

God’s kingdom comes to earth. When Jesus came to Israel and announced in Matthew

4:17, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, Rome was ruling over Israel.

In Daniel two, the prophet describes four empires that bridge the gap from the time

Israel goes into captivity until the kingdom of the Messiah arrives. The four: Babylon,

Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, form an unbroken line of descent from Daniel’s day

until the time of Christ.

In Daniel chapter seven, the prophet describes the four nations as beasts emerging from the sea. The description may be different, but the same nations are in view.

The meaning and events of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue is described in a different way,

under the symbol and in the form of wild beasts. When man looks at his works, at his

great buildings, his empires and kingdoms, he sees it as Nebuchadnezzar saw it in his

vision: a great colossal man with a head of gold, even a breast and heart of silver. He

looks upon his kingdoms through the symbol of a vast, impressive, strong standing man.

But in the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel, looking at the same sweep of history,

God sees it in an all together different way. God looks at the kingdoms under the symbol

and in the form of wild beasts. A man looks at human history and reads in it the proud

stories of conquering, triumphant generals, statesmen, and kings. But when God looks

at those same leaders, He looks at them in divine evaluation as being wild beasts. The

reason is apparent. They attack one another like wild animals. They are wild beasts.

Nations rise by the power of the sword in blood and slaughter, in fire and in force. It is

the same even today.

In Daniel’s description of the first beast, it had the form of a lion, with the wings of an

eagle- two animals that symbolized the supremacy of this first kingdom. Daniel notes

that the beast ruled supreme until “its wings were torn off” (Daniel 7:4):

The first was like a lion, and had eagles wings: I beheld till the wings thereof

Were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the

feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

This description pictures the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon, which the

prophet records in detail in Daniel chapters four and five.

The prophet’s second creature resembled a bear “raised up on one of its sides”

(Daniel 7:5):

And behold another beast, a second like unto a bear, and it raised up itself

on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it:

and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

This lopsided bear pictured the two halves of the Medo-Persian

Empire, with the Persian half being the more prominent. The bear had “three ribs

in its mouth between its teeth”- picturing Medo-Persia’s conquest of Lydia,

Babylon, and Egypt.

Daniel’s third creature from the sea “looked like a leopard” (Daniel 7:6):

After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the

back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and

dominion was given to it.

The swift leopard was an apt description of the Greek Empire that swept through the

world under Alexander the Great. The leopard’s four heads visualize the final

form of Alexander’s empire, as Bible prophecy had foretold. His kingdom was divided

among four generals after his death. Gassander took Macedonia and the western part,

Lysimachus took Thrace and the northern part, Seleucus took Syria and the eastern

part and Ptolemy took Egypt and the southern part.

An interesting account of Alexander’s conquest in the Middle East gives credence

to Bible prophecy.

A description of Alexander’s conquest is given below from the works of

Josephus, who was a contemporary of Jesus Christ. This Jewish historian

was born in 37 A. D. and died after 100 A. D.

When Alexander the Great conquered the known world, he took with him

Aristotle, the greatest philosopher who ever lived. Man looks upon his empires

as models of human achievement, but God looks on them as wild beasts which

need to be controlled.

When Alexander the Great marched up to Jerusalem, he had come to destroy

it. Alexander was in Tyre, a city he was seeking to conquer. Nebuchadnezzar

had besieged Tyre for eighteen years and never succeeded in subduing it. The

first time Tyre was ever conquered was by Alexander the Great. In the conquest

of Tyre, Jerusalem and Judea refused to help Alexander. After the war was

over in Tyre, Alexander marched to Gaza and burned it to the ground in

indignant vengeance because they refused to help him while besieging Tyre.

He was on his way to Jerusalem to destroy and burn it too.

In the meantime, God appeared to the high priest and told him what to do.

The next day Alexander with his armies came sweeping up to Jerusalem to

destroy it. The high priest came out wearing his mitre (holy garments), with

his breastplate inlaid with twelve precious stones, and his robe laden with all

the beauty of bells and embroidered pomegranates. He was followed by all the

priests dressed in pure white. They were followed by all the people of the city,

dressed in robes, clean and white. They welcomed Alexander the Great singing

the songs of Zion. They opened to him the doors of their city and of their temple.

One of the priests took the Holy Scriptures and showed Alexander in the book

of Daniel where Daniel had prophesied concerning his very coming. So over-

whelmed was the world conqueror by what he saw in the beautiful procession

of the Jewish priesthood, and by the welcome of the Judean people, that he

knelt down and prayed in the name of Jehovah God, and offered a sacrifice on

the brazen alter in the temple. When Alexander arose, he said that in a dream

before he left Macedonia, he had seen that very man, the high priest, and heard

him say that if Alexander crossed to Hellespoint with his Greek army, God

would give him victory throughout all of Asia.

Daniel cannot describe the fourth creature. His animal remains unidentified

except for his observations that the beast had “large iron teeth and ten horns”

(Daniel 7:7):

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful

and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it

devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of

it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had

ten horns.

Daniel’s use of “iron” ties this fourth beast with the fourth part of the statue in chapter

two. The beast represents Rome.

ROME RESURRECTS AGAIN

Daniel dramatically predicted that Rome would be the great power when the Messiah

came to earth to establish His kingdom. Just as God predicted, Rome controlled the

land of Israel when Jesus came as the Jew’s Messiah. But something seemed to go

tragically wrong. Instead of ushering in the kingdom, Jesus was crucified (John 19:15):

But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith

unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have

no king but Caesar.

