Chapter 9 – CLUES POINTING TO THE END – CLUE #2

THE TOWER OF BABEL

ONE WORLD?

The Bible tells of the beginnings of the idea of a One World Government and warns this system is coming again – in the Last Days.

“They said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’

“The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

“The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.” Genesis 11:4-6

DON’T BE DECEIVED

The agenda of this “migration” and Globalism or One World Government is not the stuff of just any book. It is stuff of THE BOOK, that is The Bible.

Genesis chapter 11 gives us the prophecy, the foreshadowing of the coming One World Government.

The Tower of Babel, built around, 2242 B.C., was a post-Flood rebellion against God by Noah’s descendants. As told about in Genesis 11:1-9, it is meant to explain why the world’s peoples speak different languages. According to the account, a united humanity in the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar (שִׁנְעָר). There, they agree to build a city and a tower tall enough to reach heaven.

(NOTE: “tall enough to reach to heaven” can be a metaphor for “man reaching to heaven, making himself god, to accomplish his own desires. This is the ‘Utopian dream’ of the Socialist and Communist manifestos; the State being our god – from cradle to grave)

This effort of uniting in a global community has been underway for about 4,200 years, about 100 years after ‘The Flood’, but before Abraham was born.

This is ‘forecast’ or what is Prophesied in the Bible. Is it underway? Should we PREPARE? (More on this, later).

These are exciting times in which we live! But we must be prepared to ‘endure to the end’, most likely the end of the 5th Seal of Revelation, as Jesus said in Matthew 24. And by all accounts, it would seem we are at that stage! More on this, later, too.

NEXT:  PERFECTION – Chapter 10 – Clue #3

PREVIOUS: PERFECTION – Chapter 8 – Clues Pointing to the End – Clue #1, Part 3

IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THE TOWER OF BABEL AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE JESUS RETURNS, USHERING IN THE “GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD”.

Hello, friend.  I would like to introduce myself and a book I have written, “The Journey to Perfection”.

My name is Michael Young, or “Mike” if you would rather.  I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a businessman, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served or I am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is for practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians.  I have authored a few bible study books and a couple of books on subjects of the Bible.  I have had a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. I invite you to write, text or call me at any time and let’s become friends.

I also want to welcome you to “A Journey in GOD’S PLAN FOR PERFECTION”.

Before I start, however, I would like to relate an amusing story. I was living and working in a small seaside town in Virginia. I would go into my office each day and as I passed down the hallway I would see and greet my ‘across the hall neighbor’, a businessman. I would start with, “How are you doing this morning?”

His response was always the same. “PERFECT”, he would announce with a bright smile, which always brought positive thoughts and a smile to my face.

In fact, I liked his greeting so much that I decided to adopt it for myself. I felt it was positive and encouraging.

The next time someone greeted me, asking “How are you?”, I reflexively answered, “PERFECT”, using my brightest smile. This other person looked at me quizzically and grunted, “Perfect, huh?  Yeah, well that must be nice. Good for you.”

That was a response that I was not expecting – at all.  I was surprised, disappointed and a bit let down. I wondered what went wrong. Did I say it wrong? I thought, maybe, this guy thought I was bragging?  I was trying to be positive and encouraging. I didn’t mean that I WAS PERFECT. I meant that ‘things were perfect’, at least in my opinion.

I continue to mutter to myself and stew over the matter, and this thought came to me, “Why would I ever tell anyone that things are perfect when I know they are not – or are they?” After all, I am a Christian, and by virtue of my relationship with God through Jesus, He had forgiven and forgotten my sinful and failed past; and, my present life is made secure. I am loved and provided for by God. No weapon formed can be effective against me; and, as a Christian, my future is assured. As a child of God, I will spend eternity with Him in My Heavenly Father’s Home. “Yes”, I thought, “THINGS ARE PERFECT and will only get better in time”.

Sure, I have all the struggles and troubles as everyone else, but I have a hope and a purpose and the strength of God Almighty to see me through these things. That, my friend, is PERFECT!  Now, let’s move into,

“GOD’S PLAN FOR PERFECTION”

Episode 1 – An overview

Now, in sharp contrast, it appears that our world is careening out of control. Everything we have known as good throughout recorded history is now being called evil; and all things evil are being called good; The world substitutes darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! The very opposite of how God and the Bible teaches things should be. And, there are those in this world who would have you believe that “God is dead”, (that is to say that there is no God), and that all is well in the hands of mankind, and that we are entering a New Man-made World Order, a Great World Reset they are calling it, and they say it is now at hand.

