Will the Antichrist Come in the Year 2012?
The year 2008 is cranking up to be one whopper of a year
of bad news and worldwide troubles. Political upheavals,
financial woes and meltdowns, the U.S. dollar continuing to
slide toward worthlessness, economic woes, the decline in
housing values, and terrorism cap the list of global threats,
disasters, and increasing pain. Where does all this fit into
the fabric of Biblical prophecies for the “end of days”?
William F. Dankenbring
The prophet Habakkuk was a watcher on the watch tower. He wrote, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.”
God said to him: “Write the vision, and make it plain [and easy to understand] on tablets, “that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hab.2:1-3).
This is why I strive to write articles, like this one, that are clear and easy to understand, logical, explaining current world events in the light of Biblical prophecy, and provide scriptural proof so that people cannot deny the truth of God.
What is the true significance of what we see happening around us, today?
One of Wall Street’s larger investment banks the firm Bear Stearns, was on the verge of collapse in March, and the Federal Reserve made an unprecedented regulation rescue providing $30 billion in funding to stave off wider chaos in the financial markets, and invoked an act never used since the 1930’s. Bear Stearns was acquired by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. as part of the rescue plan.
According to The Economics Consultancy (United Kingdom- Michael Taylor), “Like the 1930’s, no one has any clue where this instability is going to end. It is a self-feeding disaster.”
Says Greg Evenson: “Prepare while you can, the implosion is accelerating. What are you doing?” (NewswithViews.com).
With the economic world coming apart at the seams, what SHOULD you do about it? What CAN you do about it?
I know what some are doing. They are putting their faith and confidence in God and giving from their reserves to help support God’s work where their hearts are. They are not trying to get rich on Wall Street quick. They are trying to lay “treasure up in heaven” as Christ told the disciples to do (Matthew 6:20). In heaven there is no rust, moths, or thieves.
The time is coming when everything is not going to be worth two cents. I have been told that pennies are going to be made out of steel now because the copper metal used in each penny is worth more than the penny itself.
Vital information in a recent article in “Leap 2020” warns that perhaps by September 2008 there will be a new tipping point in the global systemic economic crisis. At that time the accumulation of the various sequences of the crises will reach its maximum strength and affect the very heart of the systems concerned, of which the U.S. is on the front line, and is the epicenter of the current crisis.
This new tipping point, approximately around October 2008, will likely translate into a collapse of the real economy, with the final social economic stage of the series of crises converging together to produce a final bursting of the housing and financial troubles and the pursuance of the fall of the U.S. dollar. The collapse of the real economy would mean a virtual freeze of the American economic machinery; private and public bankruptcies in large numbers; and companies and public services closing down massively.
In his book, The Age of Turbulency, Alan Greenspan’s view of the housing problem was dead wrong. We are not experiencing just a little “froth” problem.
The credit problems are very likely going to lead to the emergence of the Euro in Europe and the new currency called the Amero in the Western world. The N.W.O. economists are pushing to get rid of the “dollar” and replace it with the new Amero currency.
The decline of the dollar is one of the significant events today. It is loosing clout around the world. The nations around the world with business executives going to China, India, lower Manhattan, and Brazil all have one trait point in common; they don’t want U.S. dollars anymore. Hit by a free fall with no end in sight, the once mighty dollar is no longer just crashing on currency markets and it is making life more expensive for American tourists. Its clout is evaporating worldwide as foreign businesses and individuals turn to other currencies. “Experts” say the bleak economic forecast means it will take years for the greenback to recover its value and prestige if it ever does.
At the same time this is worthy of note: the European Union now has the world’s biggest economy. The European Union has now overtaken the U.S. as the world’s number one economy due to the continued dramatic fall of the dollar. Today the Euro has topped one dollar at $1.56 in value.
We are on the cusp of the worst time in planetary history in terms of the economy and in terms of nuclear destruction and war with weapons of mass destruction.
In the meantime, food prices are rising and the world is ten weeks away from running out of wheat supplies. Food reserves are now the lowest in 50 years, which has pushed prices to an all time high. This will affect bread and grain based food products including beer that uses barley and hops. This could also exacerbate serious food shortages in the developing countries such as Africa. There have been two years of disastrous wheat harvests around the world.
Australia is in the midst of a hundred year drought with no end in sight. It used to be a massive wheat producing exporter, but no more.
Meanwhile, new dictatorial laws have been passed by Congress, and signed into law by President Bush after “9-11”. These laws would reduce every American to a state of slavery and the greatest dictatorship in world history.
America, once the “land of the free, and home of the brave,” is rapidly becoming a frightened “police state,” with new laws and executive orders on the books which pave the way for a soon-coming dictatorship or the imposition of martial law throughout the country.
Some of the laws are:
1) The Patriot Act; 2) The Military Commissions Act; 3) The John Warner Defense Act 4) Loss of Habeas Corpus and Posse Comitatus; 5) New official definition of “Torture” in the hands of our government; 6) If enacted, HR 1955 will for the first time put “thought crime” laws on the books, robbing Americans of their right to freedom of conscience thought; 7) Will examine constitutional issues as related to the Katrina disaster;8) The President’s illegal spy program; 9) NSA data-mining; 10) FISA’s secret court; 11) the re-defining of “privacy” rights; 12) Frightening Executive Orders; 13) “Terror-war” legislation.
People today are willing to lose their liberties in exchange for security. The problem is that the promise of security is not security, but words and lies. Real security comes from God and is divine in origin and nature. That is something that this world and the citizens of our country do not know. They think to “beef up” security by watching and micromanaging the people in the country is the answer, but it will not work.
