[NOTE – Linda from Texas – I replied to you, but the mail keeps returning. If you read, then send me a note.]

This is Part 3 in the small series on Liberal Theology. I post these because of my concern about Liberal Theology overtaking the churches and rendering them impotent in any usefulness for the Lord.

Liberal theology is a mixture of intellectualism, unbelief, and demonic attack.

1Timothy 4:1-2 “The spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.”

It is Satan’s force against the Bible and any of the teachings of the Bible. It has overtaken churches and denominations. This series of articles arose from presentations in Australia and England. This is not a comprehensive analysis, just a brief overall view of this pernicious movement for concerned Christians.

SECTION 4 – ARE ADAM AND EVE MYTHS OR FACTS, AND DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

There is such a weight of evidence to support Adam from the Scriptures. We have only glanced at that, and it ought to be enough to persuade all but the most stubborn heart. Yet there remain two more points that are absolutely essential, for they go to the heart of credibility. We don’t want people to forget these because they are our defense against church people who dismiss the first three chapters of Genesis entirely or in part. I don’t think the arguments are very useful when discussing this matter with the unsaved, as they don’t accept the credibility of the scriptures to start with. What I will do here is use those notes of mine from the first message I gave in the seminar in Boston and adjust them if necessary to cover these two remaining points.

FROM A PREVIOUS MESSAGE OF MINE – GOD’S REVELATION IS YOUR BLESSING

[A]. CHRIST AND ADAM

Before we go any further, I want to raise a matter before we look at Adam. What is the central plank of our faith? Putting it another way, what is the pivotal point on which your faith, your salvation, rests?

Surely it is the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said to the Corinthians that if Christ had not been raised, then we of all people are the most miserable, and you know why? We’d be believing in a myth, a legend, a lie! Who would want to waste his entire life living a lie?

If then our faith depends on the sacrificial work of Christ, and if we hold that the Lord was sinless, spotless, and God manifest in the flesh as the 2nd person of the blessed Trinity, then we must never, in any shape or form, attribute falsehood to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is trustworthy and not a liar. The matters of authenticity and credibility are seriously at stake.

Are the scriptures inspired by God, breathed by the Holy Spirit? Yes, they are, and Jesus Christ, my Saviour, was the Author. No wonder it was beyond human comprehension that afternoon – look, if you could pick yourself up and put yourself down anywhere in the Bible, where would you do it? – on the Emmaus Road when the resurrected Lord shared with Cleopas and his companion all the things in scripture about Himself.

Where did he begin? He began with Moses. Under inspiration, Moses wrote Genesis. I just said to you that authenticity and credibility are at stake. There is a passage we must understand:

Matthew 19:3-6 “Some Pharisees came to Him, testing Him, and saying, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?’ HE ANSWERED AND SAID, ‘HAVE YOU NOT READ, THAT HE WHO CREATED THEM FROM THE BEGINNING MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,’ and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?’ Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

God joined Adam and Eve in the garden in a union, in marriage. The passage is Genesis 2:21-25. What is certain is that the Lord accepted this Genesis account as authentic, credible, and factual. That is essential because if the creation of Adam and Eve was a fairy tale or some simplistic story to explain why sin is in the world, then you are saying that Jesus Christ was misled by believing a myth and was not omniscient, and, therefore, not the divine One. Authenticity and credibility are at stake in the account of Adam and Eve. Liberals who deny the creation of the first man, Adam, can NOT accept the second Man, Adam, because the two are so closely connected, as we will now look at. To say you reject the first Adam and accept the Second is to be a hypocrite. If you reject the original Adam, you have to dismiss the Second Adam as ignorant.

[B]. PAUL AND ADAM

The Apostle Paul himself wrote for us the great doctrinal passages on justification by faith, and Adam, the first man, was essential in that. We will look at those now from Romans and will consider the relevant verses.

Romans 5:14 “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam who is a type of Him who was to come.”

It is most important here to realize that in the doctrine Paul is explaining, Adam plays an essential part. Without dispute, Paul accepts historic Adam, and if Adam was a myth, then so, too, is Paul’s doctrine of sin and justification.