I am inviting you – asking you – to walk patiently with me, and I will take you on an amazing journey. A journey from the beginning of time through recorded world and Biblical histories. We will identify important past Bible prophecies and correlate them to actual past world events; then we will compare both the prophecies and the historical events to one specific prophecy known as ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’.  This will bring us to current events and the final epoch of time known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End of The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation”, which are now unfolding with frightening accuracy.

I will not stop there, however. I will conclude by laying out a successful response to these events, a plan of action by which you can both survive and thrive in these final days.

Finally, there is an event coming which is so fantastic as to be unbelievable. But I will show the evidence leading to this event, known as the ‘Rapture’ and I will even help you calculate the odds of its occurrence.  You will then be faced with the most monumental decision you have ever faced. You don’t want to miss this.

We will take a journey assisted by a book aptly titled ‘The Journey to Perfection’.  Our travels will coordinate Bible Prophecy, Biblical and World Histories culminating with The End of Days’. You can read this book either as a digital ONLINE book or in a PDF format, which I will give you later. Here is how it begins…

“In the beginning, God created.” – Genesis 1:1

God began with the imperfect and created His Masterpiece. First in the heavens and then on the earth, He created.  He completed His Work in just seven days, then He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for several millennia, as it becomes His Perfection.

This is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.

During this Journey, we will be discussing reasons for WHAT God has been doing and is doing in these Last Days – and WHY He is doing it the way He is going about it.

My prayer is that after hearing and reading this story, everything you’ve wondered about the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

Romans 12:2

THE NEXT EPISODE:  “GOD’S PLAN FOR PERFECTION” – Episode 2 – An Introduction – IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION

The scriptures encourage us to “Be Berean”, that is, to hold Scripture in such a high regard that it becomes your daily pursuit, your source of truth and the only reference book or material you would read in search of what is true.

You probably already know the perceived condition of America in our current day, as well as the state of the world. Some are saying we are in a state of political and social chaos. New diseases, wars, political intrigue and poverty, to name a few things that are holding our attention and draining our treasury.

Despite the fact that the Pew Research Center, which tracks “trust in the media“, shows that less than half of Americans trust the news, and 72% of U.S. adults say news organizations do an insufficient job revealing their funding sources, many people are still turning to News Media outlets, (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, etc.) for information and to find direction.  Approximately 31 million people watched one of the three national network evening news broadcasts between March 16, 2021, and April 7 , 2021. That’s a 42% increase from a year ago.

Many more people, however, are turning to God and the Church for answers. Approximately 52 million “attend church” in one of the 300,000 plus churches in America, at least once a week each month.

The Answer?  Follow the pattern and method established by Jesus. Nothing more, nothing less.  In fact, why not try starting with something simple but profound:  “John 3:16″, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” Say it often.  Say it with both, passion and compassion.

Still, I can hear some people and pastors saying, “But, all the things we are already doing are the necessary parts of our ministry.”  And I say, “Yes? But Jesus did not say to do it your way, and He did not do it your way. Everything else you might say about Jesus, and those things which flow from Him, may be “Necessary, but they are Secondary”.  Jesus, alone, is the MAIN THING!

I have prepared a lengthy, 19-part series, on “Effective Spiritual Warfare” on how we can resist and fight back. It is the only way, according to the Bible, you and I can endure to the end and overcome this evil, as we await the return of Jesus and the day when He will completely conquer and destroy the works of the enemy. Click on this text or the image below to go to this dynamic and instructional Tutorial on Effective Spiritual Warfare.

I toured the Revolutionary Museum and some American Revolutionary War battlefield sites in Yorktown, Virginia.  The tour guides and docents were well-informed and helpful.  The postings and literature at the various sites, which was written by experts on the Revolutionary war, was also helpful and informative.  This information was written by highly educated and informed people.  But, as expert as these sources seemed to be, none of them could actually wage a war.  They could not implement the tactics of Revolutionary warfare, nor could they establish an effective government in the aftermath of such a war – despite their extensive knowledge. It was then that I realized, it is not what you know, but what you DO with what you know.