God’s Word declares: “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD” (Prov.21:31). As David wrote in the Psalms, “But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psalm 3:3). “Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people” (verse 8).
But what happens when God withdraws His blessing from His people?
Just recently, Canada and America signed an agreement on February 14, 2008 (in Texas) to send their military troops over each other’s borders in case of an “emergency”, but both governments have kept silent on this deal knowing that many of their citizens would be very upset about such an agreement, and losing their sovereignty through a restructuring of governments into NAFTA.
One of the great dangers to our country today is Wahabism, the most radical form of the Muslim religion, whose source is Saudi Arabia (who is supposedly a strong ally of the United States).
Since the U.S. and Great Britain have been importing Muslim workers to work in their industries, it has reached the point where millions of Muslims are in The U.K., the U.S., and countries in Europe. Their influence is becoming more and more palpable.
The Saudi Arabians with their billions of dollars are buying influence in America creating Wahabi-run schools, and mosques throughout the country. Because of this growing influence, the United Kingdom has decided that terrorism by Muslims in the name of Islam is actually unrelated to Islam!
In fact, culminating several years of evolution in the United Kingdom, the British government now recognizes polygamous marriages because of the influence of Muslims. In addition, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, has now endorsed applying portions of the Islamic law (the Sharia) in Great Britain.
Britain gives us a window of insight about what is happening in Europe today. There are parallel developments in all the nations on the continent of high Muslim immigration, with high birth rates, and the radicalization of their young people in Wahabi mosques.
This “fifth column” has become a serious danger inside our country, as well as, inside Europe and England.
Another sign of the times is the growth of apostate religion. Ophrah Winfrey is taking “New Age Teachings” online. Oprah Winfrey, considered by many to be the world’s most influential woman, recently began a ten-week long online course on the best-selling book, A New Earth, by New Age guru, Eckhart Tolle.
A New Earth has already sold some 3.5 million copies worldwide, thanks largely to the publicity given to it by Oprah. According to Oprah, 500,000 people from across the world signed on to the first segment of the online course, to spend an hour and a half listening to Ekhart and Oprah talking about chapter 1 of the book, and taking calls from participants.
In recent years Oprah has been inviting an increasing number of representatives of new age spirituality onto her talk shows, including figures such as Marianne Williamson, Barbara DeAngelis, LaVar Burton, Richard Carlson, Betty Eadie, and others. Oprah has strongly endorsed many of their works, and has included some of them in her “Book Club” list. Since the beginning of this year Oprah has offered daily classes on her XM radio station on the book, A Course in Miracles.
A Course in Miracles (or ACIM for short) was written by another major player in the New Age movement, Helen Schucman, who claims that the book was dictated to her by an interior voice, which she identifies with Jesus Christ. In that course, the listener is taught that there is no sin, is told not to make the “mistake” of “clinging to
The old rugged cross,” and that the name of “Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol.”
Oprah is also promoting the Democratic candidacy of Senator Barack Obama, but his campaign has suffered a lot of damage because of his connection with his church pastor Jeremiah Wright in Chicago. Obama is faltering because voters are associating him with his controversial pastor who repeatedly “damned America” in a sermon. ABC aired a video showing Pastor Wright giving an incendiary sermon with inflammatory remarks. His church has also published on the ‘Pastor’s Page’ of the Trinity United Church of Christ newsletter, the Hamas terror manifesto that compares the Hamas charter which calls for murder of the Jews to the U.S. Declaration of Independence (World Net Daily, March 20, 2008).
Obama has refused to really distance himself from Pastor Wright and his church saying he loves the pastor like his “white” grandmother, though he disagrees with some of his positions. Nevertheless, many seem to view Obama as a “Messianic” type of figure, a man who is a spellbinder, who promises hope, and above all, “Change.”
Women swoon when he speaks. His dramatic flair and his words of eloquence, seem to reach out to the hearts of many people upset by the current status quo and leadership in America.
Senator John McCain, Republican presidential candidate who will become the Republican nominee for president, had some choice words for the nation’s capitol on NBC4 News, March 7, 2008. “In case you haven’t noticed, we in Washington aren’t functioning as we should be. It is getting harder and harder to do the Lord’s work in the City of Satan.”
McCain is an old “warrior,” a pilot, a fighter who was captured in Vietnam and became a prisoner of war. But he is 72 years of age, and some question his age and ability to remain healthy with all the pressures of the presidency.
The gravest threat of all to world stability, noted in “Human Events.com” February 6, 2008, by Joseph Farrar, is something the political candidate discussions are not even talking about
That is the matter of nuclear terrorism. Yet the “genie” is already out of the bottle—permanently! Nuclear technology has been sold and has ‘slipped out of control completely’ according to David Dastych, a former CIA operative and nuclear expert. It’s nearly impossible to know, at this point, reports Dastych, who might already have their hands on small nuclear weapons ready for deployment by terrorists. The report found that the U.S. military simply isn’t prepared for a catastrophic attack (chemical, biological or nuclear weapons incident) on the country, and National Guard forces don’t have the equipment or training they need for the job.
The Washington Times, February 6, 2008 by Sara A. Carter, observed: “Al Qaeda leaders have diverted operatives from Iraq across the globe and are increasing preparations to strike the U.S., reported senior intelligence officials to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Michael McConnell, director of national intelligence revealed that al Qaeda had plans to specifically target the White House as recently as 2006. The officials added that al Qaeda is recruiting Westerners (harder to recognize) to terror camps in Pakistan. Gen. Maples said the Pakistani military has not been able to disrupt al Qaeda operations in the tribal border region. The U.S. military is prohibited by Pakistan from pursuing al Qaeda fighters of Taliban that flee Afghanistan across the border after conduction attacks.”