Did God make a mistake? The answer is no. Indeed, Daniel predicted that the Messiah

would be killed. In Daniel chapter nine, the prophet predicted the time sequence for

God’s prophetic activities. He first predicted the time “from the issuing of the decree

to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the Ruler (Daniel 9:25). Daniel’s

prophecy pointed to the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem as Israel’s Messiah. But Daniel

goes on to predict, almost 600 years before the event, what would happen to the Messiah

(Daniel 9:26). Jesus death was no accident. The Bible predicted that the Messiah would

die, but why did He die? The prophet Isaiah answered that question in Isaiah 53:5-6:

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our

iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His

stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have

turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the

iniquity of us all.

Jesus Christ died as the substitute for our sin. He died on the cross to pay our debt- to

pay the penalty for our sins.

God arranged the world’s stages so that Jesus could offer Israel her kingdom at His first

coming to earth. Had Israel truly repented and accepted her Messiah, God could have

brought His plans to pass. But Israel rejected her Messiah, and God used this rejection to

accomplish His larger plan of having the Messiah die for the sins of the world. But what

does all this have to do with Rome?

Jesus will come to earth a second time. The kingdom promised by God will be

established then. The Gentile power controlling the land of Israel when the Messiah

comes will be the same power that was in control at Jesus’ first coming. Rome will rise

again.

Daniel’s predictions of the coming kingdom in Daniel two and seven, did not end at the

first coming of Jesus. The kingdom pictured by Daniel is not the present age of the

church. The Messianic kingdom announced by Daniel is still future, and Daniel says that

when it comes, Rome will be the country crushed by its appearance. In Daniel chapter

nine, Daniel has provided an amazing timetable for Israel. It describes Daniel’s

seventieth week, which I have explained previously. In Revelation thirteen, John pictures

the end- time evil empire that will control the earth. He describes the empire as “a beast

coming out of the sea” (Revelation 13:1):

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of

the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten

crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

That is exactly how Daniel described the empires in Daniel seven. As John describes this

end -time empire, it becomes obvious that he is describing the fourth beast of Daniel

seven. The beast John saw has “ten horns and seven heads” (Revelation 13:1). While

Daniel said the fourth beast had ten horns in Daniel 7:7, he interpreted the horns on the

beast as “ ten horns are ten kings” (Daniel 7:24):

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:

and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the

first and he shall subdue three kings.

John provides the same interpretation for the ten horns (Revelation 17:2):

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and

the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of

her fornication.

Daniel explains how long the fourth beast will persecute the people of Israel (Daniel

7:25):

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall

wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times

and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and

times and the dividing of time.

A “time” is symbolic of a year, so “a time and times, and half a time” could be

translated “a year, two years, and half a year.” Daniel’s fourth empire will persecute

Israel for three and one-half years- the same amount of time the “ruler who will come”

persecutes Israel in Daniel 9:27. As John describes the end-time evil empire, he writes

that he will be allowed to “exercise his authority for forty-two months (Revelation 13:5):

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and

blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty

and two months.

Forty-two months is exactly three and one-half years.  Both Daniel and John describe the

same empire. They picture a beast rising from the sea with ten horns representing a ten-

nation confederacy. Both predict that this empire will persecute the nation of Israel for

three and one-half years.

THE EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET

The European Common Market is the ten-nation confederacy predicted in Daniel and

Revelation. However, presently, the European Common Market consists of twenty five

nations, while several others may still join. The Bible predicts one diverse empire ruled

by the end-time dictator. This empire will be composed of at least ten nations who will

ally himself with this ruler. However, no such alignment exists today. In the past

decade, Europe has changed dramatically. The Soviet Union broke up into fifteen

countries. Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia broke up, while both Germanys united. The

continent is undergoing major political upheavals, and no one knows the outcome.

God makes three assertions about the final European power that will play a role in the

end-time events:

1)      The empire will be a potent military force in the world. The rest of the world will

look at the final world leader and his European empire and say, “who can make war

against him?” (Revelation 13:4):

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and

they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is

able to make war with him?

The United States will be replaced by the European empire as the greatest power in

the world.

2) The empire will be strong militarily and economically, but it will be a fractured

empire. The final European power will still be plagued by the nationalism that has

already divided Europe. The language barriers, and the long-standing political,

religious, and national rivalries will make the empire difficult to govern. Factionalism

and nationalism will contribute to the destruction of this empire. That is why Daniel

pictured this final empire as a mixture of iron and clay. It will have the military

strength of iron, but the clay represents the nationalism that would weaken the

empire (Daniel 2:43):

And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle

themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to

another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

ARMEGEDDON

Archaeologists have discovered twenty-four separate layers of occupation on

Megiddo-a mute reminder of the violent history of this strategic city.

King Solomon fortified his capital city and three other key cities in his empire-Hazor,

Megiddo, and Gezer (I Kings 9:15):

And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to

build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Millo, and the

wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.

Megiddo’s strategic location in the Jezreel  valley at the mouth of the road through

Mount Carmel caused the city much grief. The city suffered sieges and attacks, and

countless armies gathered outside her gates. Solomon, the last king, who ruled over the

united empire of Israel, fortified the city against attack.

Josiah, the last good king of Judah, died at Megiddo trying to stop the army of Egypt

from going to fight against the Babylonians (II Kings 23:29):

In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of

Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and

he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.

The hill of Megiddo, in Hebrew “har Megiddo”, symbolized the place where armies

assembled for war. The Jezreel valley provided ample room for gathering an army and

conducting maneuvers. Control of the pass through Mount Carmel gave the city military

importance.

