|
The term Armageddon appears in the Bible
only one time (Revelation 16:16). It has reference to the concluding
battle of the seven-year tribulation period. It is a mistake if we
fail to see that this battle actually represents the entire period
that prepares the world for this concluding act of God’s judgment.
In other words, Armageddon is better represented as the entire “End
Time Cataclysmic Period” which will end in the valley of Megiddo (Har-Megiddon,
Strong’s Concordance). Please note the Holy Scripture that describes
the preparation for this event.
“And I saw
three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the
dragon, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the
spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings
of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of
that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed
is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked,
and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place
called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Revelation
16:13-16)
I believe the preparation for this
final judgment is already in progress. Satan’s crowd must prepare
and John the Revelator clearly described that fact.
“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 the great day of God
Almighty.” (Revelation 16:14) Of course, this unholy
trinity (Satan, Antichrist, and Anti-spirit) believes that they can
win against the great God Jehovah. We have interpreted a statement
in Revelation 12:12, “he knoweth that he
hath but a short time,” to suggest he expects defeat.
Instead it should be understood that he knows he has only a short
time to win before God will conclude his last chance to take control
of the world.
The entire “One World Government” and
“One World Religion” that Satan will promote and control is his
grand scheme to create such a world power and spiritual (evil) force
that he can finally succeed in defeating God and take his seat as
the “Supreme Authority.” You may say it is crazy to believe that
Satan is expecting to win. How can you read his grand design for
world control, economic mastery (by his controlling all buying and
selling), and the entire religious harlotry of Biblical prophecy,
and not believe Satan plans to win? Satan is preparing the ultimate
effort to remove God from His throne, to defeat the Lord Jesus as
the Savior of men and to defile the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit of
Holiness. Believe the Word of God; Satan will lose.
The Satanists Are Preparing Their
Followers
A noted author of pyramidology occultic materials wrote the
following in his book, The Armageddon Script:
“Their script is now written,
subject only to last minute editing and stage direction. The
stage itself, albeit as yet in darkness, is almost ready. Down
in the pit, the subterranean orchestra is already tuning up. The
last minute, walk-on parts are even now being filled. Most of
the main actors, one suspects, have already taken up their
roles. Soon it will be time for them to come on stage, ready for
the curtain to rise. The time for action will have come.”
(Peter LeMesurier, The Armageddon Script.)
Biblical terminology literally fills
the writings and language of the New Agers and occultic leaders.
They talk about the number 666, about saving the world (not souls),
and about a harmonious, peace-loving age when everybody lives
happily ever after. Read the following statements by these “spirits
of devils” going forth to “the whole world to gather them” (world
population) to this awesome hour of the final conflict between the
true God and the idiot god, Satan.
“The blueprint for a peaceful,
loving and harmonious world has been drawn. Prayer, meditation,
positive affirmations, spiritual families and global healing
events such as Live Aid and the December 31st World Peace Event
all contribute to this blueprint.” (Harmonic Convergence
Brochure.)
“I have come to believe firmly
today that our future, peace, justice, and fulfillment,
happiness and harmony on this planet will not depend on world
government but on divine or cosmic government…my great personal
dream is to get a tremendous alliance between all major
religions and the U.N.” (Robert Muller, former director of
the United Nations and now president of “Peace University.”)
“Humanity is on the verge of
something entirely new, a further evolutionary step unlike any
other: the emergence of the first global civilization.”
(Thomas Berry, Catholic theologian.)
“I (see) images of a new
heaven and a new earth…THIS WORLD will be saved. The planet will
be healed and harmonized. We can let the kingdom come…which
means that THIS WORLD can be transformed into a heaven right
now…This is no fantasy. This is not scientific or religious
fiction. This is the main event of our individual lives.”
(John Randolph Price, Organizer of the World Instant of
Cooperation.)
“…Every major religion of the
world has similar ideals of love, the same goal of benefiting
humanity through spiritual practice…The most important thing is
to look at details of theology or metaphysics…I believe that all
the major religions of the world can contribute to world peace
and work together for the benefit of humanity if we put aside
subtle metaphysical differences, which are really the internal
business of each religion…The undying faith in religion clearly
demonstrates the potency of religion as such. This spiritual
energy and power can be purposefully used to bring about the
spiritual conditions necessary for world peace.” (Dalai
Lama.)