In the meantime WorldNetDaily.com, February 23, 2008, revealed: “An undercover survey of more than 100 mosques and Islamic schools in America has exposed widespread radicalism, including the alarming finding that 3 in 4 Islamic centers are hotbeds of anti-Western extremism. Seventy-five of the 100 centers mapped, should be on a ‘watchlist’ according to the official familiar with the project. Many of the Islamic centers are operating under the auspices of the Saudi Arabian government and the U.S. front groups for the radical Muslim Brotherhood based in Egypt.”
What
Does the Future Hold?
What do these events presage for the
future?
Although it is difficult to predict
the future, even with an understanding of Biblical prophecy, we can look at
trends and history, and try to formulate conclusions in line with Biblical
prophecy. First of all, we know that
God judges those nations which rebel against Him and reject His covenant
(Lev.26; Deut.28). The United States
Constitution was largely based on the laws of God – the Torah – but now
governmental decrees and judicial decisions are virtually doing away with
increasing portions of the original Constitution through
“re-interpretation.” The Constitution
nowhere permits abortion, but socio-engineering New Worlders and their
surrogates have legalized “abortion on demand.” The Constitution nowhere legalized sodomy and “gay rights,” but
modern social-engineers have caved in to the “gay lobby” and now “sexual
orientation” is considered nothing more than a “choice” – not a matter of
wickedness versus righteousness.
What many fear is that if the
economy crashes, and riots break out in the streets, as a result of terrorist
attacks, our nation could suffer the ravages of self-destruction – internal
internecine warfare – and be severely weakened as a result. Could economic and social upheavals lead to the imposition of “martial law” and bring
about an American “police state,” with FBI, BAFT, and other police agencies
taking the place of the Nazi storm troopers, SS, and “brown shirts” (legalized
“thugs” who helped solidify Hitler’s rise to power by beating up on
“dissidents,” Jews, Communists, and all who were accused of disloyalty!)?
Coming – a World Super
Mega-State
Exactly how it is going to happen,
we don’t know, but we do know that in the days ahead of us the world is going
to be brought for a time into one huge mega-state world empire, which the Bible
calls “Babylon the Great” (Rev.17-18).
It will be a great commercial-based trading empire (Rev.18). It will also be a world military juggernaut
(Rev.13:1-5). People will exclaim, “Who
is like the beast? Who is able to make
war with him?” (Rev.13:4).
But what “beast” is this? It is described as having “seven heads and
ten horns” (v.1), “and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous
name” (same verse). It is a “composite
creature.” It has the body of a
leopard, the feet or claws of a bear, the mouth of a lion -- and serves the
“dragon,” that is, the devil himself, Satan (Rev.12:9 compared to Rev.13:2). This world empire is prophesied to continue
for 42 months, or 3 and 1/2 years (Rev.13:5).
Its leadership will blaspheme the name of God, institute a paganized one
world religion embracing all religions on earth except the true religion of
Almighty God, and will “make war with the saints” and will “overcome them”
(v.7). It will rule for a time over
“every tribe, tongue, and nation” (same verse).
What is this great “beast”? In Revelation 17, we read, “The beast that
you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to
perdition. And those who dwell on the
earth will marvel” (v.8). This beast
will be ridden by a “woman” – a great apostate false church or religious
combine (picturing the reunification of Protestants, Catholics, and other religions
under the Pope at Rome – see Rev.17:1-7).
This final world empire will be
composed of “seven heads.” John
explains, “Here is the mind which has wisdom:
The seven heads are seven mountains [nations] on which the woman
sits. . . The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of
the seven, and is going to perdition.
The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom
as yet, but they receive authority for ONE HOUR as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give
their power and authority to the beast.
These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for
He is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev.17:9-14).
These seven “mountains” then are
seven nations that the woman – the world’s false religious system of paganized
idolatry – sits upon. That is, she is the religion of the seven – the religious
system that stems from ancient Babylon.
These seven may be understood both in a historical sense, and an
end-time contemporary sense.
Historically, there were SEVEN KINGDOMS that ruled the world after the
Flood.
They
were:
1)
Nimrod’s Babylon
(Gen.10:8-12);
2)
Egypt in the days of Joseph
till the Exodus – the “Middle Kingdom”;
3)
the Assyrian Empire, which
took the northern kingdom of Israel captive in 718-721 B.C.);
4)
the Babylonian Empire, which
took Judah captive in 604, 597, and 586 B.C.);
5)
the Medo-Persian Empire
539-334 B.C.);
6)
the Greco-Macedonian Empire
(334-31 B.C.); and
7)
the Roman Empire (31 B.C. to
476 A.D.).
The “eighth” head is of the
“seven.” It is the head which is yet
to arise, as the final “New World Order.”
But it is really nothing new at all.
Hitler called his “Third Reich” also “The New World Order.” It will be
patterned after the former seven heads, particularly the “Roman Empire.” It will be worldwide in scope, with its head
centered no doubt in Europe. It is
called prophetically, the “King of the north” in the prophecies of Daniel
referring to the end time (see Dan.11:31-45).
In another sense, these final
end-time heads of the New World Order, could refer to seven contemporaneous
world powers acting in concert. This
could be a reference to the Group of Seven industrial world powers – the United
States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – controlling
the world’s economy!
