The “Fierce” of these Perilous Times
If you’ve watched the rage going on in Minneapolis and other cities, you see the screaming, howling, cursing, and, in many cases, the physical assaults upon the ICE agents trying to enforce the law by rounding up illegal aliens. It seems sheer lunacy, at least to this observer, just listening to the screeching, especially of young women who seem to have gone mad with the obsession of keeping those convicted of the most heinous crimes imaginable from capture and deportation.
These aren’t protests like the founders envisioned but are riotous and steeped in violence, and even murderous intent, as fiercely wicked as the acts of the illegals who have invaded our borders. We remember vividly, for example, the recent death of the thirty-seven-year-old woman who tried to block ICE agents, and when ordered to get out of her vehicle, instead of lawfully complying, accelerated into the ICE officer. He then, in order to protect himself and others, fired his weapon, striking the woman and killing her.
As insanely as the young woman acted, I was touched by words I heard her father say when interviewed. He was, the report indicated, a Christian, who, while heartbroken over his daughter’s death, said she had no business acting in such a way, when obviously trying to run the ICE officer over.
Days later, an armed rioter threatened an ICE officer with guns and was shot and killed, touching off even more violence. One rioter, in the throes of ferocity, bit off the finger of an ICE agent.
What has happened in this nation, where sanity seems out the window and absolute hatred rules in the minds of those who apparently want to protect murderers, rapists, child molesters, and many other kinds of criminals from other countries to remain in America?
And the chaos and insanity are backed up by most every mainstream news organization in the country. It’s a growing sin infection that Paul the apostle called “the reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28).
Paul warned of how things will develop as the time of Christ’s return nears. We have looked at that passage many times. I refer, of course, to the great apostle’s “perilous times” prophecy of 2 Timothy chapter 3. I’ll let you look it up in totality but will dwell only on one element for our purpose here.
Paul said: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be…fierce…” (2 Timothy 3:3).
And, as we have just recounted, women will be fierce, too. As a matter of fact, the record is reflecting that those responsible for organizing these rages against law and order are using young, white women to thrust into the forefront of protecting the murderers, rapists, child molesters, and other illegal criminals murdering, raping, sex-trafficking children and plundering billions of dollars from tax-paying citizens, such as we have witnessed from among the Somali fraud—again in the Minneapolis area.
Again, Paul wrote under Holy Spirit Inspiration of the very thing that would mark the end of the Age of Grace (Church Age). He said that the “lawless one,” Antichrist, will be revealed following the removal of the Restrainer as governor of evil over this fallen world system. It will be the spirit of Antichrist that even in John the apostle’s day was prevalent that will pervade the human race and its rebellion against all godliness.
That spirit is being manifest with each of these lawless episodes exploding around the nation. These have at their riotous hearts the reprobate minds of those who champion the wickedness that saturates our nation’s bluest cities. This has been the evil springing forth since the Biden administration opened those floodgates along our borders.
But it is not a political problem that threatens the republic the founding fathers—and God Himself—gave us. My great friend Gary Stearman had something to say about all this, giving us a Holy Spirit-influenced think-piece, I believe:
Years ago, I noticed something in Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. It struck home in a big way, and to this day directs my thinking about Bible prophecy. In the third chapter, there is an intriguing statement: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” Probably, most serious Christians have noticed this warning, and then have continued to read the long list of character deficiencies that follow…
This description of latter-day societal shortcomings rings with a surprising familiarity to those of us who observe the daily media parade. As I read this, it occurred to me that I needed to do a deeper study of what the term “perilous times” really meant. Looking it up, I found that the word “perilous” came from the Greek word, chalepos.
Looking further, I discovered that in the New Testament, this word was used only twice, the other time being in Matthew, Chapter 8, in which Jesus and His disciples had sailed across the Sea of Galilee. A windstorm had risen and swamped their sailboat, until He spoke and calmed the waters:
“But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way” (Mt. 8:27:28).
To my amazement, I discovered that the Greek word chalepos was used in the phrase, “exceedingly fierce!”
And fierce they were … so strong that in this territory of the beach and its cliffs, no one could pass. Their strength came from demonic possession.
I was immediately struck with the thought that when Paul wrote those prophetic words to Timothy, his exhaustive description of latter-day humanity was constructed around the idea of madness … raging insanity empowered by dark forces! Suddenly, I was deeply impressed with Paul’s true intent: to show Timothy – and us, in the twenty-first century – that the days before Christ’s return would be marked by a growing social insanity.
And not just that; it would be an insanity driven by the same dark forces encountered by Jesus and His disciples on the shores of Galilee on that day so long ago.
When this connection struck me so long ago, I began what I called the Chalepos Watch!
Always keeping Paul’s words in mind, I noted social changes and developments that were driven by raging insanity of the sort that suggested the presence of dark forces, working behind the scenes to fragment our civilized society:
“For 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” (Eph 6:12).
The Chalepos Watch is still underway, and I intend to pursue it in the future, just as I have for so many years now. (Source: Gary Stearman needs no introduction to those who study Bible prophecy, of course. I’ll just say that Gary is cohost, along with Mondo Gonzales, of Prophecy Watchers, one of the premiere Bible prophecy ministries today.)