Romans 5:15-16 “The free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one, the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. ¹⁶ The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.”

Now, Paul is developing this essential doctrine of justification. The transgression of “one,” that is, Adam, resulted in death, but the gift by the grace of the “one Man,” that is, Jesus Christ, has abounded to so many. Verse 16 speaks of the one who sinned, that is, Adam, who brought judgment and condemnation through his transgression, but justification has come through Christ. LIBERALS CANNOT ACCEPT THE ORIGIN OF SIN BECAUSE IT CAME THROUGH ADAM. They have to admit Paul was mistaken, believed in legends, was a liar, and had no credibility. Certainly, he could not have been writing under inspiration because the Holy Spirit can’t inspire a doctrine built on lies! The liberals must fall entirely, as they have no foundation. They have removed the essential plank of justification.

Romans 5:17 “If by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

We now come to three verses of contrast, contrasting Adam and Christ. The whole of this doctrine is worthless if Adam was not literal, the created man who sinned. This is the first contrast looking at death and life; in Adam, there is death, and in Christ, there is life. You would never build the doctrine on the deeds of a mythical figure. As we have suggested earlier, the whole Bible is interconnected or interwoven. If one small part is dismissed, it begins to unravel. A man who believes the whole scripture is God’s infallible word will never do that.

Romans 5:18 “Then so as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.”

This second contrast looks at condemnation and justification linked to transgression and righteousness. Adam’s sin brought condemnation and, therefore, death, and Christ’s sacrifice brought justification. Christ’s death in isolation, without the reason for it, would make no sense. When Adam is dismissed, it makes the death of the Second Adam meaningless. I suppose this is not a problem for liberals because they have very few qualms about the integrity of the Bible.

Romans 5:19 “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”

Now, in the third contrast, it is disobedience and obedience, which are contrasted. Adam was the disobedient one, and Christ was the obedient One who makes many righteous. Logically there was no need for the obedient One if there was never a disobedient one. These higher criticism intellects who are happy to dismiss the first few chapters of Genesis as myth must have such a distorted basis of the theology of salvation (Soteriology).

CONTINUING THE REASONS

[1]. Romans 5:12 “Therefore, JUST AS THROUGH ONE MAN sin entered into the world, and death through sin, so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

This is such A KEY VERSE, for it locks in Adam to the whole gospel. It was through Adam that sin came into the world, and sin brought death. There is no mistake whatever that Paul speaks here of Adam. If you take Adam out of Romans, you have trashed the gospel and the book of Romans as well for establishing what has come through Adam and Christ. All that is essential to justification and grace and walking in the Spirit that God, through those great doctrines that Paul develops for us, is cemented in His word. Our faith is anchored in the truth of the word of God, not a myth.

[2]. 1Corinthians 15:21-23 “Since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits; after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

We come now to the great Resurrection and Rapture chapter. Adam is also linked into resurrection as Paul sets out this doctrine. In Adam, all have died, and out of death comes resurrection because the Lord has opened the door for us to enter heaven. Let me do the balance here in verse 22. On one side of the scale, you have Adam, and on the other, you have Christ. If you say that Adam was fictional, then the balance has gone. If Adam was fictional, so too was Christ, for the work of the second (Christ) develops from the failure of the first (Adam).

This is what liberals in churches don’t follow. They don’t see the connection and, thereby, do not understand the work of Christ. Most are not saved but have an appearance of godliness. Some have high positions like lecturers at Theological Colleges and doctorates and professorships, but they are not saved. They are the blind leaders of the blind, but very sadly, they produce blind men for church ministers, or at best, ones who have moderate to severe cataracts. If you cut away the word of God, you are no better than King Jehoiakim, who hacked away God’s word with his penknife and kept throwing it into the fire (Jeremiah 36:21-30). Those who hack away at the word of God and keep throwing it into the fire will themselves one day be thrown into the lake of fire. Never tamper with the word of God.

