Like a telescope with an automatic focusing mechanism, current events are bringing into sharp display the contrasting world views that are seeking to dominate this globe we live on. These end-time entities have long been evident, but never have they jockeyed into position so clearly as they are today.
There appear to be three opposing world views that seek to capture the allegiance of mankind in these last days: The secular world view; the religious world view; and the biblical world view.
The Secular World View
This secular view is both economic and political and is determined to accomplish its purpose without admission of God or submission to God. It is almost as old as time, itself, at least reaching back to the Tower of Babel, when mankind was clearly engaged in an effort to “reach the heavens” without the assistance of the Almighty. God said, in Genesis 11:5-8, “But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.’ So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.”
Secular history confirms the forward-looking prophecy of Daniel that describes the four world-dominating kingdoms he saw in his visions. The Apostle John, looking back beyond Daniel and forward to his day, and further, to our day, sees a series of seven world-dominating kingdoms (Revelation 13:1). The one existing in John’s era was thekingdom of Rome, and he envisioned that it would die, then rise again in the latter days as ten united entities encompassing the whole world. (Those prior to Rome wereAssyria, Egypt, Babylon, Medo-Persian, and Greece.)
One might wonder where the global presence of the British Empire fits into the scenario, having extended its colonial expansion to the extent that it claimed that “the sun never sets on the British Empire”.
Out of that British outreach came the American colonies, and then, the United States of America. Where does it fit into the world view?
These have their roots in the Roman domination and expansion, and it is becoming evident that they are continuing to be an integral part of that original entity and its current restoration.
While John identified with Daniel the kingdoms, he also identified the driving force inherent in these dominating world powers over the expanse of their respective existences. In Revelation 12 he describes Satan as a fiery red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns on his heads. It is practically the same description as John gives in Chapter 13 when he sees the beast rise up out of the sea.
Therefore, it appears that this secular world view’s driving force in its effort to control mankind by economic and political means is Satanic. The cruelty and disregard of human life that has been displayed in secondary splinter philosophies, such as the Nazi, Communist and Japanese Imperial forces in recent years, and others over the centuries, have revealed Satan’s control of the secular world view.
Where is the secular world view now, in its progress to world dominance? Its proponents are busier than ever, destroying the sovereignty of nations and their economies, toppling dictatorships, arranging peace treaty discussions between Israel and the Palestinians, and working on a plan to establish a ten region confederacy of nations without individual sovereignty—a one world government.
Its major “burr under its saddle blanket”, apart from the seemingly reluctant downfall of United States sovereignty, is that constant harassment of unsettled relationships in theMiddle East, the senseless, ongoing Israeli-Palestinian squabble. What a pity it is that the world’s great utopia must wait while tempers flare with age-old hatreds that make no sense, in light of the coming glorious reformation of the world social order. (I write facetiously, of course.)
Without a doubt it is a sure thing that a shadow group of elite financiers have been promoting this secular world view for many years, and it appears their deepest desires are no longer as secret as they have been in the past. Dr. Henry Kissinger is on record announcing that “Barack Obama has been primed to create a new world order”. It may be surprising that Kissinger, a former Secretary of State in the Nixon administration and not generally thought of as one aligned with liberal political views, would have had anything to do with the Obama presidency, but those who are planning for a one world government have no other political loyalties—including that of national heritage.
The Religious World View
Another segment of the world population has its eyes set on dominating all people, one way or another, is that of the Islamic faith—the Muslims. They are gradually out-numbering the non-Muslims in physical reproduction by about 4 to 1. The figure is over eight children per Muslim family, compared to two or less per non-Muslim family. Major European nations are now experiencing Muslim population explosions (no pun intended) and America is certainly in its cross-hairs.
Studies have shown that as the percentage of a population is increasingly Muslim, the demands for rulings that favor their doctrines are advanced amid terrorism and violence. The outcry is essentially, “become Muslim or die”. Thus, the whole world is viewed as conquerable in the name of Allah, and the Islamic goal is toward that end.