And now, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. And may God give you His peace in your going out and in your coming in, in your lying down and in your rising up, in your labor and in your leisure, in your laughter and in your tears, until you come to stand before Jesus in that day in which there is no sunset and no dawning. Amen.

Your Brother and Friend,

Michael J. Young, Sr.

 PREVIOUSLY:   PERFECTION – AFTER THESE THINGS – Chapter 31

I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a businessman, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served, or I am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is for practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians. I have authored a few small books and I have a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. Write me at any time and let’s become friends. Whitestonefellowship1@protonmail.com

 View all posts on Whitestone Fellowship, by Michael Young, Sr.

Where Are We Now?

There is a convergence and concurrence of global events, as never been seen before, in alignment with Bible prophecy.  The branch of the olive tree has become tender and is putting forth its leaves, so, you know that summer is near; so, too, when you see all these things, recognize that Jesus is near, right at the door!

Where Do We Go From Here?

The Bible shows us the Spiritual War that has been raging for millennia, first in the spiritual realm and then on earth. That war is intensifying and the final Judgments of God are soon to follow. After these judgments, Jesus and His armies of heaven will appear to defeat the Beast and the False Prophet. Until that final day, we, who are on earth, are commanded to join the battle.  This is critical.

We are told that our first line of defense and our most effective offense is to trust in the Lord our God.

Next in order of priority is to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might and to put on the full armor of God, so that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

FULL ARMOR OF GOD: Therefore, we are to take up the full armor of God,

RESIST IN THE EVIL DAY: So that we will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything,

STAND FIRM:  Stand firm. Stand firm therefore,

PUT ON TRUTH:  HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and

PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS:  HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and

PREPARE WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE: having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

FAITH:  In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

PRAY:  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

 How Shall We Do It?

Readiness and your response become a matter of faith, obedience to His Word, walking in His Spirit and speaking His Word.

Understand the meaning of: “Jeremiah 12:5, “If you have run with footmen, and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?”

DO THESE THINGS

(Note:   Luke 15 contains the description of the first five Tribulation Seals which began around A D 30, and those who are alive on earth during these times, must endure.)

“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.

“It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So, make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

“for, I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 

“But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name.

“Yet not a hair of your head will perish.

“By your endurance you will gain your lives.“

• So, make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;
• I will give you utterance and wisdom, which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
• Yet not a hair of your head will perish.
• By your endurance, you will gain your lives.

Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.

• No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
• And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn

Matthew 21:21 says, ”And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.”

• Have faith and do not doubt
• if you … it will happen

John 15:7-8 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [d]prove to be My disciples.”

• If you abide in Me, and
• My words abide in you,
• ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Revelation 12:10-11 says, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

• Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come
• And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and
• they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Thus says the Lord.

Although, the things I listed below will not ‘save you’, they are some things we should consider doing while we expectantly await His Return to take us to our Eternal Home:

• Prepare the Storehouse for the Saints (Bible reference, Matthew 24:42-46).
• Come Together in Community (Bible reference, Hebrews 10:25).
• Make Disciples (Bible reference, Matthew 28:16-20).
• Find and connect with Christians  (Bible reference, Hebrews 10:25).
• Plan and coordinate with families (Bible reference, Matthew 24:42-46).
• Organize “readiness” training classes, and more... Until He returns to take us to our Eternal Home.  (Bible reference, Acts 2:42-47).

← Please proceed to the War Room 

NEXT:  PERFECTION – Chapter 31 – After All These Things.

PREVIOUS:  PERFECTION – Chapter 30 – Be Ready for His Coming – Pt. 1

Additional Resource: STAY FOCUSED

Click here for an excerpt of an audio message from Pastor Alistair Begg on staying focused on the main things:

– The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal –

It is the beginning of the 7 years of “The Great Tribulation”.

• Cosmic disturbances,
• Blood moon,
• Darkened sun
• Sealing of the 144,000
• The Rapture occurs at the end of the 5th Seal and at the beginning of the 6th Seal as these events unfold and overlap.
• Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God

Matthew 24 distinguishes between the tribulation period, a.k.a., ‘the beginning of sorrows’ or ‘times of distress’, and ‘the Great Tribulation’, also known as “THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD“.

Revelation 7:13  “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” verse 14.  “I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

WHAT AM I TO BE DOING?