[3]. 1Corinthians 15:43-49 “It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So also it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy. The second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

This is another important passage. Paul is drawing the picture for a person who cannot understand the resurrection of the body, and in doing so, he is making contrasts again. These contrasts are based on fact, not in supposition and fiction. Remember, it’s the Holy Spirit who gave these Scriptures through inspiration, and God is not dishonest. The contrast is between the natural and the spiritual; the earthly and the heavenly; the first man and the second Man. Adam matches the natural, the earthly, and the first man. The Lord Jesus Christ matches the spiritual, the heavenly, and the second Man. In considering Adam, the key verse is 45. This important doctrine is built on the fact of Adam being a living soul.

[4]. 1Timothy 2:12-14 “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. ¹³ For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. It was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.”

Now, I won’t expound on this passage because some may not like what I say (and it will sidetrack us here). BUT what we are looking at here is a very important principle, one which is paramount with God. That is the matter of headship.

Because Christ is the Head of the Church, which is His Bride, then the Bible is clear that in this order, man is the head of the house and marriage and family. I refuse to argue that any more. Some wives dismiss anything their husbands say anyway. Nevertheless, headship comes about because of creation. In every passage except this one, Adam is held responsible for the transgression because he was the Head of creation, and the responsibility was his in the final analysis. Adam was the federal head of the old creation, and Christ is the federal Head of the new creation. Through the Bible, God is very clear about headship and has established the order, and it reflects what Christ is to His Church. This is more developed in Ephesians 5. In verse 13 above, the Holy Spirit, through inspiration, expresses through Paul the fact of Adam and Eve. They were as real as you and me, not mythical or just placed there for the sake of argument.

[5]. Jude 1:14 “About these also, Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied saying, ‘Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones.'”

This is the last one I will consider. Jude, who was the Lord’s half-brother, had no doubts about Adam. I wonder how much discussion he had with Jesus when he grew up with Him. He was in the very presence of the One who created Adam. I find that really exciting. Really exciting!

CLOSING OFF THE MATTER OF ADAM

Adam has had a lot of mention and not as much for Eve, and that is because of the headship matter. Their historic standing is equal, for both were real people. You will see I have not done Job, and Job cannot be proven from secular history and archeology any more than Samson or Joshua or Nimrod or Noah can, but they were real, just like Adam was. The decay, which is liberalism, sets its sights on Adam firstly and destabilizes that one; then, it is easier to move on and conquer other biblical areas. I would not go about trying to prove Job was a real person – he did live about 3,500 years ago. Some people don’t even know their own grandmothers who lived 100 years ago.

ONE FINAL MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION

Some Christians can get heated up over some issues they get very defensive about. Then the term “heretic” and “false teacher” and other precise terms get used, but there are some things in the faith we do not have answers for. And we must be tolerant of others when it comes to certain issues. These points of division are NOT liberalism. I wish to cite three of these.

1. CALVINISM AND ARMINIANISM. This thorny beast has split churches and colleges for 400 years, and it must be recognized that there are differing views here right along the spectrum, left to right. A man is not a liberal if he differs from you about these things unless some extreme teaching and belief surfaces. Try not to put people into camps. Remember, John Wesley was more towards the Arminian side, while his close co-worker in the gospel, George Whitfield, was more on the Calvinistic side. They worked in harmony.

2. THE FLOOD – WORLDWIDE OR LOCAL? It is issues like this that people get hot under the collar about and accuse the other side of liberalism because things are not seen the way you see them. The fact is, the flood did occur; Noah was all the Bible claimed him to be; all sinful mankind perished; and Noah stepped into a “cleansed earth” after the flood. The flood was sufficient to destroy all mankind. Whether you think local or worldwide in regard to the flood is not an issue in liberalism.

3. THE AGE OF THE EARTH. I have seen some people here on this matter nearly have a coronary. They get so worked up. Those who pay attention to Creation Science, or AIG as it now is, can be very dogmatic about a very young earth. Others like myself are happy with a much older universe. This does NOT mean the older universe people are evolutionists and, therefore, liberals as they are sometimes branded with. Be careful how you evaluate things.

Part 4 will follow next.

God bless you all.

ronaldf@aapt.net.au

An infamous map that divided the world into different regions was drawn up and published in 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the entry of the U.S.A. into World War II. The Outline of the Post-War New World Map was created and self-published by Maurice Gomberg of Philadelphia, PA, on February 25, 1942. More on this and the proposed map can be found on Outline of the Post-War New World Map – Wikipedia.