REVELATION 16:16

In Revelation sixteen, God pours out His final bowls of judgment on the earth. These

judgments occur in the last days and weeks before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ on

earth. The next to the last judgment is the sixth bowl that the angel pours out on the earth

(Revelation 16:12-16):

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and

the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might

be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth

of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the

false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go

forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the

battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed

is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they

see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the

Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

GLOBAL DEMOCRACY

One of the common denominators of the revived Roman Empire which will eventually

hold sway over all the earth, will be democracy. In the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s

dream, the iron represents Roman democracy, which for all practical purposes rules

today’s political world. This is reinforced by the reality that never before in history

has the world experienced global democracy. God chose Israel to rule the world,

however, Europe has ruled the world for over two thousand years. But only one is

destined to lead, and that is Israel.

Asian countries have patterned themselves after European laws and business practices.

French, English, Portuguese, Dutch, and other European languages are spoken in

different parts of the world. There is not a country in Africa which is not built upon the

intellectual foundation of Europe. The iron empire (Europe) has dominated the world for

over two thousand years, and during the last few decades, it has re-emerged even more

powerful than ever before in history.

Based on Bible prophecy, the European “iron empire” must spread around the world

and solidify all the nations into a global society.

MYSTERY BABYLON

The word “ Babylon” appears 286 times in the Bible, with twelve of those instances

appearing in the New Testament (Genesis 11:9):

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there

confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord

scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

The Biblical account ascribes the founding of the ancient prehistoric city of Babylon to

the descendants of Cush and the followers of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10):

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even

as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of

his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the

land of Shinar.

This statement distinguishes the people who founded the city (evidently the Sumerians)

from the Semitic-Babylonians who afterwards possessed it.

It is noteworthy that the first Babylon (Babel) was a form of democracy at work;

an attempt to fully unite the world politically, economically, and religiously.

GENESIS 11:1-4:

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it

came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain

in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another,

Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick

for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us

build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let

us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the

whole earth.

The city of Babel was the center of civilization. The kingdom of Babylon accepted

the separation of the nations with its different languages, traditions, and cultures, but

aimed to instigate a one-world religion. The mystery Babylon, the last Gentile super

power; will unite the world politically, economically, and religiously. The key to her

success is unity through diversity.

This is obviously a clever imitation of Satan, who knows that the church is completely

and perfectly united in the Lord, yet diverse while on the earth. The church is found in

every country of the world. Its members speak different languages and practice varied

traditions and cultures: however, the church remains as one.

The building of the tower of Babel was not authorized by a powerful emperor, king, or

great warrior, Instead, the people of the land were the driving force behind the

undertaking.

BABYLON

The difference between Babel and Babylon lies in the fact that Babel was a functioning

democracy ruled by the people. However, Babylon was ruled by a royal monarchy.

The destruction of mystery Babylon is described in Revelation 14:8 and 16:19:

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen,

that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the

wrath of her fornication.

And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the

nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God,

to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

The Scriptures also describe Babylon’s destruction in Revelation chapters seventeen and

eighteen. The emphasis in chapter seventeen is on the religious aspect of Babylon. This

is the destruction of the false church headed by the false prophet at the Tribulation

Period.  Chapter eighteen centers on the commercial aspect, and describes a literal city

called Babylon. (Although many great scholars believe that Babylon or Iraq will be

rebuilt in the future, this author does not support that idea wholeheartedly.)

Isaiah chapters thirteen and fourteen and Jeremiah chapters fifty and fifty-one further

explain  Babylon’s destruction.

Nevertheless, the name Babylon in Revelation is used for more than a city. It

also stands for a system. This is much the same as Americans speak of Wall Street. It is

an actual street, but it also stands for the financial system of the free world.

ONE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD

The names given children during Biblical times were significant because they revealed

something about the bearer’s character. God calls all people by name. He even names

each star in heaven.

At the same time, Satan degrades man to such a level that he loses his name. In the jail

system, each prisoner has a number. The names of those following Satan are blotted out

of the Book of Life, and each person becomes a number.

Today’s economy, financial system, and politics are progressing toward a complete

numbering system that will eliminate all names. Therefore, it is not surprising that the

final global system will require that every person on the face of the earth be numbered

(Revelation 13:18):

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the

beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred

threescore and six.

CASHLESS SOCIETY

Banks and retailers like debit cards because it reduces employee theft, reduces charges

on non-cash transactions, and eliminates check fraud. Debit cards facilitate immediate

access to funds, and improved cash flow. The elimination of cash and checks can aid the

retailer and others in the money chain. The consumers debit card is scanned by the store

clerk. Within seconds, the money is transferred directly from the consumer’s account to

the store’s account.

Another very important advantage for the retailer is the reduction of robbery. This will

reduce insurance premiums and the threat of physical violence. The move to a cashless

society will have a chain reaction of benefits for all citizens of the world. We will be able

to pay for everything with prepaid or (stored value) or smart card. Coins will disappear

from society. Banks will be able to eliminate most of their branches in the near future.

It is highly costly for banks to staff and pay for building maintenance. Automatic Teller

Machines (ATM’s), which can perform almost all the functions of a branch bank, are

vastly less expensive.

When a new bank branch is built, it has to hire architects, builders, contractors,

engineers, and electricians, and pay for locksmith’s fees, permits, and numerous other

costs. ATM’s do not need health insurance, vacations, or sick leave. Debit cards are

convenient for customers, and profitable for retailers and banks. So the world will gladly

adopt the paperless transactions.