1 Peter 4:7, tells us, “The end of all things is near; therefore,

(a)  Be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

(b)  verse 8.  “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

(c)  verse 9.  “Be hospitable to one another without complaint. Verse 10.  “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

(d) verse 11.  “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(e) Ephesians 6:10.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

(f) verse 11.  “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Verse 12.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

(g) verse 13.  “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

(h) verse 14.  “Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, verse 15, “and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; verse 16,  “in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Verse 17. “And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(i) Verse 18.  “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

(j) Matthew 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

(k)  verse 8.  ““Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

(l) verse 19.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

(m) baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

(n) verse 20,  “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I have tried to make this simple and clear:  we are at the end, the precipice of THE LAST DAYS.  Denominational bias and clutter have clouded these matters.  Although still obscured by denominationalism, it is becoming plain. And now many well-known and credible Bible scholars, Bible teachers and pastors are shaking off the heavy cloak of denominationalism and coming to this revealed Truth of the God’s Word.

NEXT:  PERFECTION – Chapter 29 – Confronting Evil in this Day and Time.

PREVIOUS:  PERFECTION – Chapter 27 – A Convergence & Concurrence of Events

No one can accurately predict the future course of world events. We can speculate what is coming or what will happen next, but we are usually wrong, at least in the details.

We can, however, see what Bible prophecy tells us is coming, but correlating prophecy to the details of current day events is risky and usually unproductive.

These next chapters will show the course of prophetic events yet to come. We can only speculate which actual current events are harbingers of these prophecies, but we can use our knowledge of these prophecies to prepare for what is coming.

I will deal with just three major unfulfilled prophetic events with which we need to concern ourselves in the next several chapters:

The Great Apostasy and

The revealing of the Anti-Christ, and

The rapture of the Church.

I will give details of each event, what they mean to people on earth, how we should prepare, and the consequences of each event.

I will then conclude with detailed information about what happens after the rapture. The last section will be interesting, but the first half will exclude Christians who have followed Jesus as believers. The rest of humanity will be given one last, although very slim, chance to escape the final judgment and wrath of God, during the Great Tribulation, but most will not escape and will be doomed to spend eternity in the lake of fire.

The second half of these concluding chapters will deal with what happens to Christians after the rapture.

(NOTE: Not everyone who calls themselves ‘Christian’ is known by Jesus as ‘one of His’. Some go about under that moniker but have denied and have been denied the power therein. I urge every person calling themselves Christians to prayerfully visit our addendum page, “What it means to be a Christian”.)

NEXT:  PERFECTION – Chapter 27 – A CONVERGENCE & CONCURRENCE OF EVENTS

PREVIOUS: PERFECTION – Chapter 25 – Digital Currency and The Beast

Digital currency is a form of currency that is available only in digital or electronic form. It is also called digital money, electronic money, electronic currency, or cyber-cash.

Digital currency is a money-like asset that is primarily managed, stored or exchanged on digital computer systems, especially over the internet.  Digital currency may be recorded on a distributed database on the internet, a centralized electronic computer database owned by a company or bank, within digital files or even on a stored-value card.

Digital currencies exhibit properties similar to traditional currencies, but generally do not have a physical form, unlike currencies with printed banknotes or minted coins. This lack of physical form allows nearly instantaneous transactions over the internet and removes the cost associated with distributing notes and coins.

Usually not issued by a governmental body, virtual currencies are not considered a legal tender, and they enable ownership transfer across governmental borders. This will undoubtedly be challenged by world governments for a myriad of reasons.

These types of currencies may be used to buy physical goods and services.

Digital money can either be centralized, where there is a central point of control over the money supply (for instance, a bank), or decentralized, where the control over the money supply is predetermined or agreed upon democratically. (excerpts taken from Wikipedia).

(Caution to the reader: anytime you see the term ‘democratically’ used by any world government when it comes to your money, beware!)

So, what’s the problem with digital currency?

1. Complete loss of privacy. Perhaps you read or heard, recently, that the Biden administration is working to require financial institutions to report any deposit over $600.00 made by or received by the average citizen. “Why”, you might ask. Control of your money and finances, control over your buying or selling, and oversight of your every move.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is one of the two final stages of the establishment of the Globalist-Marxist One World Government and the precursor of the coming anti-Christ, also known as The Beast in the Bible. The other stage is control of your health care and health care system, which is complete (see social security and medicare).

2. A digital or cashless economy appears to be a precursor or ‘a conditioning’ for what is to come – a time when people must accept a MARK, i.e., “an engraving or an etching, a stamp, a sign or an image, either on his or her right hand or forehead, to be able to buy or sell.