The Club of Rome was established in 1968 after a think-tank of scientists, politicians, heads of state, financiers, and industrialists from ten different countries met at David Rockefeller’s private estate in Bellagio, Italy. It was established with a membership of 75 prominent elites from 25 different countries, with many of the executives coming from NATO. The Club of Rome functions as a research institute on economic, political, and social problems, and claims that “there is no other viable alternative to the future survival of civilization than a new global community under a common leadership.”

On September 17, 1973, the Club of Rome released a report called the “Regionalized and Adaptive Model of the Global World System.” This model plan would unite the entire world under a single form of government by dividing it into ten political/economic regions. These ten regions would be: North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, China, and the rest of the developed world. The report claimed that “the solution of these crises can be developed only in a global context with full and explicit recognition of the emerging world system and on a long-term basis. This would necessitate, among other changes, a new world economic order and a global resources allocation system.”

In 1976, the C.O.R. published another report called “Reshaping the International Order,” which called for a new international order, including an economic redistribution of wealth. They also called for depopulation through sterilization, abortion, contraception, genocide, and starvation through creating famines and diseases. In Taylor Caldwell’s 1976 novel Ceremony of the Innocent, she writes, “There will be no peace in the tormented world, only a programmed and systematic series of wars and calamities- until the plotters have gained their objective: an exhausted world willing to submit to a planned Marxist economy and total and meek enslavement- in the name of peace.”

In the fifty years since 1973, there have been many regional trade agreements between two or more governments/countries for the purpose of trade and commerce, such as the EU (Europe), CSME (Caribbean), EAEU (Post-Soviet Union), GCC (Arab States), Mercosur (South America), SICA (Central America), AU (Africa), ASEAN (Southeast Asian nations), and NAFTA, or now known as USMCA (United States, Mexico, and Canada). There have been numerous military alliances formed as well, such as NATO (U.S., Canada, Europe), NORAD (U.S. and Canada), CSTO (Russia and several post-Soviet States), ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand), AU (Africa), etc.

Thirty years ago, on Nov. 1, 1993, the first supranational union was formed when the European Union was formed. A supranational union or government is defined as a multinational union or association in which member countries cede authority and sovereignty on at least some internal matters to the group, whose decisions are binding on its members. A supranational organization involves a greater transfer of or limitation of state sovereignty than other kinds of international organizations. The EU has deep political, economic, and social integration, which includes a common market, joint border control, a supreme court, and regular elections. They have their own parliament, a combined-arm military unit, and even their own currency.

Now, in 2023, I believe we are witnessing the second (of ten) supranational unions/governments beginning to form, the USMCA Union, between the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Our national sovereignty is being diminished by land, air, and sea assaults as we speak. Thanks to the 30330 man, Joe Biden, and his behind-the-scenes handlers (both human and demonic), we now have a country without borders. Of course, a country is not a country if it doesn’t have borders. Our borders with Mexico and Canada are wide open, and emigrants from all over the world are pouring in. The monetary, cultural, health & welfare, and safety (for citizens and emigrants alike) ramifications of this worldwide mass emigration are highly destructive to its citizens and cannot be sustained for long if a country wishes to retain its national sovereignty.

We just witnessed the Chinese spy balloon that traversed much of the continental United States before finally being shot down. This was a blatant violation of our national air space by a foreign country with the intent of espionage, and yet President Biden and the military allowed it to happen before they finally acted. I believe the only reason they acknowledged it and, after several days, shot it down was because it was spotted by civilians and reported to the media. They should have known about it and shot it down while it was still above the Pacific Ocean before it ever entered Alaska. What would have happened if this balloon had a payload of an EMP nuclear bomb that was to detonate above the skies of America? Is the U.S. government and military deliberately setting up this country to fail?

It certainly makes one wonder about their weak and incompetent actions.

