Bible Warns of Apostasy and Persecution: Birth Pang 5
In truth though, the Bible has predicted that the world will become one and will be ruled by one individual. This individual – the Antichrist – will turn out to be Satan’s man of the hour, his spiritual “son.” Don’t forget also that God is going to allow this so that Satan can do whatever he can to bring his promises of Isaiah 14 to fruition. Because of this, God will allow Satan to create a counterfeit trinity as it were, with Satan as the “Father,” Antichrist as the “Son,” and the False Prophet of Revelation 17 as the “Holy Spirit.” It will be Satan’s time to shine and he will be given permission to use as many signs and wonders as necessary to deceive the entire world.
Satanism in Hollywood? Not Necessarily What You Might Think
Much of what passes for Satanism today in Hollywood is simply theater, nothing more, in my opinion. It makes people think that America is losing its biblical foundations, so Christians will get all worked up and do something to counteract it. In reality, America lost its biblical foundation decades ago. Satanism is designed to be shocking and intended to keep Christians alert and on edge, and even in fear, looking for other signs of societal failure. We shouldn’t fall for it, but too many do.
What is Easter All About?
There is a point in which church should make people at least a bit uncomfortable. What I mean by that is simple: as we attend church, the music, while being uplifting, should cause our hearts to lift toward the One who has set us free. At the same time, it should cause us to understand how woefully short we fall before Him and His grace. Yet, it is due to His incomprehensible love for us that we are drawn to Him because He draws us!
Bible Warns of Apostasy and Persecution: Birth Pang 4B
That’s huge! But this is also why I believe that this earthquake occurs prior to the start of the Tribulation. Consider the fact that if all mountains will be knocked down, steep places and walls will fall, what do you think that means for the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosques that currently sit atop the Temple Mount area? If the earthquake described is as large as the Bible indicates, then clearly anything that is standing on the Temple Mount before the earthquake will also be affected and will likely not be standing after the earthquake is over, right?
Even the High and Mighty Die
Yet in spite of all this, what did they really have? Did they have salvation? Where are they now? We know that in life as in death (or at least at the grave site), Douglas Fairbanks went to the extreme. In the photo of his grave at Hollywood Forever Memorial Park (where he is also buried with his son Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.), we can see that a great deal of money was spent to ensure that the Fairbanks grave site would stand out and be set apart. It was designed to let everyone know that someone of vast importance rested there. Who buys that much land to be laid to rest in, complete with a reflecting pond in front and trees lining the sides? Who does that? Certainly not someone who sees the utter temporal nature of this life itself.
Bible Warns of Apostasy and Persecution: Birth Pang 4A
The point is that at some time in the future, God will take a leader that turns out to be the leader of a northern group of nations (but will also include nations south of Israel (like Ethiopia) and around Israel and God will use this leader for His purposes. Notice that even though God is going to “put hooks into (Gog’s) jaws” and will “bring you out with all your army…” etc., to Gog, it will feel as though it’s his idea.
Entering the Narrow Way Leading to Life
How do you tell those people about Jesus? How do you tell them that God loves and cares for them? As a Christian of course, I realize that we are responsible for our own pain in many cases. We are born into this world as sinners and that puts us on the outs with God at the very beginning. However, for people like Clara Bow, who come into this world with a tremendous background of evil that happens to them, they seem to go from the frying pan directly into the fire. Because of the terribly large holes in their lives, they try in vain to fill those holes with fame, fortune, or the love of others. They always seem to be missing the boat, or taking the wrong path in life. Do you know people like that personally? Does not your heart go out to them? I hope so.
Bible Warns of Apostasy and Persecution: Birth Pang 3
At this point, Israel gained control of the eastern portion of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. To this day – on paper – Israel controls these areas, yet it would seem that this is not the case. The reality is that once Israel gained control, they left physical control in the hands of Arabs and that has been the case since the end of the so-called Six-Day War. Israel could, at any point now, banish Arabs from the Temple Mount and destroy the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosques. Of course, if they did this, war would break out with many nations becoming involved in the fray. There will come a point though when somehow, some way, Israel will be able to build another Temple on the Temple Mount and this is highlighted in Scripture.
Bible Warns of Apostasy and Persecution: Birth Pang 2
This is actually Birth Pang #2 because this began occurring officially in 1948. What about the rest of the text, you would do well to ask? It hasn’t happened yet! This is a process that God is doing with Israel to get them ready for the final remnant to enter into the Millennial Kingdom where Jesus will reign. Isaiah 11-12 discuss this same thing, much of it dealing with the results of God regathering Israel, sprinkling them with water to purify them, giving them a new heart, and bringing them into the Land where they will finally and fully enjoy all the Land that was promised to them via Abraham. But it is clear from Scripture that this is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, the regathering itself of Jews to the Land has taken decades and even a few generations and it is still ongoing!
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