What has Digital Currency to do with, what some consider a myth, about “The Mark of The Beast”, as found in the Bible?  You read and decide (and, I will help.)

NEXT:  PERFECTION – Chapter 26 – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

PREVIOUS:  PERFECTION – Chapter 24 – The Mark of the Beast

WHAT IS NEXT? – THE COMING ANTI-CHRIST

The Son of Destruction – The Man of lawlessness – The Anti-Christ

2 Thessalonians 2:1 “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, verse 2, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Verse 3. No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, verse 4, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

1 John 2:18, tells us that since the first century many antichrists have come and gone, “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”

1 John 4:3, informs us that you can identify this spirit of antichrist because that person will not confess Jesus is from God, and we learn that the spirit of antichrist is already in the world,“and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world.”

2 John 1:7-19, tells us that “Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”

Daniel 9:24-27, gives an overview or a panorama of the timing of the coming and the actions of the antichrist.

Verse 24. “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

 Verse 25. “So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.

 Verse 26. “Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

Verse 27. “And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”

The ‘middle of the week’ is a reference to the 3 ½ year point of the final 7 years of the tribulation period, a.k.a., the Great Tribulation. Therefore, we can reasonably assume that at the mid-point of  the final 7 years, the Antichrist will already have been revealed and will take his place in prophecy.

 This antichrist is referred to as “The Beast” in chapter 13 of the book of the Revelation. These verses give us a terrifying, although symbolic, look at this monster. One valuable clue is found in Revelation 13:3, which says, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed.” Whether this is an actual wound on the head of a person or a mortal blow to a world power, such as a ten-nation confederation, either way, he or it, will be ‘healed’ and this Beast will, for a period, bring a reign of terror and death.

Finally, Matthew 24:15-16, also warns. “Therefore, when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place — let the reader understand — then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.”

 Although this was a direct message and waring to those in Israel, just prior to the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, it is also a foreshadowing of a yet-to-come destruction. The timing placement in scriptures regarding this warning given by Jesus, follows the breaking of the 5^th Tribulation Seal and the reference to “the middle of the week” would indicate it the midpoint of the final 7 years of Daniel’s 70^th week or the Great Tribulation period. So, we can rightly assume these events will take place after the antichrist has been revealed and at the midpoint of the Great Tribulation.

No one knows who the Antichrist will be, but we do know that when he is revealed, he will not be a frightening figure.  In fact, he will be just the opposite until he has gained power.

Traits of the Antichrist Described in the Bible

• Intelligent: Revelation 13:18; Daniel 7:8.
• Charismatic Speaker: Daniel 7:8 Revelation 13:5.
• Crafty Politician: Daniel 9:27; Revelation 17:12, 13, 17.
• Distinct Physical Appearance: Daniel 7:20.
• Military Genius: Revelation 4; 17:14; 19:19.
• Economic Genius: Daniel 11:38.
• Blasphemer: Revelation 13:6.
• Utterly Lawless: 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
• Selfish, Ambitious Egomaniac: Daniel 11:36, 37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
• Greedy Materialist: Daniel 11:38.
• Controlling:  Daniel 7:25.
• Proud and Self-exalting Above God and Everything: Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians. 2:4.

What is the purpose of the Antichrist?

His purpose is to deceive.  The Antichrist is a person prophesied by the Bible to oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ’s place before the Second Coming.

There is a reference in Daniel 11:21 comparing Antiochus Epiphanes to a type of antichrist, who is one of the most brutal rulers known in history, easily eclipsing the horrors of Adolph Hitler and his Third Reich.

But, the horrors of Antiochus Epiphanes will pale in comparison to the brutality and horror of the coming Antichrist.

ANOTHER BEAST  –  The False Prophet

Revelation 13:11 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

• He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.

• And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

• He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

• And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

• And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

• And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

• and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”  Revelation 13:11-18.

He will doom anyone who receives his “mark” and worships him to suffer God’s Wrath.  “So, the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.”  Revelation 16:2 

Those which he deceived, those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image, are thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.  Revelation 19:20

NEXT:  PERFECTION – Chapter 24 – THE MARK OF THE BEAST.

PREVIOUS:  PERFECTION – Chapter 22 – Where are we now? The Great Apostasy.