“All human institutions,
professions, programs and activities must be judged primarily
according to the extent they either obstruct and ignore or
foster a mutually enhancing human-earth relationship. That is
how good and evil will be judged in the coming years.”
(Donald Keys, President of Planetary Citizens.)
A noted New Ager, Jose’Arguelles,
presented a 25-year plan to set up the New World Order. His plan
began in 1987 at an event called “Harmonic Convergence.” They have
promoted two World Prayer Days the last being on December 31st,
1991. Every religious thought or faith was invited to participate.
Their basic philosophy is an idea called “Global Consciousness” in
which they teach we all must help make changes. God, to the New Ager
like Arguelles, is not personal but the global community of
consciousness. If we can change our thought patterns to peace,
harmony, and goodwill to everybody (except those religious maniacs
called Jesus followers) we can evolve to the next round on the
evolutionary scale, so they teach. It’s called a “paradigm shift in
consciousness.” It is nothing but Satanic delusion. The word
“paradigm” is the biggest new word in the language of the liberals.
Beware of anyone who uses it.
Spiritual Warfare
While Satan is preparing his agents
on a worldwide scale in a visible and religious political manner,
there is a subtle, but deadly warfare going on in the spirit world.
It has always been a spiritual battle to obey the Holy Scripture and
serve Jesus Christ as Lord. Scriptures are extremely clear that
“we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.” (Ephesians 6:12) If this has been true in the
past, how much greater is this warfare presently. Jesus clearly
stated that, “As the days of Noah were, so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew
24:36) There were demons (sons of God) who appeared in visible form
during Noah’s day, who even cohabited with women producing giants
and clearly terrorizing the last inhabitants before the terrible
judgment of the flood.
I believe we are in for a flood of
filth and wickedness that will be overwhelming to any man or woman
that is not covered by the blood of Jesus Christ and filled with the
Holy Ghost. Fear and torment is already the scourge of this
generation. Don’t think that the “Bride of Christ” will escape
seeing the horrible prelude to the tribulation period. I’m expecting
Jesus to return any moment, but I know that until He returns there
will be an ever increasing activity of Satanism and his dark
beguiling demons.
Any believer who expects to escape
deception and confusion must submerge himself or herself in the Holy
Scripture and learn to lean on the abiding presence of God’s Holy
Spirit. Christians must refuse to listen or entertain
“the counsel of the ungodly.”
(Psalm 1:1-6) Don’t spend a moment in any atmosphere where Jesus
Christ is not Lord or the infallible Bible is not the final
authority.
Increasing Demonic Activity:
Warning To The Church
The prophecy of Revelation clearly describes this increasing tide of
Satanic powers. While this prophecy places the time period in the
tribulation after the Rapture has occurred, it certainly suggests
that the early stages will be visible before the actual seven-year
period begins. Notice chapter 16 and the verses I presented at the
beginning of this article. In verse 12 the activity begins in the
Euphrates River (Babylon sits on its original banks) and proceeds to
show “unclean spirits, like frogs,” which proceed from the mouths of
Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. They go forth to
deceive and prepare the world for this forthcoming war between
heaven and hell. Then, suddenly, the Holy Spirit inspires John to
speak to the church. “Behold I come as a
thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garment (wedding
attire) lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
(Revelation 16:15)
There is only one reason He placed
this great warning in the midst of such a clear description of
Satan’s evil power that will reign in the dark period before the
final battle of Armageddon. We in the church waiting for the
“Rapture” are now witnessing the rise of these evil forces. They
will continue to increase until the Rapture and then explode after
the church Bride is gone. Paul was clear to state that the Bride of
Christ filled with the Holy Ghost is the only restraining power on
this earth.
“And now ye
know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will
let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” (2
Thessalonians 2:6-8)
This Scripture does not suggest that
Satan cannot do anything toward his goal of world control before the
Bride of Christ is gone, but rather that he is limited. History will
certainly confirm that he has had great power to destroy; but, also,
that he has never been able to create world domination like he will
do when the restraints are lifted. Here’s how Apostle Paul describes
what will happen when the Bride has escaped.