A paperless society will deter crime. Muggings and robberies will become unprofitable

as fewer citizens will carry cash, and stores will carry less cash. A cashless society may

eradicate drug dealers because they use cash for transactions. As cash is eliminated from

day to day use, large scale transactions cannot be done through electronic banking

without inviting attention from bank and law enforcement officers.

A cashless society will impact extortion, kidnapping, blackmail, and prostitution.

Society will be willing to embrace this system for a better life.

Millions of dollars could be saved if government payments to individuals could be

handled electronically, rather than having to issue and process expensive paper checks.

Electronic deposits would put an end to the theft of Social Security, and other

government checks from the mail. Tax evasion, cash payments for work performed or for

items sold, and other cash loopholes would be eliminated.

As the nations are converted into a global society, international governments would

benefit from the elimination of foreign currency exchanges.

COUNTERFEIT CARDS

All the cards at present can be counterfeited, and the losses are mounting up. Banks

lose money when a counterfeit transaction takes place. To avoid counterfeiting, banks

have started issuing smart cards with computer chips. But the real counterfeit proof

technology lies in our body. The system known as biometrics, identifies a person by

their unique physical or behavioral characteristics. When perfected, these systems will

be the ultimate security of the electronic world.

The leading biometric technologies include fingerprint and retinal readers, hand

geometry machines, voice recognition, signature dynamics, and many other systems in

their experimental stage. A facial recognition system can identify thousands of people

within seconds. It is now operating at large conventions and celebrations where

thousands of people gather.

Electronic tracking devices are common, with the help of satellites that can track the

subject with a computer chip. This will eliminate kidnapping and car theft. For better

security, society will be willing to sacrifice their personal privacy. Cattle, vehicles,

furniture, and people will be numbered and tracked. (On the 5-10-2002 ABC evening

news, it showed an entire Florida family which had received a chip implant. Even if they

became incapacitated, the medical information could be scanned by detectors.)

ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT

When all these technologies are fully developed, it would be easy for the Antichrist to

control the world. Revelation chapter thirteen explains that in the New World order, there

will be a global economic system where all business transactions can be traced.

Most of the third world countries have jumped on the bandwagon of privatization

and globalization. They will be willing to accept new technologies that can solve their

peculiar social, economic, and military problems. Although the level of technological

development varies from nation to nation; the whole system could be “on line” very soon.

Under the slogan of science, environment, and wisdom, the governments of the world

rush to complete a system that the Bible predicted about.

The collapse of Enron, Global Crossing, World Com, and Arthur Anderson companies

in 2002, has created an opportunity to have many regulations, and to control the

economy. These new regulations will give the government instant access to information

about individual accounts and activities.

The Bible emphasizes that in the last days, such a system will be in place to create a

world government, and anyone outside of the system cannot survive.

666

Movies and articles have made “666” a common word throughout the globe. Even

people who have not seen a Bible know about 666. The Bible says the mark of the Beast

and its accompanying technology will be installed by the Antichrist as a means of

controlling the New World order that is even now being developed.

It is crucial to understand that the decision to take the mark of the Beast involves some

form of a pledge of allegiance to the Antichrist, making it a spiritual decision that has

only secondary economic benefits. This means that they will accept the Antichrist’s

system of government, finance, and religion.

Revelation chapter thirteen tells us that when the Antichrist (Beast) rises onto the world

stage, his first speeches and overtures to the world community will stress his hatred for

God and all those who believe in Him (Revelation 13:5-7):

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and

blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and

two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,

to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in

heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and

to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and

tongues, and nations.

The universal system of the mark of the beast would force people

to use that system to survive, but that would cost their souls forever.

They will become the followers of Satan and the Antichirst.

God warns those who accept the mark of the Beast (Revelation 14:9-11):

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any

man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his

forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath

of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His

indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the

presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And

the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they

have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and

whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Those who will accept the mark of the Beast will worship the Antichrist and thereby

incur the wrath of God.

A careful study of Revelation chapter thirteen shows that the religious, political, and

economic components of this New World order are so inter-connected as to be

inseparable. They work together to assure that you are either in or out of the system.

All the nations will gather again to wipe out Israel from the map of the world.

Israel will be the only remaining symbol of God in the world at the Tribulation Period.

This happens at the end of the seven-year period generally known as the Tribulation.

Since the church was raptured at the beginning of the Tribulation Period, the world

has only room to turn with hatred against anything connected with God (Zechariah 12:2,

3, 9 and Revelation 16:13-16). How the Antichrist will be dealt with is recorded in

(Zechariah 14:3 and Revelation 19:11-14).

TECHNOLOGICAL EXPLOSION

The book of Daniel predicts the explosion of knowledge at the end of the age.  Daniel  (12:14)  “ But you , Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the  time of the end;  many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase”.  Today’s technological advances are shocking, and is predicted in the Bible.  The following information will give credence to the biblical prophecies.

UBIQUITOUS COMPUTER

(The following section is taken from the book, The Embedded Internet by Wallywood.)

Ubiquitous means everywhere-present everywhere at the same time. The goal of

ubiquitous computing is the production of devices that are so common place and natural

to use that they become almost invisible. The term ubiquitous means that there will be

hundreds of tiny computers in an office or home, with each doing its own specialized

task. In the world of ubiquity, computers everywhere are linked invisibly to people

and things everywhere. The resultant network of ever-flowing information becomes one

massive, global “living entity”-the ultimate in the theology of evolution- the marriage of

man and machine.