“The Pentagon recently released a map showing the travel paths of Russian and Chinese naval vessels, alongside important undersea cables, as a part of its 2021 National Defense Authorization Act request, commonly referred to as the DoD’s budget. The map clearly shows the heavy traffic in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, with Russian subs encroaching on America’s eastern seaboard and Chinese submarines creeping up in the west.” DoD map shows Russian and Chinese subs are too close for comfort – Sandboxx.

The assault on our national sovereignty by land is self-inflected as we allow immigrants (and some terrorists) from around the world to illegally enter our country. Allowing our military to concentrate on wokeness rather than military readiness and demonstrating weakness (by land, air, and sea) rather than strength to our enemies is emboldening them to test us. Our country’s concentration on Russia as our greatest threat instead of China is a huge mistake, in my estimation. Our lack of manufacturing and dependence on China’s exports makes us very vulnerable in our capacity to wage war. A war between our countries would basically cripple both economies.

Of course, those in charge don’t want the U.S.A. to retain its national sovereignty. It’s very obvious by their deliberate ruinous policies. Nobody can be that incompetent. The “elites” (in their own mind) want to form a second supranational union and government based on the European Union, consisting of North and Central America. The one-world godless “build back better (Tower of Babel)” pawns of Satan want to create ten regions of power modeled after the Club of Rome’s ideal new world order. Each region will have its own government and currency but will probably take its directives from the EU where the Antichrist will eventually come from. South America, Africa, and Southeast Asian nations will follow the USMCA’s lead in merging sovereign nations into supranational governments until all ten regions are formed, just as the Bible describes.

I believe the Rapture will greatly speed up the process of the formation of the Beast (Ten horns/kings) Kingdom mentioned in Daniel 7:7-8, 23-25 and Revelation 17:12-14. The ten governments will eventually transform into a one-world government with an oligarchy of ten kings. A one-world currency will be implemented as well. There will also be one state-sanctioned religion. The Beast Kingdom will be a socialist/communist type of government, with the citizens of the world being delegated to serfs. Massive depopulation of the earth (by whatever means necessary) will be a major objective of the Ten Kings’ government. These are the ultimate goals of the WEF’s Great Reset Initiative and the U.N.’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (climate change, etc.).

It would not surprise me if the future ten kings prophesied in the books of Daniel and Revelation attended the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, during the month of January 2023. One of these ten regions to be formed will be the USMCA, and one of the ten kings shall rule in North America. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Barack Obama, who once said (perhaps prophetically) at a White House Correspondents Association dinner in 2016, “The end of the Republic has never looked better.” What Barack Obama started, Joe Biden and the demonically-controlled Democrats (and some RINO Republicans) are determined to finish.

In the time of Moses and the Exodus, the law concerning witnesses was established. The law said, “By the mouth of two or three witnesses a matter shall be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). The matter we are discussing is the end times for mankind according to the Holy word of God. Daniel, representing the Old Testament (book of Daniel), and John, representing the New Testament (book of Revelation), are the two witnesses required for this truth to be determined. Let’s examine how they intertwine and complement one another.

In Daniel 7, the vision of the four beasts is explained to Daniel by an angel. Most scholars believe it is a more thorough examination of Daniel 2 regarding the bi-metallic image or statue which represents four world (Mediterranean area) empires. The first kingdom represented Babylon, which had the regal splendor of a lion (king of beasts) and an eagle (king of birds). The second kingdom represented the Medo-Persian empire. It had great power, like a bear, but not the regal characteristics of Babylon. The greater power of Persia as compared to the Medes is indicated by the bear raising up on one side. The three ribs in its mouth are a reference to the three provinces of Babylonia, Persia, and Media that they controlled.

The third kingdom was Greece, represented by a leopard. It had all the characteristics of a leopard that strikes its prey with great speed and ferocity. The four wings and four heads of dominion are indicative of Alexander’s four generals who assumed control of Alexander’s kingdom after his death. The third and fourth kingdoms are identified by name in chapter 8 (20-21). Vs. 12 says that the first three kingdoms had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. This is referring to the fact that each kingdom was absorbed into the kingdom that followed.

The fourth kingdom was not named but was historically fulfilled by the Roman Empire. It crushed and devoured the countries it conquered. In Daniel 7:7, Daniel was told that the ten horns represented ten kings who would eventually arise from this conglomerated Roman Empire. They are also mentioned in Revelation 17:12-14. One of the ten horns represents a future Roman Kingdom (the EU) that will reappear in the end time.