“Even him,
whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs
and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in
them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth,
that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might
be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Whatever wickedness we can now
identify, it will be many times worse after the “First
Resurrection out from among the dead.”
“If by any means I might attain unto the Resurrection of the dead
(out from among the dead).” (Philippians 3:11) No wonder
Paul constantly labored to be ready to escape the things coming to
pass and to stand before the Lord.
Revelation Chapters 8 and 9
These two chapters describe in detail the flood of demons and their
activity during the end. The entire picture is preceded by an
explanation of the power of prayer. “And
another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censor;
and there was given him much incense, that he should offer it with
the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the
throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of
the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the
angel took the censor, and filled it with fire of the altar, and
cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and
lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Revelation 8:3-5) It is
evident that the seven trumpets that were mentioned in verse two
before the scene of prayer/power were held in check until the church
was safe and her prayers remembered. We are always at the heart of
His action.
The Seven Trumpets all suggest great
consternation upon the earth. The first four deal with the earth’s
resources and the Heavenlies. Then follows the unleashing of the
inhabitants of the damned and the spirits bound in their prisons.
Jude stated, “And the angels which kept not
their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved
in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great
day.” (Jude 6) These are very likely the sons of God who
invaded Noah’s world (Notice Jude said, “left their habitation.”)
and were shut up until the present to protect the earth from their
utter destructive powers. Whoever they represent, they are to be
released in the end to receive their justice in judgment.
The fifth and sixth trumpets deal
with this region of the darkness and opens up their prison doors to
the earth. The entire physical earth comes under siege from hell’s
inhabitants. Seal five describes an undisclosed number who are under
the kingship of the angel of the bottomless pit. His name is Abaddon
in Hebrew or Apollyon in the Greek tongue. These “damned creatures”
take on the appearance of locusts who look like horses with
destructive powers so great that the men they attack seek death as
escape. John said, “And they had tails like
scorpions, and there were stings in their tails, and their power was
to hurt men five months.” (Revelation 9:10) The sixth
seal is worse. This second company of fallen creatures is connected
with Ancient Babylon and the deception of the ages. They are
numbered at 200,000,000 and are charged to kill the third part (l/3)
of mankind. The entire picture is of an invasion out of the
subterranean shadows of the earth where the wicked dead and fallen
angels have festered with hatred, vileness and anger at everything
within their reach. They will scourge the earth to torment and wreak
havoc on all living beings.
Preparing For The Final Battle
No question but that Satan is preparing for the end time drama with
the expectation of winning. It’s evident that he will use all of his
resources. The wicked living will serve him. The apostate church
will offer their worship as he presents himself as their god. The
Antichrist and false prophet will succeed in blinding and convincing
the world for the new false “trinity.” Joining these will be the
fallen angels, the wicked dead turned loose for a short period, and
the army of demon spirits under Satan’s control. It will be a
dreadful company of the vilest creatures ever assembled. No wonder
the name “Armageddon” holds such ominous vibrations. Even Satan’s
present followers on earth are anticipating this occasion.
Jesus Christ Returns To Fight
The mighty Redeemer becomes the Warrior King. He appears out of the
Heavenlies like a God/Man with celestial attire. He rides an awesome
stallion of spotless white and leads an army of triumphant saints.
He is no longer the broken reed of Calvary, bleeding for sin’s
cleansing. He is now the judge of all who spurned His reconciling
sacrifice. He comes to set right the rebellions of all creatures.
It’s time for righteousness to show its transcending authority.
While He does tread the winepress of wrath and experience the
bloodstain of battle, it’s a quick victory and all rebellion is
brought to judgment. Satan’s well planned schemes and multitude of
support has been of no avail. He is defeated and the King of Kings
begins His triumphant takeover.
“And I saw
an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit
and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that
old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand
years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and
set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more,
till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must
loosed a little season.” Blessed and holy is he that hath part in
the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him
a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:1-3, 6)
|