THE INTERNET

There are over two hundred countries and territories with access to the Internet. This is

how more than six billion people will worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:15). This

will be possible by the technologies of the super high-tech communication network. The

Internet is the most advanced and widely used technology ever used by man. The

combination of the Internet and new devices signals the shift into the era of ubiquitous

computing.

In the future, the technology will be of such superior essence that science may well

declare such super technology as being a new form of intelligence on earth. Artificial

intelligence systems will have to decide which information is relevant and which is

irrelevant. The re-definition of the human factor in a world of evolving artificial

intelligence and global computer networks suggests there is a whole New World

being shaped and created right before our eyes. We are not improving, but creating

a new society and civilization.

Future access to the web may not always be through desktop computers. Common

equipment such as telephones or toasters will connect to the web, and the user may not

even be aware of which appliances in the home are actually connected. Instead of the

user taking the active role in connecting to the Internet, the user’s tool will automatically

connect, without the user’s participation. The goal of ubiquitous computing is to move

computers away from the central focus of the user’s attention and into the invisible

world, where they are used subconsciously to enhance existing tools or communications.

Today’s ubiquitous computer chips are now being produced globally at the rate of nearly

a billion per minute, and it is found in everything from super-computers to inexpensive

children’s toys.

The New World of communications promises to change the landscape of society. Smart

technology, which allows machines to communicate not only with humans, but with other

devices in order to keep a whole household running smoothly, are on the horizon.

Doors will be able to recognize and open for specific people, for instance, as it sees you

coming with a load of groceries. Thermostats that respond to voice commands, and a

refrigerator that will read the bar codes of the products inside so you can dial on the way

home and find out if you are out of milk, are more examples.

In the aftermath of September 11, major cities in America have installed cameras at

intersections, sports events, and conventions. The cameras will send the pictures to a

central computer, which will identify a suspicious character within seconds. Face

recognition technology and national I. D. have been boosted after the terrorist attack.

NANO TECHNOLOGY

Nanotechnology is an expected future manufacturing technology that will make most products lighter, stronger, cleaner, less expensive, and more precise.

. The nano tech revolution will be far more world-changing than the microchip revolution. The following information was

taken from the “Nanotech Report” , October 2002, by Michael Crichton:

A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, which is roughly four atoms wide.

Since it takes 75,000 nanometers to equal human hair, obviously a new

generation of measurement devices is required.

Some future products with nano technology are:

1)      Eyeglasses that will never scratch

2)      Windows, kitchens, and bathrooms that never need cleaning

3)      Tennis balls that last twice as long

4)      Drill bits that almost never dull

5)      Transistors which are one hundred times smaller and one thousand

times faster

6) A sugar cube-sized supercomputer capable of storing everything in

the library of Congress

7)      Body reinforcements-biocomposites smaller than a human cell that

would make your bones and tendons super-strong

Today in the twenty-first century, we are plunging forward into a new era of

technological power, one that offers enormous promise for the future, but

enormous dangers as well.

Imagine a mass of tiny computers, smaller than specks of dust, programmed to

travel in a cloud over an enemy country and send back pictures. Unlike robot

aircraft (American Predator), this camera cannot be shot down; bullets will pass

right through it. Because such tiny computers will deteriorate in time, imagine

that they are made to be self-reproducing in order to replenish themselves. Then

the computers begin to evolve, and the aggregate cloud becomes a death-dealing

swarm that threatens mankind- in effect, a mechanical plague.

Scientists have worried about a new class of artificial organisms for more than

ten years. Humans will design these organisms. However, they will

reproduce and will evolve into something other than their original form; they

will be alive under any reasonable definition of the word. The pace of the

evolutionary change will be extremely rapid. The impact on humanity and the

biosphere could be enormous- larger than the Industrial Revolution, nuclear

weapons, or environmental pollution.

These organisms will be created by nano technology, perhaps the most radical

technology in human history: the quest to build man-made machines of extremely

small size, on the order of one hundred nanometers, or one hundred / billionths of

a meter. Such machines would be one thousand times smaller than the diameter of

a strand of human hair. Experts predict that these tiny machines will provide

everything from miniaturized computer components to new medical treatments to

new military weapons. In the twenty-first century, they will change our world

totally.

The potential benefits are spectacular: tiny robots may crawl through your

arteries cutting away atherosclerotic plaque, powerful drugs will be delivered to

individual cancer cells-leaving other cells undamaged, and teeth will be self-

repairing. Cosmetically, you will change your hair color with an injection of nano

machines that will circulate through your body moving melanocytes in hair

follicles. Other nano machines will lighten or darken skin color at will, removing

blemishes, birthmarks, and liver spots in the process; still others could cleanse

the mouth and eliminate bad breath. Non-surgical nano processes could even

perform liposuction and other body reshaping, and also repair knees and spines.

Living space will be transformed, with self-cleaning dishes and carpets, and

permanently clean bathrooms. Windows will lighten or darken with preference

and programmable paint will change color. You can walk through the walls of

your house since they are composed of particle clouds. Your personal computer

and your watch will be painted on your arm. Temperature-sensitive clothing will

loosen when it gets hot, and insulate when it gets cold.

In this vision of the future, roving nanomachines will convert trash dumps to

energy, solar nanomachines  will coat your house generating electricity, and

flexible nanomachines will provide earthquake protection. It may even be

possible to move your house on the backs of millions of nanomachines creeping

across the lawn.

As a concept, these wonders date back to a 1959 speech by Cal Tech physicist

Richard Feynman entitled, “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”. Forty years

later, nano technology is still very much in its infancy, despite relentless media

hype. However, practical advances are now being made, and funding has

increased dramatically. Major corporations such as IBM, Fujitsu, and Intel are

pouring money into its research. The U. S. government is spending more than

six hundred million on nano technology annually.