Another “little horn” shall come up after the ten horns and shall subdue or conquer three of the kings (and/or kingdoms), per Daniel 7:8,24. This little horn is the Antichrist, who is described as different from the ten kings, probably in reference to his acquiring his kingdom by force. The remaining seven kings will give their power and authority to the beast (little horn or A.C.) at this time, according to Revelation 17:13 – “These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.” This will occur at the mid-point (in the midst) of the seven-year Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th seven).

According to Daniel 9:27, the Tribulation will begin when the “prince who is to come” (the A.C.) confirms a covenant with many (including Israel) for “one week” or seven years. The Rapture of the Church will occur prior to this “confirmation” (strengthening) of the covenant. I believe it could take several years after the Rapture before the A.C. arises after the ten kings (Daniel 7:24) to accomplish this important and historical (and prophetic) event.

This seven-headed beast with ten horns and ten crowns is further described in Revelation 13. “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). This beast kingdom has all of the military characteristics of the three world empires (Greece, Medo-Persia, and Babylon) mentioned in Daniel 7. The final world ruler gathers into his kingdom all the power of the ancient rulers and their territory and eventually becomes ruler over the entire globe, something that has never been accomplished before.

“And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:3-8).

Here is how Daniel describes the actions of the beastly Antichrist: “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25).

The “saints” mentioned here are the chosen people of God, the Jewish people. Time, and times, and half a time is referring to three and a half years, the last three-and-a-half years of Daniel’s 70th seven (Daniel 9:24-27), otherwise known as Jacob’s trouble or the Great Tribulation. The Bible refers to the last three and a half years of the Tribulation in three different ways. I mentioned the first description, “time, times, and half a time” in Daniel 7:25. It is also found in Daniel 12:7 and Revelation 12:14. The second description is “forty-two months” and is found in Revelation 11:2 and Revelation 13:5. The third way of referring to 3.5 years is “one thousand two hundred and sixty days” and is found in Revelation 11:3 and Revelation 12:6.

Of all these descriptions, only Revelation 11:3 is (presumably) referring to the first half of the seven-year Tribulation. If it wasn’t for this verse in the New Testament and Daniel 9:27 (referring to one week/seven years) in the Old Testament, you would think the Tribulation’s duration was for only 3.5 years instead of 7 years. I believe these three-and-a-half years, or 1260 days, are not calculated from some sort of “prophetic calendar” (360 days per year) but are in reference to the Jewish calendar where there are 1260 days from Nisan 10 (the prophetic day Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the Jews king) to Tishri 1, the Feast of Trumpets, when Jesus will return to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Many students of Bible prophecy have asked the question, “Is the United States in Bible prophecy?” Although the U.S. is not mentioned by name and is not destined to play a major role in eschatological events, I believe our country can be found in some of the scripture we have discussed. However, it will not be in its current form as a sovereign nation called the United States of America but will be in its new form as a supranational union/region called the USMCA Union or something similar. The USMCA Union will be one of the Ten Kings, mentioned in Daniel 2 (one of the toes of iron and clay), Daniel 7, and Revelation 17, that will rule the world until they abdicate their power and authority to the Antichrist at the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation.

The Antichrist’s absolute monarchy, in which he will rule the earth, will only last for 3.5 years, the same duration as Jesus’ ministry. “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:5-8).

The Antichrist will be aided in his campaign of world domination by another beast “coming up out of the earth” (possibly of Jewish lineage). He is described as having two horns like a lamb and speaking like a dragon (Rev. 13:11). He is the main priest of a religious cult that is called Mystery Babylon (Revelation 17). His two horns could represent a form of Chrislam, a merging of apostate Christianity and Islam. After the 10 horns destroy this apostate church (and the city it resides in – Rome), the second beast, known as the false prophet, will cause the peoples of the earth to worship the Antichrist as a god. He will set up an image of the beast in the newly built third temple in Jerusalem and demand that everyone worship it.

“He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Rev. 13:15-18).

