Archive for the ‘Revelation’ Category

CIA director warns of Chinese military buildup

Thursday, May 8th, 2008
chinaarmy

China's army

(May 8, 2008)  CIA director said that China’s military buildup and international behavior could lead to an adversarial relationship with the rest of the world. (CIA: China’s military could get ‘adversarial’) The article reports, “China and India will affect strategic planning, he said. ‘Competition for influence will characterize the relationships between China, India, Japan and other emerging powers,’ Hayden said during a speech at Kansas State University.
‘But China, a communist-led nuclear state that aspires to and will likely achieve great power status during this century, will be the focus of American attention in that region of the world.’”

I believe it is biblically significant that the director mentions India and Japan along with China as seeking a greater influence in the world. It seems that they are following an aggressive military policy which will one day lead them to involve themselves in a devastating worldwide war.

In the Book of Revelation God showed to His servant John what would take place at the end of the current age. He told him to write down the things he saw and heard. In Revelation 9 John saw the judgments of God falling on the earth. Each of these judgments were preceded by an angel blowing a trumpet. When he heard the sixth angel blowing his trumpet he saw and heard the event that was unleashed by this angel:

“14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.” (Revelation 9:14-19)

Later on John saw the final series of God’s judgments on the world. These were initiated by angels pouring out vials or bowls of judgment upon the earth:

“12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:12-14)

John heard the command for the angels in charge of the Euphrates River to go into action. As we see this action involves the drying up of this river. It would appear the reason for this is to allow a large army to pass through it uninhibited. John heard the number of soldiers in this army to be 200 million “horsemen”. The description of the devastating capabilities of these horsemen can lead one to believe that what John saw was unfamiliar to his “First Century” eyes. It may very well be that he was seeing a modern mechanized army. This army will be led by the “kings of the east”, those that live east of the Euphrates River. These kings could consist of China, India, Japan, and the other Asian countries. The combined population of these countries consists of billions of people which would be more than enough to field a military force of 200 million soldiers. It is interesting that at this time the Euphrates River is under the control of the United States military in Iraq. However I cannot say what, if any, role the U.S. would play in this area leading up to the “battle of that great day of God Almighty” or Armageddon as it is more popularly known.

Worldwide famine in the near future?

Friday, April 18th, 2008

(April 18, 2008)  The last couple of months global food prices and shortages have been in the news. The price of the world’s food staple, rice, is soaring to all-time highs. (Jump in rice price fuels fears of unrest) Rising prices affect over 2.5 billion people in Asia alone. Egypt and India are protecting their own supplies of the grain.

The Financial Times reports that record levels of oil and rice prices could lead to widespread social unrest. (Oil and rice race to record levels)

Australia’s drought is contributing to the shortage of rice around the world. (As Australia dries, a global shortage of rice)
This article states, “The collapse of Australia’s rice production is one of several factors contributing to a doubling of rice prices in the last three months — increases that have led the world’s largest exporters to restrict exports severely, spurred panicked hoarding in Hong Kong and the Philippines, and set off violent protests in countries including Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, the Philippines, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Yemen.”

Rising oil prices are affecting the cost of most commodities. Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press Economics Writer, reports that wholesale prices have increased substantially. (Wholesale prices soared in March) The article states: “With the crude oil price rising to a record close of $113.79 per barrel on Tuesday, analysts said consumers should be braced for more bad inflation news to come. ‘Wholesale prices are rising and the consumer should expect more shocks at the supermarket and the gas station,’ said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors.”