This “beast” of Revelation 13 not
only has seven heads (Rev.13:1), but also TEN HORNS – symbolizing war-waging
ability. These “horns” could refer to
10 nations in NATO, or to a revised and revamped “Security Council” of the
United Nations. At present, the UN
Security Council has FIVE permanent members – the United States, Britain,
France, Russia, and China. However,
there are plans to add FIVE additional permanent members, including Japan and
Germany. Three others campaigning and
lobbying very hard to be added to the Security Council are Brazil, Egypt, and
Indonesia. If and when they succeed,
the United Nation’s Security Council will number TEN HORNS!
Who are the “ten horns”? These will be ten nations with military
resources which will be used as the military arm of the Beast. These could well be the nations of NATO, or
a final version of NATO, the strongest military alliance in the world at this
time. A “horn” represents military
power – horns “push” and “gore” other nations, or beasts. This beast, having ten horns, has supreme
military power in the world. This beast
must therefore include the armed forces and nuclear weapons of the United
States – as well as Britain and France!
What major world powers will
comprise this end-time “Beast” or “New World Order” Kingdom?
The Four Beasts of Daniel
The prophet Daniel had a strange
vision. He said, “I saw in my vision by
night, and behold, the FOUR WINDS of heaven were stirring up the Great
Sea. And four great beasts came
up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a LION, and had EAGLE’S WINGS. I watched till its wings [air power] were
plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet
like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
And suddenly another beast, a second, like a BEAR. It was raised up on one side, and had three
ribs in its mouth between its teeth.
And they said, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’
“After this I looked, and there was
another, like a LEOPARD, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion
was given to it. After this I saw in
the night visions, and behold, a FOURTH BEAST, dreadful and terrible,
exceedingly strong. It had huge iron
teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the RESIDUE
[mankind] with its feet. It was
different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten
horns. I was considering the horns,
and there was another horn, a little
one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the
eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words” (Dan.7:1-8).
Notice! These four “beasts” are connected with the FOUR WINDS of heaven
(v.2). These are END-TIME
KINGDOMS! You probably have read that
these were the Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman Empires. Not true!
Notice again! In verses 9-10
Daniel describes God’s Throne of judgment, in the last days. In verse 11, we read: “I watched then because of the sound of the
pompous words which the horn was speaking [the end-time Antichrist was right
then mouthing off!]; I watched till the BEAST [the fourth beast of Daniel 7]
was SLAIN, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.” Compare this with Rev.19:19-20: “And I saw the BEAST, the kings of the
earth, and their armies, gathered together to make WAR against Him who sat on
the horse [Christ the Messiah] and against His army. Then the BEAST was captured, and with him the false prophet [a
charismatic end-time religious world leader] . . . These two were cast alive
into the LAKE OF FIRE burning with brimstone.”
Daniel is describing this same
event! Then Daniel goes on: “As for the rest of the beasts, they had
their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a
time” (Dan.7:12). The “rest of the
beasts” described here refers to the one like a lion, a bear, and a leopard –
the other three beasts described in this chapter! Since they are still in existence, even after the fourth beast is
slain, this PROVES beyond question that these four beasts of Daniel 7 all
co-exist DURING THE END TIME! They were
not the ancient successive world ruling kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece and
Rome! They are four kingdoms in the
earth today, each one connected with one of the four winds of heaven.
Who are they?
Zechariah’s Four Chariots
To further explain this end-time
prophecy, turn to Zechariah chapter 6.
In the New King James Version we read:
“Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, FOUR CHARIOTS
[like the four beasts] were coming from between two mountains, and the
mountains were mountains of bronze.
With the first chariot were RED HORSES, with the second chariot BLACK
HORSES, with the third chariot WHITE
HORSES,
and with the fourth chariot DAPPLED HORSES – strong steeds. Then I answered and said to the angel who
talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’
And the angel answered and said to me, ’These are four spirits of heaven,
who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. The one with the BLACK horses is going to
the NORTH country [the “king of the north”!], the white are going after them,
and the dappled are going toward the south country.’ Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might
walk to and fro throughout the earth.
And He said, ‘Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.’ So they walked to and fro throughout the
earth. And He called to me, and spoke
to me, saying, ‘See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to
My Spirit in the north country’” (Zech.6:1-8).
Does this strange prophecy connect
with the four beasts of Daniel 7?
Notice, they are also connected with “four spirits” or four “winds” of
heaven (v.5). Let’s read this passage
in the Jewish Tanakh:
“The horses of the first
chariot were bay [red], the horses of the
second chariot were
black; the horses of the third chariot were
white, and the horses of
the fourth chariot were spotted -- dappled.”
The angel told Zechariah,
“Those are the FOUR
WINDS OF HEAVEN coming out after
presenting themselves to
the Lord of all the earth. The one with
the BLACK horses is
going out to the region of the NORTH; the
white ones have
gone out to what is to the WEST of them; the
spotted ones have gone
out to the region of the SOUTH; and the
dappled ones have gone
out . . . .”
Why does the Tanakh say the white
horses went out to the “WEST”? The King
James says only that they went out after the black horses, which went to the
north. The marginal reading in the
Tanakh says, “Cf. ‘ahor, ‘west,’ Isa.9:11.
Emendation yields ‘the region of the west.’” The Companion Bible, also, in a marginal comment on verse 6,
concerning the white horses going ‘after them,” says, “after them: or, to the west of them” (p.1986). Also, the NIV and NRSV say “WEST” for the
White Horses.
Concerning the phrase, “the dappled
ones have gone out . . .”, the Tanakh has a footnote, here, which reads,
“Emendation yields ‘the bay ones will go out to the REGION OF THE EAST.” Thus these four chariots and horses are
connected with the four regions of the earth -- north, west, south and east!