Meanwhile, nano technology is already being used to make sunscreens, stain-

resistant fabrics, and composite materials in cars. Soon they will be used to make

computers and storage devices of extremely small size.

Some of the long-anticipated “miracle” products have started to appear as well.

One company is now making self-cleaning window glass, and another is making a

nano crystal wound dressing with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Most experts predict that self-reproducing machines are only a decade away.

There is already some experience with man-made, self-reproducing entities

released in the environment. We have lived for some years  with the first of these

self-replicating entities- computer viruses. Recently, we are beginning to see some

of the problems of self-replicating biotechnology agents.

Amazing technologies are going to be introduced and will pave the way for the new

world government.

THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM

The whole creation of God is groaning for a restoration of peace and prosperity in this

world. The Bible predicts about such a condition on this earth. The recent turmoil and

travail in the social, political, and geographical changes have awakened people all over

the world for a solution. The real solution is given in the Bible.

The word “millennium” means one thousand years. It refers to the thousand year rule

by Jesus Christ on earth. Jesus Christ will rule the earth with righteousness and peace, in

which the Jews will be leaders, and all the nations will receive great spiritual and

economic blessings. The main concept of Old Testament prophecy is the kingdom of God

on earth. For this reason, Israel was chosen as God’s people. Jesus Christ was born in

Israel as the true Messiah of the Jews.

The Scripture discloses that the dead in christ shall be raised from the dust of the ground. The living saints will be transformed.  From the heart of the earth and from the depths of the sea, we shall live in bodies resurrected , glorified, immortalized, and. Another disclosure is

that the Lord shall personally appear out of heaven, and shall set up in this new and

glorified earth a kingdom that shall stand forever.

The doctrine of the coming Millennial kingdom of Christ is one of the greatest

revelations in the Bible. The Millennium is the reign of Christ for one thousand years

on the earth, following His Second Coming. The reign of Christ or the kingdom of Christ

never ends-even after one thousand years. The Bible teaches that Christ’s kingdom will

be an eternal one, which will never end. The Millennium is only chapter one of the

eternal kingdom of Christ. Revelation chapter twenty gives us a vivid account of His

Millennial kingdom.

In the book of Revelation chapter 20:1-3, it states:

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the

bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the

dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him

a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up,

and set a seal upon him, that no more, till the thousand years should be

fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Jesus Christ will be the future ruler of the whole world. God created Adam to rule

the world, but due to sin, Adam failed to fulfill His original purpose. God’s purpose,

however, is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God declares His purpose to set His king in Zion

as is stated in Psalm 2:6-9:

Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree:

the Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My son; this day have I begotten Thee.

Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the

uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with

a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

In Daniel 2:35, a stone which fills the whole earth is an anticipation of the universal

rule of Christ:

Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to

pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors;

and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and

the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the

whole earth.

Furthermore, Daniel 7:14 makes Christ’s kingdom clear:

And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all

people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an

everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that

which shall not be destroyed.

In the Millennial kingdom, the righteousness and justice of God will finally be

experienced in this world. Man will be tested during this period as he lives under the

government of God, without the active temptation of Satan, who was bound in the

bottomless pit. But the descendants of the decendents of the Jews and gentiles saved during the tribulation. who entered the Millennium will

still be born under the curse, and will not be immune from sin. Any sin will be dealt

with separately by Christ as He rules with “a rod of iron”. Even in his ideal condition,

man will fail his final test.

At the end of the Millennium, Jesus Christ will surrender the kingdom to His father

as I Corinthians 15:24 states:

Then cometh the end, when He shall have deli vered up the kingdom to God, even the

Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

WHO WILL ENTER THE MILLENNIUM

The people who enter the millennial rule of Christ at its inception, will consist of those

who survive the severe judgment of both Israel and the Gentiles. All the wicked will be

put to death after the Second Coming of Christ, and only saints who have lived through

the preceding time of trouble will be eligible for entrance into the Millennial kingdom.

This judgment of the Gentiles, where only the righteous are permitted to enter the

Millennial kingdom, is described in Matthew 25:31-46:

When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels

with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: And before

Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from

another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And He shall

set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the

King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father,

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave

Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: Naked, and ye clothed me:

I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee

an hungered, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? When saw

we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? Or

when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? And the King

shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye

have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it

unto Me. Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from

Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye

gave Me no drink: I was a stranger. and ye took Me not in: naked, and

ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. Then shall

they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungered, or

athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister

unto Thee? Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,

Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous

into life eternal.

According to Ezekiel 20:33-38, God will also deal with Israel and purge out all

rebels, that is unbelievers, permitting only the saints among Israel to enter the

Millennial kingdom:

As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a

stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And

I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the

countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a

stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into

the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to

face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land

of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause

you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the

covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them

that transgress against Me: I will bring them forth out of the country

where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and

ye shall know that I am the Lord.

The parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:30 states:

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest

I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind

them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The parable of the good and bad fish in Matthew 13: 49-50 states:

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth,

and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them

into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Both of these parables teach likewise that only the wheat and the good fish,

representing the righteous, will survive the judgment. We can also see supporting

Scriptures in Isaiah 65:11-66:16 and Jeremiah 25:30-33.

According to Isaiah 63:1-6, the Gentiles will be put down in that day, and many

of them will be put to death:

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from

Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the

greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty

to save. Wherefore art Thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments

like Him that treadeth in the winevat? I have trodden the winepress

alone; and of the people there was none with Me: for I will tread

them in Mine anger, and trample them in My fury; and their blood

shall be sprinkled upon My garments, and I will stain all My raiment.