Ellen Simon, AP Business Writer, also reports on the rising food costs and how they affect the population, especially lower income families:
“For the U.S. poor, any increase in food costs sets up an either-or equation: Give something up to pay for food.
‘I was talking to people who make $9 an hour, talking about how they might save $5 a week,’ said Kathleen DiChiara, president and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. ‘They really felt they couldn’t. That was before. Now, they have to.’ For some, that means adding an extra cup of water to their soup, watering down their milk, or giving their children soda because it’s cheaper than milk, DiChiara said.” (Food Costs Rising Fastest in 17 Years)

An article in the British newspaper The Independent is titled “USA 2008: The Great Depression” and speaks of the growing number of Americans (28 million) using food stamps (USA 2008: The Great Depression)

According to CBS News: “there have been food riots in Haiti, Bangladesh, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mozambique and Senegal. Rising prices have hit poor countries like Peru (and even developed countries like Italy and the United States).” (Food Shortages Herald “New Era Of Hunger”)

There seems to be no glimmer of hope in the future with rising fuel prices adding to the cost of everything. The Bible indicates that near the time of the end there is going to be a worldwide famine:

“5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6)

The cost of wheat and barley in this passage declares that a day’s wages will be necessary to pay for food staples at some point in the future. Out of this famine a global leader will arise and seem to have all of the answers to the world’s problems including the economic woes of the people. Just such a scenario played out in the 1920s and 30s when Adolph Hitler used the people’s suffering to rise to power. So too will the Antichrist.

Hamas cleric predicts Rome will be conquered by Islam

Monday, April 14th, 2008

romesmall(April 14, 2008)  According to Fox News, a prominent Hamas cleric gave a sermon that declared “The capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital” would soon be conquered by Islam. (Hamas Cleric Predicts ‘Rome Will Be Conquered by Islam’) He goes on to say that Islam will sweep across Europe followed by the Americas.

Whether or not this cleric is correct is up to God’s plans for the End-Times. It is interesting that the book of Revelation speaks of something called “Mystery Babylon” and describes it as a whore who rides upon a scarlet covered beast with seven heads and ten horns:

“1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:1-18)

Babylon is located in the Islamic country of Iraq. It is the place where the false religion of human worship began at the tower of Babel when humankind wanted to become like God (Genesis 11:1-9). The passage above describes the whore as a great city which sits on seven mountains. This may be an allusion to Rome which sits upon seven hills. If Islam were to conquer Rome in the End-Times many Christians would be slaughtered as this scripture indicates: “6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”

Starting in verse 10 the angel refers to the beast or Antichrist. In the context of this passage, it may be that the Antichrist will initially rule from Mystery Babylon which may be referring to Rome. From there he will attain power and make war against the followers of God eventually leading the armies of the world in the battle of Armageddon to fight against Jesus Himself. However Jesus will destroy these armies with the “brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

Of course, Islamic leaders have a tendency to proclaim empty boasts as their defeats in the wars against Israel have demonstrated. Yet in the current world situation, Islamic terrorists seem determined to destroy non-Islamic cultures.

Foreclosures a sign of hard economic times ahead?

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

(March 11, 2008)  USA Today reports that home foreclosures are having a rippling effect on the U.S. economy. (Foreclosure crisis has ripple effect)

The foreclosure crisis in the U.S. is spreading to other areas of American society. According to this USA Today article:

“The mortgage foreclosure crisis has caused a drop in cities’ revenues, a spike in crime, more homelessness and an increase in vacant properties, a survey of elected local officials out today shows.”

This problem along with the U.S. dollar’s value falling around the world and oil and gas prices spiraling out of control are indicators that the economy of America and possibly the whole world is in dire straits. History has shown us that America and the world have rebounded from economically tough times in the past. However, the Great Depression of the 1930s led to the rise of evil dictators who eventually led the world into a devastating World War. How far the economic indicators fall remains to be seen. The Bible does indicate that at some future point there will be economic devastation around the world that will eventually lead to the rise of a world leader who will seemingly have the answers to the world’s problems.

In Revelation 6 God’s servant John is shown some events that have worldwide effects. He sees these four horsemen who are unleashed upon the world who initiate a series of judgments upon the earth:

“5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:5-8)

What John saw was food staples such as wheat and barley costing a day’s wages. This would indicate that some economic calamity had occurred in the world. After this he sees death from hunger and the animals of the world. These too would be the result of an economic disaster that would cause not only humans to starve but animals also who would resort to killing people in order to eat. The rest of Revelation deals with what Christians call the Tribulation Period and the rise of the Antichrist and the devastation of the earth and its inhabitants that follows it. As I stated above, it was just such circumstances that afforded a type of Antichrist to enter into world history in the 1930s.