THE 5^TH TRIBULATION SEAL – THE GREAT APOSTASY

2 Thessalonians 2:1 “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, verse 2, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

 Verse 3. “No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first,  and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, verse 4, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

Outlined, verse by verse, makes this easier to understand; just read slowly and take it at face value.

1. With regard to the coming of our Lord and the gathering together to Him
2. Do not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3. Let no one in any way deceive you

*4. For the day of our Lord and the gathering together to Him will not come unless the apostasy comes first

*5. For the day of our Lord and the gathering together to Him will not come unless the man of lawlessness is revealed

6. The man of lawlessness is the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,
7. He takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

WHAT IS THE APOSTASY: In Christianity, Apostasy is the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian.

The title of this article might suggest that misbehavior and apostasy is a recent malaise of the church.  Apostasy, from the Greek word, “apostasia”, means “a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith.”

The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia (“ἀποστασία”) meaning defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity.

In the first-century world, apostasy was a technical term for political revolt or defection.   Actually, just like in the first century, spiritual apostasy threatens the Body of Christ today.

Revelation 6:9, tells us, that, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; Verse 10, and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Verse 11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”

Matthew 24:9, also tells us that one sign of the 5^th Tribulation Seal is being broken and reason for a ‘falling away from the faith’ is, “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Verse 10. And at that time many will fall away from the faith, and they will betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11, And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. Verse 12. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.”

Even now, before the great persecution of Christians has reached the Western world, Pew Research and Barna Research, both, are revealing what the corporate Church is unwilling to admit, that many are leaving the church and are not returning. But, the other half of this ‘equation’ is that many are LEAVING THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS – falling away from the faith – but are staying in the church .

This “falling away from the faith”, as told by Pew and Barna research, alone, may not signal what prophetic scriptures has foretold regarding the “Great Falling Away” (The Great Apostasy) but, considering all has already come to pass (the breaking of the first four Tribulation Seals) you can be confident this is what is prophesied.

Just prior to this falling away from the faith, Jesus warns, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people”, (Matthew 24:4-5). False teachers may not say the exact words, “I am Jesus”, but they will claim to represent Jesus and His Gospel, and will mislead many people. Institutional deception is our greatest threat.

I have personally experienced pulpit bullies, false teachers, apostates and heretics in our postmodern church.  Many of these men seem to have started right, but, over time, their ‘true selves’ emerged, and they are the ravenous wolves which scriptures warn about:

Matthew 7:15-23  says, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  “So then, you will know them by their fruits.”

      “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Before I go further, please watch the first 15 minutes of Pastor Trent Casto’s sermon broadcast, (Senior pastor of Covenant Naples Church, Naples, Florida), to get additional background and context. For your convenience and brevity, I have cued this video to start at 4:42 minute mark of this video to the 13:35 minute mark.)

(NOTE: Use of this video in no way asserts or assumes Pastor Casto or Covenant Naples Church agrees with or endorses the content or the context of this book.)

The men, (and, now, women), as referred to in Pastor Casto’s sermon, are in pulpits and on TV screens, leading thousands and tens of thousands astray.

Finally, please, familiarize yourself with what the Bible says, since it is the way to life!  Many in the pastorate or speaking from our church pulpits and through various media are not scripturally qualified to assume an office of pastor, teacher, evangelist, elder or deacon and have gone astray. You must be discerning.  I have copied the following text from the website from the website GotQuestions.org as an excellent resource for details on the Biblical qualifications of a pastor.

All of this should be considered as signs pointing to the 5th tribulation Seal.

(Please listen, ALL OF YOU WHO ARE Pastors, teachers, Bible “scholars” and all of you Christians: Please, adhere to the Gospel Message of Jesus our Christ; get off your religious and denominational ‘high horses’ and sound the Shofar!)

THE FIFTH TRIBULATION SEAL IS NOW BEING BROKEN and the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD and the Rapture are near.

The SIXTH SEAL of Tribulation will be broken soon, and it will be too late for those who are procrastinating or for those who think they are saved but have never surrendered their lives to Christ as Lord.

NEXT:  PERFECTION – Chapter 23 – THE COMING ANTI-CHRIST

PREVIOUS: PERFECTION – Chapter 21 – The Tentacles of the Socialist-Marxist Takeover.

ADDITIONAL READING:

GOD’S PLAN FOR PERFECTION – Prophecy, World History and the Tribulation