In expounding this passage, the Jamieson,
Fausset and Brown Critical, Experimental Commentary says: “6. The black horses which are therein go
forth into the north country – Babylon. . . . ‘The black horses’ go to Babylon,
primarily to represent the awful desolation with which Darius [a type of
Christ] visited it in the fifth year of his reign’” (p.677). The black horses, and north country, then,
are connected with the “north wind” – or Babylon! Today, that kingdom is centered in Europe!
The commentary continues, “and the
grisled go forth toward the south – i.e., TO EGYPT, the other great foe of God’s
people.” Certainly, the land of the
“south” means south of Palestine, or Judea, and would include Africa and the
Arab nations, led primarily by Egypt!
What about the “red” horses, then,
which went to the EAST, according to the Tanakh? In the eastern hemisphere lies the kingdoms of RUSSIA and CHINA –
the preponderance of the continent of ASIA!
The color of “red” reminds us unequivocally of Russia, the “Reds,” “red
flag” of Communism, the “Red Square” in Moscow, the red star on Soviet military
equipment, the red hammer and sickle of the Russian flag. Red is connected with Russia. Thus the red horses and chariot are
connected with Russia and China – the “Communist” nations!
Russia is also connected with the
“bear” sign – the “Russian Bear,” is a common term used to refer to the Russian
military forces. This red horse then
represents the same world power as the bear of Daniel 7.
The black horse identifies with
Babylon-Europe and Assyria-Germany.
Germany is the land of the Iron chancellor Bismark, the iron cross, the
black cross, the Nazi symbolism, the black uniforms of the Nazi storm troopers
and the Waffen S.S. and Gestapo – the color of Germany and Babylon is
“black.”
The “spotted” or “dappled” horses
are connected with the “king of the south” – Egypt and her allies. This corresponds with the ‘spotted” leopard
beast of Daniel 7 – the beast of the southern kingdom, Africa! This kingdom figures prominently in the last
days as attacking the “king of the north.”
We read, “At the TIME OF THE END the king of the South shall ATTACK
him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind,
with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries,
overwhelm them, and pass through. . . He shall stretch out his hand against the
countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape” (Dan.11:40-42).
What, then, about the white horses
that went westward? What kingdom do
they represent? They went out to the
“WEST.” Since we have identified the
kingdoms of the north, south, and east, what is the kingdom of the west? Obviously, the white horses that went west
are connected with the great world kingdom that lies in the western
hemisphere! Since the red horses are
Russia and China, the bear of Daniel 7; the grisled horses represent Egypt and
the Arabs, the leopard of Daniel 7; and the black horses are Assyria-Babylon
(modern Europe), representing the nondescript terrible beast of Daniel 7; then
the white horses must represent the remaining western kingdom of Daniel 7
– the “lion”-like kingdom with eagle’s wings.
What great nation or group of
nations in the WEST are “lion” hearted, and have “eagle’s wings”? This can be none other than the United
States of America and Britain and the Anglo-Saxon nations – the English
speaking nations which dominate the Western hemisphere and Western Europe! There are over 3,000,000 Jews in America,
and God compares “Judah” to “a lion’s whelp”
who “lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who shall rouse him?”
(Gen.49:9).
Of Joseph, Jacob prophesied, “The
archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow abode in strength, and
the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)” (Gen.49:23-24). The two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and
Manasseh, were to inherit the “birthright promises” of vast lands and natural
resources in the earth (Gen.48:12-20; 49:25-26). Balaam prophesied of Israel, which includes the dominant sons of
Joseph, “They shall devour enemy nations, crush their bones, and smash their
arrows. They crouch, they lie down like
a lion. Like the king of beasts, who dare rouse them?” (Num.24:8-9).
In partial fulfillment of this
prophecy, America’s mighty air power was powerfully demonstrated before the
eyes of all the world, in the day and night bombings of the Iraq during the
Gulf War! Cruise missiles, F-16s, B-1
bombers, B-2 bombers, B-52 stratofortresses, and other incredible new weapons,
wreaked havoc in that country, in an attempt to flush out and destroy the
forces of Saddam Hussein.
The United States has been like a
strong “lion” during the 20th century.
It has the world’s most powerful air force – symbolized by “eagle’s
wings.” It was the difference in victory
in World War I, World War II, led the western coalition against Iraq in the
Gulf War, stopped the advance of Communism in Korea, and fought for years in
Vietnam, finally pulling out in 1975, after more than ten years of bitter
conflict. No nation has been more
lion-like, both in prestige, and power, in the twentieth century than the
United States. Although it is a mixed
population, with many Gentiles living within its borders, it is the end-time
tribe of Joseph – the tribe of Ephraim – and Britain is primarily the
descendants of Manasseh, Joseph’s older son.
The two sons together have dominated the earth for the past two
centuries – Britain in the 19th century, and America in the 20th century.
This chariot of white horses – this
first kingdom of Daniel 7 – represents the Anglo-Saxon nations of America and
Britain and their fellows. The color
“white,” itself,
symbolizes
righteousness (Rev.19:8), and many of the wars our people have been engaged in
have been “righteous wars” in the defense of freedom, liberty, and
democracy. But our righteousness,
unfortunately, has become as filthy rags in God’s sight (Isa.1:2-10;
Isa.64:6). God has now removed His
protection from us, because we have forsaken Him and transgressed His immutable
laws (see Leviticus 26 and Deut.28).
God’s judgments are coming upon
us! God thunders, “An end! the end has come upon the four corners of
the land. Now the end has come upon
you, and I will send My anger against you; I will JUDGE you according to your
ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations. My eye will not spare you, nor will I have
pity; but I will repay your ways, and your abominations will be in your midst;
then you shall know that I am the LORD!” (Ezek.7:2-4).