Daniel the prophet speaks of this abomination of desolation in his prophecy of the 70 sevens. “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).

After this horrific event for Israel, the true nature of this “great man” comes out, and he is exposed for what he truly is, “the man of sin.” Jesus spoke of this tragedy during his Olivet discourse.

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22).

In the Bible, the number 12 represents governmental perfection, especially in relation to the 12 tribes of Israel. It’s interesting that both Daniel 12 and Revelation 12 speak of Israel during the end times known as Jacob’s Trouble or the Great Tribulation, the last 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th seven. Let’s compare chapter 12 in these two books.

“At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12: 1-4).

“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Revelation 12:1-6).

“Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:13-17).

Of course, we know what this imagery represents. The woman is Israel, and her child (who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron) is Jesus Christ. The dragon represents Satan. The rest of the woman’s offspring are the Jews. The 1260 days begin after the mid-point of the Tribulation (Abomination of Desolation), when the Jews flee to Petra in Bozrah (Southern Jordan), and end when Jesus returns to the earth.

Unlike Daniel’s prophecy, where the angel tells Daniel to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end, John is told by an angel, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.” Of course, we, as Christians, know how all of this will end, for the two witnesses tell us. Spoiler alert: It’s not how the global elites imagine. It’s their worst nightmare come true (besides their eternal abode in the lake of fire). They finally realize that the Christians were right after all and Jesus is truly the Son of God and judge of the entire earth.

Daniel 2 tells us: “A stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:34-35). Jesus is the stone cut without hands. The image of the beast is the Gentile nations that coalesce into a one-world government. This government and kingdom will be completely destroyed, and Jesus and His saints’ kingdom will then rule the world.

“But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume And destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:26-27).

The Antichrist will only have a very short reign, whereas Jesus and His saints will have an everlasting kingdom.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 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 and against His army. Then the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:11, 19-21).

After Jesus destroys His earthly and demonic enemies, He will then set up His kingdom, which will last for a thousand years. The true Great Reset and New World Order (with a one-world theocratic government) will begin at this time. Satan is bound with a great chain and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years, and he will then be released for a short time. He will deceive many peoples throughout the Gentile nations to gather them to battle against the Jews and Jerusalem. God will instantly send fire down from heaven and destroy them all. Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. “And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

Then God will judge the unbelieving dead from all ages. This is known as the Great White Throne Judgment. They will all be found guilty of their sins and cast into the lake of fire. “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15).

“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For He has put all things under His feet. But when He says ‘all things are put under Him,’ it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

After Satan and death are conquered by Jesus the Son, the millennium kingdom will have come to an end. All things will now have been placed in total subjection to the Messiah. As the scripture says, “You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him (Hebrews 2:8). The totality of subjection will now be subjugated to God the Father in order that God may be all in all.

“Here we see the final triumph of Christ over all evil, over all power, and the Son giving up to the Father the kingdom of this world, which in His humanity He conquered for the Father as well as for Himself. Christ laying the spoils of a conquered world at the foot of the throne of the Father shows, by that supreme act of self-sacrifice, that in His office as Redeemer, He came, not to do His own will, but the will of the Father. In this sense, the Son Himself, as Redeemer, is “put under Him”–God is all in all.

The direct government by God of all creatures is to be at last attained. All the interventions of authority and power which the fall of man rendered necessary will be needless when the complete triumph of Christ comes in. Thus Humanity, having for ages shared the condition of fallen Adam, will be finally restored to the state of unfallen Adam. Man will see God, and be ruled by God face to face.” {1}

The eternal Kingdom of God now begins with a new heaven and earth, for the first heaven and earth have passed away. John, in his vision, caught a glimpse of the new heaven and earth. There was no more sea (oceans) on the new earth. He also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).

“Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And He said to me, it is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:5-6).

These are the words of Yahweh Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega of God’s Word, God Himself! As Jesus is the son of God, so shall we be Jesus’ sons. “We are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Hebrews 8:16-17).

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).

“He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21).

Randy Nettles

rgeanie55@gmail.com

Search Results – Rapture Ready

Endnotes:

{1} 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. (biblehub.com)