For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed

is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered

that there was none to uphold: therefore My own arm brought

salvation unto Me; and My fury, it upheld Me. And I will tread down

the people in Mine anger, and make them drunk in My fury, and

I will bring down their strength to the earth.

Joel 3:1, 2, and 12 also state:

For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring

again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all

nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat,

and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage

Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted

My land. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley

of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round

about.

This judgment is further expressed in Zephaniah 3:8 and Zechariah 14:1-19.

The time specified for the judgment of the Gentiles is simply stated as being

“When the Son of man shall come in His glory ” (Matthew 25:31).

The place of the judgment is in the earth. The entire world will be affiliated with

the Antichrist-the Beast of Revelation thirteen.

The basis of the judgment of the Gentiles is declared in the passage previously quoted

in Matthew 25:40-46. The sheep assisted the Jews, and the goats did not assist them.

They will not be saved just for their works of assisting Jews. They assist the Jews

because they will put their trust in Christ, and the assistance is the fruit of their

salvation. This is the reason that the believing Gentiles will also enter into the

Millennium.

THE JUDGMENT OF LIVING ISRAEL

The remnant of Israel, those who survive the Tribulation and are on the earth at the time

of the return of Christ, are the specific objects of judgment as Zechariah 13:8-9 states:

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts

therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And

I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver

is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name,

and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The

Lord is my God.

Note also Ezekiel 20: 33-38.

In the prophecies of Malachi, a refining of the sons of Levi is predicted at the time of

Christ’s coming (Malachi 3: 2-5). This conclusion is confirmed by the statements and

parables of Matthew chapters twenty-four and twenty-five.

The result of the Ezekiel judgment is that the rebels are put to death, and they will be

raised from the dead at the judgment of the Great White Throne after the Millennium,

to participate in the destiny of all the wicked from Cain onward. The blessings of the

entrance to the promised land is given in Jeremiah 31:10-13.

MILLENNIAL GOVERNMENT

Isaiah chapter eleven gives a graphic picture of the reign of Christ on the earth.

For supporting verses, see Isaiah 42:4, Jeremiah 23:3-6, Daniel 2:35-45, and

Zechariah 14:1-9.

The covenant which God made with Abraham, and the kingdom promises to David,

Solomon, and all the prophets will be finally realized in the Millennial kingdom.

The blessings for Israel and the Gentiles will be fulfilled when Christ becomes the

ruler in Jerusalem. As the true Son of David, He will take His rightful place upon the

throne of David. (The resurrected David will be the sub-ruler to Christ in Israel).

Christ will receive the worship of men, and fulfill each of the remaining prophecies

of the Old Testament.

One of the most wonderful characteristics of life during this period is that God’s

Holy Spirit will be poured out on Israel and the Gentile nations to transform mankind.

(Joel 2:28-29). The infilling of the Holy Spirit gave birth to the church on the Day of

Pentecost, two thousand years ago. It was only the foretaste of the Millennial kingdom,

in which the Spirit will renew the spirits of all natural men who are believers.

As the Lord pours out His Spirit upon Israel, her heart will overflow with joy. The

Gentile nations will bask in the everflowing blessings of Israel, and will share in the

glory of the Millennium. All wars will cease, and ultimate peace will be established

(Micah 4:3).

Under the direction of Jesus Christ, the resurrected believers of the Church will provide

the leadership necessary to create a just society.

The curse which was placed upon the earth following the sin of Adam and Eve, will

be lifted when the kingdom is established (Isaiah 33:24). All sickness will be eliminated

(Isaiah 29:17, 18). The prophet Isaiah writes, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge

of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). God will forgive their sins (Jeremiah

31:33-34). Weapons will also be eliminated (Isaiah 2:4).

SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE MILLENNIUM

The cessation of war will have a beneficial effect upon both the social and economic

life of the world. Military build-up will become unnecessary, and the money will be

utilized for the welfare of the people.

Salvation is very common, as the majority of the earth’s population will be saved.

In the beginning of the Millennium, the enemies of Christ will be destroyed (Revelation

19:11-21). The Millennial period begins with a society in which both Jews and Gentiles

are saved. As children are born into their homes, however, even though they are in the

favorable circumstances of the Millennial reign of Christ, many of them will not be born

again. These will rebel against Christ at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:8, 9).

In the Millennium, widespread peace and prosperity will prevail (Jeremiah 31:12,

Ezekiel 34:25-27, Joel 2: 21, 27, Amos 9: 13, 14).

Those who have illness and are disabled will be healed (Isaiah 33:24 and 61: 1-3).

The book of Isaiah speaks of the death of a person one hundred years old, as the

death of a child (Isaiah 65:20). The fertility rate will increase dramatically.

GEOGRAPHICAL CHANGE

Many topographical changes will take place in the land of Palestine in connection with

the establishment of the Millennial reign of Christ (Zechariah 14:3, 4). Changes in the

earth will elevate Jerusalem above the surrounding territory (Zechariah 14: 5, 10). All the

land will be depressed in order that Jerusalem might be elevated (Isaiah 2:2 and Micah

4:1).