I believe that one day America will cease to be a superpower. The reason for this is because the Bible declares that in the future Israel will be attacked by numerous countries in and around the Middle East. (See my article on this site “Coming Invasion of Israel”) Right now America is protecting Israel from the aggression of other countries. However, if we become militarily or economically impotent then these countries will not have to fear America’s military forces and would feel they could attack Israel with impunity. Like all prophecies in the Bible, the timing of these events is in God’s domain and His alone.

China speeds pace of military buildup. The 200 million man army?

Monday, March 3rd, 2008

(March 3, 2008)  According to the Washington Times China is increasing its military capabilities at a high rate of speed in order to wage wars beyond its perennial enemy Taiwan. (China speeds pace of military buildup) The article states, “The report also warned that China’s expanding military forces “are changing East Asian military balances; improvements in China’s strategic capabilities have implications beyond the Asia-Pacific region.” “The new weapons include road-mobile long-range nuclear missiles.”

China for centuries if not millennia kept to itself in the area of world events. That all changed in the late 20th and early 21st centuries when China became an economic and military power in the world. It appears that they have become equals with the United States in both of these domains. Now it seems that they are following an aggressive military policy which will one day lead them to involve themselves in a devastating worldwide war.

God showed to His servant John what would take place at the end of the current age. He told him to write down the things he saw and heard. In Revelation 9 John saw the judgments of God falling on the earth. Each of these judgments were preceded by an angel blowing a trumpet. When he heard the sixth angel blowing his trumpet he saw and heard the event that was unleashed by this angel:

“14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.” (Revelation 9:14-19)

Later on John saw the final series of God’s judgments on the world. These were initiated by angels pouring out vials or bowls of judgment upon the earth:

“12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:12-14)

John heard the command for the angels in charge of the Euphrates River to go into action. As we see this action involves the drying up of this river. It would appear the reason for this is to allow a large army to pass through it uninhibited. John heard the number of soldiers in this army to be 200 million “horsemen”. The description of the devastating capabilities of these horsemen can lead one to believe that what John saw was unfamiliar to his “First Century” eyes. It may very well be that he was seeing a modern mechanized army. This army will be led by the “kings of the east”, those that live east of the Euphrates River. These kings could consist of China, India, Japan, and the other Asian countries. The combined population of these countries consists of billions of people which would be more than enough to field a military force of 200 million soldiers. It is interesting that at this time the Euphrates River is under the control of the United States military in Iraq. However I cannot say what, if any, role the U.S. would play in this area leading up to the “battle of that great day of God Almighty” or Armageddon as it is more popularly known.

The point is that for the first time in history this prophecy could come to pass because the numbers and capabilities are in play.

United Nations scientific study declares Humanity’s very survival is at risk

Friday, October 26th, 2007
United Nations

United Nations

(October 26, 2007)  In a report submitted to the United Nations a group of 1400 scientists concluded that future of the human race is at risk. (‘Humanity’s very survival’ is at risk, says UN) According to this study human beings are using up the earth’s natural resources. This in turn will lead to the extinction of 30 per cent of amphibians, 23 per cent of mammals and 12 per cent of birds. Climate change will contribute significantly to the degradation of the earth and the resources humans need in order to survive. Whether or not the dire predictions of these scientists come to pass is yet undetermined. However, the Bible makes it clear that in the future both the environment of the earth and its human population will indeed be devastated by both natural and supernatural causes. In the Book of Revelation God showed to John the things that would happen at the end of the current age. John wrote about some of the events he had witnessed: “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” (Revelation 8:7-11) John saw the earth environmentally devastated. Trees were burned up, waters became poisonous, and many humans died. Later on in Revelation John says that he saw men “scorched with great heat”. The future of the world is indeed bleak until Jesus Christ comes again. From a scientific point of view it seems the world is running out of time. From a biblical point of view it would seem the scientists are right.