Downfall
of the Mighty
The
Scriptures are filled with warnings to Israel to repent and turn to God, before
it is too late. The prophecies of
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all warn us to repent, and get right with God, or
we will self-destruct, and be invaded, and taken captive by foreigners. How does this tie in with the New World
Order?
Many have imagined that a massive
nuclear strike from Europe will see the demise of the United States. Herbert Armstrong predicted this for forty
years, but it never happened. Since his
death and that of Garner Ted Armstrong, who is also dead, Roderick Meredith of
the “Living Church of God,” and Gerald Flurry of the “Philadelphia Church of
God,” and the ‘United Church of God”, all are still predicting the same
thing – a union of ten nations in Europe, which will launch a massive secret
NUCLEAR attack and annihilate America and Britain!
How bizarre! How strange! Does this make real sense?
Britain is PART OF the European Union!
So is France! The end-time Beast
Power is described as a world-wide governing kingdom – not just
“Europe.” Europe does not have a
military by itself anywhere nearly strong enough to do the job – nor does it
have near the nuclear capacity the United States has. Russia does – but these “prophets” do not look at Russia as
launching such an attack, but Europe!
Such a theory is nothing but sheer
speculation which may have seemed possible in the aftermath of World War II,
and the rising up of Germany and Western Europe, but today it is a “failed
prophecy” that belongs in the heap of discarded false prophecies of Herbert W.
Armstrong! (See our article on “The
Prophetic Errors of Herbert W. Armstrong” – it is free.)
Rather, as Abraham Lincoln once
said, the only way for the United States to be conquered, is for it to be
conquered from within. We can be taken
over by a totalitarian, police-state type of Gentile government from within
our own borders if we are not vigilant and alert and on guard! And let’s face it – our people have been
sound asleep, blissfully unaware of their peril, trusting their government to
take care of them, enjoying the “good
life,” and stubbornly turning their back on the moral and spiritual laws of
heaven.
Jeremiah writes, “The Lord was like
an enemy, He has swallowed up Israel.
He has swallowed up all her palaces; He has destroyed her strongholds. .
. In His burning indignation He has spurned the king and the priest. The Lord has spurned His altar, He has
abandoned His sanctuary; He has given up the walls of her palaces into the hand
of the ENEMY” (Lam.2:5-7).
How will God do this? He will give us over to our enemies. But judging from the evidence, many of our
enemies are our own rulers and leaders – those who will sell, carry or cart us
off into economic and physical slavery!
Our nations are now tied in to the New World Order, and its rules and
regulations – and this will turn into dire slavery, as we are forced to compete
with workers earning $1-4 a day in manufacturing and selling products around
the world. When America’s economy
plummets into the gutter, foreigners will pick up the pieces, as “debt” owed to
them. They and their allies in the
American government, will use America’s military power for their own diabolical
purposes, to further implement the New World Order. Many Americans will be captives within their own land, with many
others carted off to Germany and Egypt to work for foreigners (Isa.27:13).
When God’s judgments come upon our
fair lands, one third will die of pestilence – disease epidemics and famine
(Ezek.5:12). After this weakens our
nations to the point of extreme distress and weakness, enemies – whether
domestic forces or foreign military, in the service of the New World Order –
will destroy another third of the population who will not submit to volunteer
slavery (same verse). The remaining
third will be enslaved, shackled, and serve as labor for the forces of the New
World Order.
Before the final battles are fought,
and the final treason is committed, there may well be a number of nuclear
weapons exploded here and there as “object lessons” which will kill millions
(perhaps New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, or wherever the “enemy”
determines, in order to minimize any resistance. However, it is very possible the United States could fall, and
succumb to the New World Order, voluntarily, betrayed by its leaders who may
have positions of high responsibility in the “New Order.”
Ezekiel describes it this way: “They have blown the trumpet and made
everyone ready, but no one goes to battle; for My wrath is
on all their multitude. The sword is outside,
and the pestilence and famine within. Whoever is in the field will die by the
sword; and whoever is in the city, famine and pestilence will devour him. Those who SURVIVE will escape and be on the
mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, each for his
iniquity. Every hand will be feeble,
and every knee will be as weak as water.
They will be girded with sackcloth; horror will cover them; shame will
be on every face, baldness on all their heads. They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will
be like refuse; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in
the day of the WRATH of the LORD; they will not satisfy their souls, nor fill
their stomachs, because it became their stumbling block of iniquity”
(Ezek.7:14-19).
God says the process is occurring
right under our noses – we are stealthily, surreptitiously, being taken over
and enslaved. The loss of our freedoms
and liberties is gradual – one at a time, so we don’t notice it. Freedom of assembly has been curtailed,
freedom from unreasonable search and seizure have been emasculated in the new
anti-drug laws, freedom of speech is in great danger since the bombing of the
Federal building in Oklahoma City, freedom of religion will no doubt be the
last freedom to “go.”
By then it will be too late – if
it isn’t already.
“Aliens
have devoured his strength”
The prophet Hosea warns, “Ephraim
has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned [half-baked,
cooked on one side and not on the other].
ALIENS HAVE DEVOURED HIS STRENGTH, but he does not know it. Yes, gray hairs are here and there on
him, yet he does not know it” (Hos.7:8-9).
Gradually, Ephraim and modern Israel
is being sucked into the vortex of the Octopus of the New World Order. Before the majority of the people wake up,
it will be a “fait accompli.”
The people are duped by false
religion. God says, “Because Ephraim
has made many altars for sin, they have become for him altars for sinning. I have written for him
the
great things of My law, but they were considered a strange thing” (Hosea
8:11-12).