How is it that this view can co-exist with the secular world view? The seculars think they can use the radical Muslims to break down the sovereignty of nations, just as is the goal of that religious viewpoint, and come out on the final end as the only just and right victor. With the seculars, there is no God who figures into the mix. God is a non-entity to these modern Tower of Babel descendents, and therefore, in the final analysis and coming enlightenment, that issue will disappear.
Revelation 13 tells us that a false prophet will appear alongside the Anti-Christ and work in tandem with his dominating moves to conquer the world. Current headlines tell us that inter-faith movements are being pushed by political figures, even, while leading church clergy are abandoning their evangelical roots to embrace the “politically correct” pressure to compromise the gospel message of Christ only, always. A Nigerian-originated combination of Christianity and Islamic doctrines, called “Chrislam”, has surfaced in recent days.
How will this merge into the end-time religious system described in the Apostle John’s Revelation now appears unclear, since that prophetic picture seems to point toRome, the city on seven hills (Revelation 17). That same chapter ties together the beast, the Anti-Christ, the one-world government, the religious system and the woman in one giant package. It also reveals the total rejection of the religious system by the Anti-Christ, for he will declare himself God and demand total submission of all mankind.
Reality, however, has a better offer, and the God of eternity stands behind the scenes as they unfold before the eyes of the world.
The Biblical World View
The God of the Bible is described in these terms in Psalm 90:2: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Considering the meaning of these words, not a lot more needs to be said of those lesser world views. They are the ones being used to accomplish a totally different world view, one that has been in place eternally.
Paul writes to Titus these words: “…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2). Is there any other world view that gives such long-standing hope and assurance?
The biblical world view now has on its doorstep welcome mat a barrage of predictions becoming realities—geophysical upheavals, economic crises, warring factions and political uncertainties. Looming on the horizon are several predicted events that will lead up to the seemingly successful secular world view, interwoven with threads of the religious world view, although perhaps not so consistent with the intent of today’s view of that faction.
What are those events waiting in the wings? The circle of enemies around Israel’s very borders, filled with hatred and a burning desire to see Israel no more existing, their anguish for a Palestinian state and the demise of Israel will likely result in the confrontation described in Psalm 83.
God’s miraculous delivery of Israel from the intended destruction and demise will result in serious considerations for a peace agreement that favors Israel and its even newer borders. As this discussion begins to take shape, a very strange event may well be next on the schedule, and that is the sudden disappearance of millions of people from off the face of the earth, in the twinkling of an eye.
Reading Paul’s account of the occurrence and the connecting context, the flow of the events seems to give an idea of their timing and relationships (I Thess-alonians 4:16-5:4): “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you, for you know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!”, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.”
This Day of the Lord seems to be the beginning of the “time of Jacob’s trouble”, (Jeremiah 30:7) the seven-year period of judgment on the world and the Jewish recognition of their true Messiah. The details of the rapture of believers is identified as that Day of the Lord, and it is in the “times and seasons” when a certain covenant is confirmed (Daniel 9:27) for seven years, acknowledged by a cry of “Peace and safety”. Within the timing of these events is when all true believers will hear that trumpet blast and will be transformed from mortal to immortal, in the twinkling of an eye. This will occur before that man of sin, the Anti-Christ, will confirm that covenant, for he will not be revealed until the believers are taken out of the way (II Thessalonians 2:7-8).
All of the events of the final 70th year of Daniel’s prophecy then will begin to play out, as described in Revelation 6 and following, including the Gog-Magog invasion from the far north—Russia, Persia (Iran), and others.
When are the “times and seasons”? It is apparent that they are now, for what other “covenant for peace” could one envision than the one now being considered? How soon will the burning anger and hatred for Israel, worldwide, boil over into the Psalm 83 scenario? How much longer will the secular world view proponents’ patience hold in place? The reshaping of Middle East political entities portends an awesome immediate future of deep trouble for Israel. The fire is hot and the pot is boiling. Is it not even at the door?