So, it is obvious that we face at this moment fierceness born of the dark side, fomented by the father of lies and the perpetrator of lawlessness against the order established by our God.
But as Gary put it in concluding his thoughts on this fierceness we face: “The good news? It is found a little further down in Paul’s letter”: “But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was” (2 Timothy 3:9).
—Terry
The One Constant In Today’s Headlines
Have you noticed how quickly everything changes in the Middle East? Last June, most people believed the twelve-day war had eliminated the threat to Israel posed by Iran, but if anything, the Islamic state is now an even greater danger to its security. The ceasefire in Gaza didn’t end the war as some thought, but it has allowed Hamas to rearm and consolidate its power.
Six weeks ago, President Donald Trump proposed a ten-member board to oversee efforts to ensure peace in Gaza and oversee its reconstruction. During the past few weeks, however, his initial idea has mushroomed into a Board of Peace with numerous board members with a more far-reaching purpose than just that of bringing peace to Gaza.
The newly formed group defines itself as “an international organization to promote stability, lawful governance, and enduring peace.”
On Telegram, BubbaNews wrote this about the organization:
Membership into this organization on this “BOARD” is by invitation of the chairman ONLY. The chairman is none other than Donald J Trump. This is a SELECTIVE, COALITION-style architecture being put into place.
This is a governance model where the CHAIRMAN functions as the GATEKEEPER. The board will vote on everything, but decisions require the Chairman’s approval. The CHAIRMAN is the FINAL authority on EVERYTHING regarding the meaning, interpretation, and application of this charter.
This is BASICALLY AN AUTHORITY WITHOUT A KINGDOM. The idea with the Board is to be of one mind and give their power and authority to the Chairman. IT’S NOT YET THE 10 KINGS, but it sure looks like a convergence to me.
So, we have a CENTRAL FIGURE who can RAPIDLY consolidate power. This is a GLOBAL PEACE governance mechanism.
This Board of Peace is designed for CENTRALIZED CONTROL.
President Trump has extended membership to fifty nations and reportedly has thirty-five members who have agreed to serve on the board for a three-year term. One can purchase a permanent membership for one billion dollars, with the proceeds going to rebuild Gaza.
Prophetic Implications
The one constant in today’s everchanging headlines is that in one way or another, everything points to antichrist’s future “covenant with many” that we read about in Daniel 9:27. Although the Board of Peace does not yet directly fulfill Bible prophecy, it sets the stage for antichrist’s arrival on the world scene and quite possibly provides a framework for the solution that Israel will one day agree to.
The books of Daniel and Revelation speak of a global empire with ten kings who will have some degree of world authority (Daniel 7:23-24; Revelation 13:1). Some have referred to the board that President Trump has formed as a rival United Nations. As such, this group has the potential to later morph into a panel of ten world leaders who will control a loose confederation of nations. As BubbaNews noted, it’s “designed for “CENTRALIZED CONTROL.” The structure is there for antichrist to copy and improve upon once the Holy Spirit allows him to step onto the world stage after our departure (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8).
The Bible tells us that antichrist will arise from the members of a future group of ten world leaders (Daniel 7:24; Revelation 13:3-4). We might never see this ten-member group of world leaders emerge before the Rapture, but if not, it will quickly form afterward.
The money raised from paid memberships on the Board of Peace will go to the rebuilding of a peaceful Gaza, which remains a priority for the board. On the surface, this sounds like an innovative way to raise funds. However, it’s doomed to fail.
Hamas refuses to disarm, which is a necessity for the reconstruction. Amir Tsarfati recently wrote this on Telegram: “Hamas has dug 40 more terror tunnels in the last 20 days alone!” This terrorist group has no intention of giving up the fight. It’s preparing for more warfare, which dims any immediate prospects for peace in the area.
The Board’s plans to rebuild Gaza also contradict what Zephaniah wrote about the area:
“For Gaza shall be deserted,
and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;
Ashdod’s people shall be driven out at noon,
and Ekron shall be uprooted” (Zephaniah 2:4).
How do we know that this prophecy has not already happened in the past? It’s because in Zephaniah 2:7, we see the final outcome of the prophet’s words:
The seacoast shall become the possession
of the remnant of the house of Judah,
on which they shall graze,
and in the houses of Ashkelon
they shall lie down at evening.
For the Lord their God will be mindful of them
and restore their fortunes.”
I doubt we will see Israel possess all of Gaza before the Rapture. But after Jesus returns to the earth, the repentant remnant of Jews will long enjoy the beauty of this land by the sea. It will be a time of total peace for the Jewish people after the Lord restores “their fortunes.” Someday, Gaza will belong to a fully restored Israeli kingdom.
Like the plot twists of a good mystery novel, it’s difficult to predict what will happen next in the Middle East. As I write, no one knows for sure if there will be a powerful US-led attack on Iran, or if the Islamic regime will live to fight another day because of a deal, naval blockade, or a limited conflict.
Although we do not yet see all the details of how events in the Middle East will fulfill Bible prophecy concerning Israel, they tell us that things could rapidly fall into place for it to happen. Even though we don’t yet know how all the various peace initiatives will all come together for the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27, we see a pattern in the newly formed Board of Peace that antichrist could easily copy or improve upon in his rise to power and dealmaking to bring a false peace to Israel.
Maranatha!!
-Jonathan