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

For many people, the saddest and most hopeless eternity can be found in Revelation

20: 11-15. At the end of the Millennium, a Great White Throne is established. It may be

in space, as both the earth and the starry heavens flee away from it in the destruction of

the present earth and heaven. All the wicked who are dead, from Cain to the last, small

and great will be raised from the grave. They are judged according to their works, as

written in “the books,” which is the divine record of human activity. Even a good

person, like Mahatma Gandhi, if he did not accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior,

would be included in this Great White Throne judgment. They will be cast into the lake

of fire (Revelation 20:15). This is defined as the second death (Revelation 20:16).

Physical death is a separation of the soul from the body, so the second death is eternal

separation of the wicked from God.

All the angels who joined in Satan’s rebellion, will stand before the Great White

Throne. These evil angels belong to two classes. One group of fallen angels sinned in a

particular manner before the flood and attempted physical relations with women. They

were chained by God in a special dark prison (II Peter 2:4 and Jude verse 6). The second

group of rebellious angels were allowed to follow Satan (Matthew 25:41). They will be

cast into the lake of fire.

THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH

According to Revelation 21:10, following the judgment of the Great White Throne,

a new heaven and a new earth are created to replace the present earth and heaven. It is

mentioned in Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1. There is no more sea, and all

sorrows and sufferings will end.

The new earth is the dispensation of the “fulness of times” which is described in

Ephesians 1:10:

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all

things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.

After the Millennium, the existing earth and heavens will be cleansed with fire, and

renewed from the corruption of sin (II Peter 3: 7, 10-13).

Then Satan will be released for a little while to test mankind one last time. Many of

those born during this period of the natural men and women, will choose to join this

final rebellion of Satan. God will annihilate Satan and his army with fire. Death and

destruction will be no more.

The New Jerusalem, the home of the believers, will descend to the new earth for all

eternity. It will be the home of the believers in this dispensation, as we reign with Christ

forever. The curse of sin will be eradicated forever. Creation will be transformed into a

Worldwide Garden of Eden. All animals as well as people will become vegetarians. (This

condition will also exist during the Millennium.) Life on the new earth will be more

enjoyable, and be beyond our imagination and dreams. Christians will be like Jesus

Christ (I John 3:2).

The new heavens and the New Jerusalem will be the ultimate home of all saved

believers from Adam to the last saved one on earth. The tree of life that was removed

after Adam’s sin, will be brought back. The New Jerusalem will be illuminated by the

Divine Light of God. The greatest joy of the believers will be that we will see His face.

We will live with Jesus forever.

THE SUN AND THE MOON

The prevailing view among most Christians is that there shall be no sun or moon to

lighten the new earth because they will have been destroyed. Revelation 21:23 states:

And the city (New Jerusalem) had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,

for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.

This does not mean that there will be no more sun or moon at all, but that it is

impossible for their light to penetrate the overwhelming brightness of God’s glory

within the city. Isaiah 60:19 reads:

The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give

light to you; but the Lord will be to you an everlasting light.

The eternity of the sun and moon in the aspects of day and night are also seen in

reference to the eternal punishment of Gehenna hell. Revelation 20:10 says:

And the devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone

where the beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day

and night forever and ever.

Also, in Revelation 14:10-11, it says that those who worship the beast will be tormented

day and night. Day and night have no relevance to eternity unless they are literal. Thus

the light of the sun and moon will exist to mark hell’s continuing existence. Their light

will be upon the new earth to assure the earth’s covenant of perpetual production of

vegetation. Genesis 8:22 states:

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and winter and

summer, and day and night shall not cease.

THE AGES OF THE AGES

The following section is quoted from Clarence Larkin:

“ After the entrance of the new earth, time will cease to exist, and the eternal ages called

the “ages of the ages”  will begin. The ages to come is described in Ephesians 2 :7:

That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His

kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Some scholars, like Y. Ezekiel of India, believe that after many years the occupants of

the New Jerusalem will go back to heaven-the abode of the Father.

God has promised Israel that the descendants of Abraham shall inherit His earth for a

“thousand generations”. The length of one generation is considered to be around forty

years. One hundred generations have passed from Abraham until the present.

Isaiah 66:22-23 states:

For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,

saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass,

that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh

come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.

God intended  Abraham’s descendants to populate the earth, and when it

become too thickly populated, God may transfer  surplus population to colonize the other galaxies.

THE LONG WAIT

We can find some earnest and deep appeals and prayers in the Bible for the coming of

The Lord. The prophet Isaiah said, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens! That You

might come down! That the mountains might shake at your presence.”

That same fervent prayer closes the book of the Revelation. In Revelation 22:20, Jesus

Christ says,“Surely I am coming quickly.” The answering prayer of the aged prophet and

seer, the apostle John says, “even so, come Lord Jesus.”

Oh, my Lord and Savior, please come quickly! In a world of hatred, deceit, death,

famine, chaos, pain, sorrow, and tears, come down, come down. Revelation 1:7 says,

“Behold, He (Jesus Christ) is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, and they

also who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even

so, Amen.”

One day God will change the heart, transform military weapons into instruments of

peace, and rule the nations with a rod of iron (Isaiah 2:4). Muslim Arabs are the

traditional enemies of Israel. But they also will be converted, and will acknowledge the

true God, Jesus Christ.

Although the changing of the hearts of nations awaits Christ’s return, He does change

hearts of individuals today. Jesus promises this to all who accept Him. He says, “Peace

I leave with you; My peace I give you.” (John 14:27). God can forgive your sin. In

Christ’s death, He made provision for our peace with God. You receive eternal salvation

When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, after confessing your sins. A

man’s heart must be changed before a man’s life can be changed.

Your problems are nothing when you have Christ. The nations of the world will not

have peace until Jesus returns. But in Christ, you can have real peace and security even

today.