But as God warns, ALIENS in our very
midst are in the process of devouring our true strength, and subverting our
military forces, and weakening and destabilizing us, so that we will be food
for the fodder of the United Nations/New World Order end-time
Mega-World-Empire.
The prophet Ezekiel provides a real
insight into affairs in our modern nations of the House of Israel – particularly
America, Britain, and the English-speaking nations. We have traveled far down the road of Socialism, and our leaders
– called “princes” in the Scriptures – have led the people astray.
Says Almighty God through the
prophet: “There is a CONSPIRACY
of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they
devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within
her. Her priests do violence to
my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish
between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between
the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my
Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
Her officials within her are like WOLVES tearing their prey;
they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds
for them by false visions and lying divinations [interpretations of
Scripture and false teachings]. They
say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’ – when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion
and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien,
denying them justice.
“I looked for a man among them
who would build up the wall [strengthen the country, economically, militarily,
spiritually] and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I
would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my
fiery anger, bringing down on their heads all they have done, declares the
Sovereign LORD” (Ezekiel 22:25-31, NIV).
No wonder God says, “I looked for a
man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on
behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” None of our leaders could stand before
God. They are leading the way into the
Satan-inspired New World Order, with greedy and cheerful abandon.
This
final composite World Empire is described as the “fourth beast” in Daniel
7. It is a huge octopus with
far-reaching arms and tentacles. It
will devour the whole earth!
Now notice again carefully this
“fourth beast” of Daniel. It will have
ten horns (Dan.7:20), and will be “exceedingly dreadful” and exceedingly
warlike and destructive (v.19). It will
even persecute and wage war on true Christians, the “saints” (Dan.7:21). It is the same as the beast of Revelation
13, which also has “ten horns (Rev.13:1).
But now notice carefully: This
beast has the characteristics of the other three beasts of Daniel 7 -- the body
of the leopard, the feet and claws of the bear, and the mouth of the lion! (v.2).
Thus it is evident that this last beast has taken on the characteristics
of the other three beasts – the Bear – Russia, Lion – United States and
Britain, the Leopard – Egypt and the Arab states. Yet this final Beast corresponds to the BLACK horse of Europe –
the “Fourth Beast,” or what Hitler would have called “The FOURTH REICH.”
Somehow,
it will absorb and rule over – at least for a time – the other three beasts, as
they are incorporated into its structure and power!
Thus this fourth Beast – which the
first President Bush repeatedly called “The New World Order” – will include
by force if necessary the characteristics of the other three beasts of
Daniel 7. It will utilize the powers of
the United States, Russia, and Egypt and Arab nations. What other international body could do this
today besides the UNITED NATIONS? The
United States has already brought itself under the rulership of the United
Nations insofar as UNESCO and many UN operations are concerned.
The United States presently allows
UN troops from Germany, Russia, and many other nations to TRAIN at American
military bases, often in conjunction and cooperation with American forces,
troops, and performing join maneuvers and interdiction operations, including
simulated attacks on civilian cities and “dissenters.” Although these operations seldom if ever
make the evening news, newspapers or television news, various patriotic
publications keep an eye on them and report the truth, week by week, keeping
the watchful public informed. The rest,
the vast majority, unfortunately, are asleep at the switch, and don’t even
realize what is happening!
There can be no doubt that the United
States and the ten tribes of Israel, which long ago wandered to the west, and
established nations in Western Europe and North America, have become part of a
worldwide Babylonish system, and are now in the process of becoming absorbed
into a modern world super-state – which the Bible refers to as “Babylon the
Great,” with virtually no resistance!
Although we are “Israel,” we are
also part of modern BABYLON THE GREAT!
And any WORLD GOVERNMENT in the hands of mere MEN will prove to be an
unmitigated, appalling DISASTER!!!
2012 and the
Antichrist
For several years now I have been wondering about 2012 which appears to be a very fundamental date in terms of prophecy and the outcome of world events and the “end of days”. Could this be the year when the “Antichrist arises and takes power?
Some are beginning to speculate that 2012 is the year that the Antichrist arises. If that is so then that might be the middle of the last 7 years of this age, Daniel’s 70th week, or the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Which means that after that week we would have 3 ½ years to go or perhaps 7 years to go before Christ comes, or somewhere in between because God may cut the days short. What is interesting, The Cutting Edge Ministries says that suddenly both Christians and New Age leaders are teaching that the year 2012 might be the year that Antichrist rises. Well, it could be, or it could even be the year that Messiah comes, but I don’t see things working out that fast. There are still too many things to be done. More likely that is a significant date of the end of this age, before the final and 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy that could be the rising up of the Antichrist.
2012 was consistently one of the possible years in which New Age leaders said that their christ might arrive (the false replacement Christ). Says “Cutting Edge.com,” “Until 1998 one of the guru’s of the New Age was Ruth Montgomery a prolific writer within the New Age Movement, who said that their guiding spirits were telling them that a New World Order was going to be established in the year 2000.
All of her books were channeled through her by a demon named ‘Master D.K.’ This method of writing is called ‘Automatic Writing’ because the demon takes total control of all bodily functions of the human host and then begins to write or ‘channel’ his communication through that host. The person through whom this channeling was occurring would never know what was being written through their hand or through their fingers on the typewriter, until they were snapped back into reality; at that point they could read what the demonic entity had written through them.