Michael Savage calls Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the Antichrist but…

Monday, September 24th, 2007

(September 24, 2007)  Columbia University invited the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to speak at the college in a public forum. The controversy surrounding this invitation was the subject of many news and radio programs. Talk show host Michael Savage also discussed this event on his national radio program. Many commentators referred to Ahmadinejad as Hitler jr. and other such epithets. Mr. Savage took it a step further and called him the Antichrist. He also said that he thought that Ahmadinejad would be assassinated by his own people in Iran. Indeed Ahmadinejad has called for the destruction of the nation of Israel. He is an anti-semite of the first degree and as such does follow in the footsteps of Adolph Hitler in his desire to exterminate the Jews. However, his rhetoric leaves nothing to the imagination. Just as Hitler laid out his plans for the domination of Europe and its inhabitants so too Ahmadinejad has discussed openly his wish to see Israel and the Jews destroyed. This is where the Antichrist analogy breaks down. The Bible makes it clear that the Antichrist is going to deceive the world through a false message of peace. The prophet Daniel declared concerning the Antichrist, “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Daniel 8:25)  The apostle Paul stated that in the End-Times the world would be fooled by these peaceful overtures, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)   Unless Ahmadinejad changes the threatening tone of his message he would not fit the description of the Antichrist. As far as an assassination attempt, the Book of Revelation does indicate that the Antichrist (or beast as John refers to him) will suffer a fatal wound from which he will be resurrected, “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:1-4) I don’t know who the Antichrist is but when he does arrive on the world stage, he will come across as a peaceful messianic figure but actually will be the most evil man ever to walk the earth. He will hunt down the followers of the God of the Bible and persecute them mercilessly. The world will follow after him and he will lead them down the path of destruction.

Madeleine Albright states that anybody who can solve the problem of Jerusalem is a Solomon; [It won't be Solomon but a man much more evil]

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007
King Solomon Picture free from download-free-pictures.com - click image to go there

King Solomon

(August 22, 2007)  In an interview with CNN, former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discussed the importance of religion in foreign policy. (Albright: ‘Ignore religion ‘at our own peril’)  During the course of this interview Ms. Albright was asked about the problem of the religious divisiveness over the city of Jerusalem. She responded by saying “Anybody that can really solve that issue is a Solomon. With this being holy to all three of the Abrahamic religions, it’s very difficult. And religion, rather than bringing people together on this, is driving them apart, which … I don’t think [is] what is intended. It’s so interesting; we’re talking about the whole issue of sovereignty here. Because the parties both believed that God gave them that little piece of land, we started playing with a term, which was that it belonged to God. Divine sovereignty.”  On September 13, 1993, my wife and I watched the Prime minister of Israel Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shake hands in front of President Clinton on the White House lawn. They had just concluded a peace agreement that hopefully would settle the problems between their two peoples. Several issues were supposed to be resolved through this agreement. However, the future of Jerusalem would be determined at sometime in the future. After listening to Mr. Rabin’s and Mr. Arafat’s speeches conducted on the lawn that day I turned to my wife and told her that this peace agreement was a sham. Both men within a few minutes of speaking had declared Jerusalem to be their people’s undivided capital. This meant that there had been no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ms. Albright now seems to understand the importance of Jerusalem in resolving the Arab-Israeli problem. She stated that it would take a man with the wisdom of Solomon to solve this dilemma. Actually, the man who seemingly solves this issue is going to be a world leader whom Christians refer to as the Antichrist. In the Book of Revelation God revealed the future to one of his servants named John. One of the events God showed to him was the rising of a man whom John called the beast and Christians call the Antichrist. John’s description of him explains how this evil leader is going to deceive the world: “…and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon [i.e. the Devil] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?… And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:3-4,8)  The prophet Daniel spoke of this man and declared,  “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Daniel 8:25)  The Antichrist will come with a peace initiative which will include the rebuilding of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. For the Muslims to allow this they too will have “wondered after the beast”.  The apostle Paul states that this Antichrist will then sit in the rebuilt Temple and commit the greatest blasphemy, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) So it would seem that the Antichrist will have finally solved the problem of Jerusalem but just a short time late the true problem-solver, Jesus Christ, will return. He will destroy the Antichrist and reign from Jerusalem as the King of Kings.



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