Suddenly, in 1998 these demons started channeling a different story. Since world events were progressing so much slower than the ‘Hierarchy’ had anticipated, the year for the New Age Christ to arise had slipped to 2012. The Mayan Calendar changes to a New Age, an age in which a Messiah is supposed to arise on the exact date and time of December 21, 2012 at and the ending of time. It is December 21, 2012 at 22:00 PM which marks the Official Return of Second Coming of the Christ, Imam Mahdi, Buddha, Maitreya, Kalki Avatar, Great Tao, and Messiah!”
An official
write-up from a New Age website:
A New Age website proclaims: “It is my great honor and privilege as Master Quetzalcoatl to return to Earth in this overt fashion to spearhead so to speak and bring to your attention the I AM University End of the Mayan Calendar and Countdown Project! As you might know, I Am Quetzalcoatl, Grand Master of the Mayan days …You all know that the Mayan calendar as has been channeled and introduced to the Earth in the Ancient Days from Higher Cosmic Sources, ends in the year 2012 – on December 21st at 21:21:59 to be precise. This exact date and time marks the Official Ending of the Kali Yuga or Dark Age and the Official Birth of the Age of the Christ / Buddha / Krishna / Mohammed / Moses, and God!”
Those words could well be a “prophecy” or prediction of the coming of the false Christ – the Antichrist – who will “impersonate” the true Christ – and the world will embrace him, thinking they are going to be saved from all their woes and sufferings by this impostor, this pretender.
This is a very possible scenario and means that the Antichrist could be revealed and assume power only four years from now!
This “Messiah” is going to claim to be the “Christ Consciousness Spirit” that inhabitated all the original founders of all the major religions since the dawn of Civilization. This New Age Antichrist plans to make the same claim, but in addition he claims to be God as well and uses the name that Christ defined himself as – the “I AM.”
Along this same line, another interesting item from The Independent, Business News, March 11, 2007, states: “Cashless Society by 2012, says Visa chief”. “Paying for goods with notes and coins could be consigned to history within five years, according to the chief executive of Visa Europe. Peter Ayliffe said that, by 2012, using credit and debit cards should be cheaper and more convenient than cash. . Some retailers would soon start surcharging customers if they choose to buy products with cash, because of the greater cost of processing these payments…Visa Europe briefed the British Retail Consortium last month on new ‘contact less’ cards that can be waved in front of a scanner to make small payments.”
Many points of prophecy seem to be converging on the year 2012! We must keep our eyes peeled, and stay alert, and WATCHING the signs of the times unfold themselves before our very eyes!
One other interesting fact is that the number 11 is a major number used in witchcraft. It is one number short of 12 which is the number of government, organization, or beginning. There were 12 disciples and 12 tribes of Israel; 11 is a deficient number and important in witchcraft. On September 11, 2001 the terrorist planes struck the Trade Towers in N.Y. and destroyed them. This was a major event in the history of America, much like Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
Add the Black Magick number “11” to “9-11” and you arrive at 2012.
The year 2012 might be the year that Antichrist arises. Interestingly, President Bush addressed Congress on the subject “Moving Toward a New World Order”, exactly 11 years before the attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
Daniel 11 also speaks of this great
“seducer.” Daniel declares, “Forces
sent by him shall occupy and profane the temple and fortress. They shall abolish the regular burnt
offering and set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with intrigue those who
violate the covenant [God’s commandments]; but the people who are loyal to
their God shall stand firm and take action.
The wise among the people shall give understanding to many” (Dan.11:31-33).
This man of intrigue and mystery will be cunning, crafty,
wise, and Ezekiel even says he will be “wiser than Daniel” in his political
machinations and Machiavelli instincts.
Ezekiel declares, “Thus says the Lord GOD: Because your heart is proud and you have said, ‘I am a
god; I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but
a mortal, and no god, though you compare your mind with the mind of a god. You are indeed wiser than Daniel; no
secret is hidden from you; by your wisdom and understanding you have amassed
wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries. .
.” (Ezek.28:2-4, NRSV).
This proud and arrogant individual will claim that he
is the long-awaited, promised ‘Messiah’!
And Satan the devil will back him up in this deception. Paul went on,
“The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses
all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for
those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be
saved. For this reason God sends them a
powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, so that all who have
not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned”
(II Thess.2:9-12).
Daniel described the “Black Magic” aspect of the character
of this individual who is coming soon.
He wrote, “When the transgressions have reached their full measure, a
king of bold countenance shall arise, skilled in intrigue. He shall grow strong in power, shall cause
fearful destruction, and shall succeed in what he does. He shall destroy the powerful and the people
of the holy ones [true saints of God].
By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in
his own mind he shall be great. Without
warning he shall destroy many and shall even rise up against the Prince of
princes [the true Messiah!]. But he
shall be broken, and not by human hands” (Dan.8:23-25).
The current Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General, took office on January 1, 2007. His five-year term will expire on December 31, 2011. Then he will either be reappointed, or a NEW Secretary-General will take office in 2012! Could it be the “coming Antichrist” himself?
Little do most of the American and
British leaders who are cooperating in the takeover by the New World Order
realize that their own aims and dreams are to be suborned and subverted by a
master politician will seize control of the reins of power. A master politician, the Antichrist, who is
in the service of Satan the devil, will subvert the whole process. He, as the representative of Satan the
devil, plans to rule the world in a tyrannical, brutal global police state one
last time, before his own end comes (Rev.12:9-17; 20:1-4).
Could he arise in 2012? Could the “New World Order” come into power
with a vengeance in 2012?
The Messiah
declared in sobering words of warning:
“But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be
overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness, headache and
nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares
pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you
suddenly like a trap or a noose; for it will come upon all who live upon the
face of the entire earth.
“Keep awake
then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that
you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape
all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the
presence of the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36, Amplified Parallel Bible).