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In the space of two hours on September 11, the United States, and the world, went from an uneasy peace to a powder keg waiting
to explode. World War I started with the death of one man. Over 7,000 people died on September 11.
In the
following weeks, nations have begun to choose up sides for the coming conflict. Many voice support for the US. Others, mainly
Islamic nations, are wavering or coming out against us.
Afghanistan is mostly clearly against us. The
ruling Taliban has refused to turn over Osama bin Ladin and has pledged that he will be the last man to leave Afghanistan.
Iraq is another potential target. Saddam Hussein has a score to settle with the US and is suspected to be linked
to Osama bin Ladin. Iraq has chemical and biological weapons, but is not known to have a nuclear capability.
Pakistan will allow US overflights and has negotiated with the Taliban to turn over Osama bin Ladin. But what will they
do in a war? Pakistan is home to many Muslim fundamentalists and is no stranger to anti-American demonstrations. Pakistan
has also had nuclear weapons since 1998.
Iran has condemned the 9-11 attacks, but still sponsors terrorism.
Iran has also been at odds with Afghanistan's Taliban in the past. In a war, Iran would be a wild card.
Jordan,
Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have voiced support for the US, but will they be able to control Moslem extremists in their own borders
in a war?
China has already shown hostility toward the US. While we are preoccupied in Afghanistan, they
might make a move elsewhere. China also has nuclear weapons. Additionally, China share a border with Pakistan.
Russia has a score to settle with Afghanistan after losing a ten-year war there in the 1980s. The Taliban was one of
the opposition groups that helped defeat the (then) Soviet Union. Osama bin Ladin has also reportedly trained Chechen soldiers
for their war against the Russians. However, the Russians would most likely not be comfortable with a prolonged US presence
in Afghanistan (which borders former Soviet republics).
Israel is also a wild card. The Arab nations and
Palestinians have attacked them repeatedly since the birth of modern Israel in 1947. If attacked, they will undoubtedly fight
back, which would prompt other Arab nations to enter the war.
With these countries, and more, jockeying
for an advantage, the Afganistan conflict could quickly turn into a world war, possibly a nuclear war.
What
does the Bible say about End Times and the AntiChrist?
The AntiChrist (or Lawless One) is restrained by God until
his appointed time when he will come "with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and
wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing" He is called the "man of sin," "the
lawless one," and is said to exalt himself above God to the point of sitting "as God in the temple of God, showing
himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2:3-10).
Daniel, who prophesied with astonishing accuracy, calls the
AntiChrist the "little horn" with eyes "like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words" (7:8)"
There is more detail in Daniel 7:23-27. The fourth beast is the empire of the AntiChrist "which shall be
different from all other kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth...." There will be ten kings that rule with the AntiChrist,
three of which he will subdue, and he will speak pompous words against God and persecute Christians. Christians will be made
vulnerable to the AntiChrist for "a time and times half a time." A time is generally accepted to be a year, thus
Christians will be martyred for three and a half years by the AntiChrist. The AntiChrist's kingdom will end when he is judged
by the Lord.
Daniel 9:26-27 prophesies that the AntiChrist will make a treaty with Israel ("many") for
one week (seven years). Three and half years later, he will break the treaty by stopping sacrifices and offerings, and even
try to replace God (Daniel 11:36-39).
This passage holds a wealth of information. First, there could be no treaty
with Israel for thousands of years because Israel did not exist as country after 586 BC. This changed when the state of modern
Israel was established in AD 1947. Second, currently there are no sacrifices and offerings because there has been no Temple
in Jerusalem since the Romans destroyed it in AD 70. This tells us that the Temple will be rebuilt (perhaps using the plans
that Ezekiel describes (Ezekiel 40-43).
What are some other signs of the end of the world as we know it?
Daniel 12:4 says that "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." Our lives today are the most
hectic of any generation that has lived. In just the past 200 years we have gone from sailing ships to space shuttles; a
great increase in knowledge.
Jesus was asked about signs of the end times and gave what has become known as the
Mt. Olivet Discourse. This is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
From Matthew 24:5-14 we learn that "...many
will come in My name saying 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.... Nation
will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various
places.... Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.
And then many will be offended and will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise
up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold... And this gospel will be preached
in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
One piece at a time, we see that
people will claim to be Jesus Christ. David Koresh was one of the cult leaders that make this claim.
Wars have plagued
mankind throughout history. But even now, when peace was supposedly at hand, there are many wars being waged around the world,
not to mention America's New War Against Terrorism (for lack of a better name). Additionally "nation against nation"
and "kingdom against kingdom" seems to indicate war on a broad, possibly worldwide scale. This was unprecedented
until the 20th century when we had two world wars involving virtually every nation on earth.
In recent years, we
have seen famine in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Rwanda to name a few. Afghanistan is currently on the brink of famine. Famine often
follows war.
Pestilence also follows war. In addition to more common diseases, we also have incurable strains such
as AIDS and Ebola to contend with.
Earthquakes have also been common in numerous areas spanning the globe in the
past few years. We even had a small earthquake in my Georgia hometown several years ago.
Persecution of Christians
is commonplace today. In many countries, people are commonly martyred for Christ. China, Iran, Cuba, Iraq, Sudan, and Indonesia
are notorious for repression of Christianity. Visit www.persecution.com for more information.
Many will "be
offended", will "betray one another," and will "hate one another." Does that sound like a description
of our society?
There will also be many false prophets. Cults are numerous and growing. Aside from Jim Jones and
Heaven's Gate' Doe, there are also the Moonies, the Wiccans, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons, and many others who claim
to replace or be equivalent to Jesus. (See www.http://www.odsgc.net/~cornerst/biblestu.htm for more information on the fallacies
of the JW and LDS beliefs.) However, Jesus said that "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me" (John 14:6).
There will be much lawlessness and people's love will grow cold. Again, an
apt description of modern society.
Finally, the Gospel will be preached throughout the world. Wycliffe Bible Translators
(www.wycliffe.org) translates the Bible into native languages around the world. They currently estimate that translations
will be at least partially done IN EVERY LANGUAGE by 2025. Radio, television, and internet also take the Gospel into areas
that were previously unaccessible.
I Timothy 4:1-2 says that "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some
will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical
liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." This presents the church as containing hypocrites without
consciences. If you've been to church, I'd wager that you've met at least one or two people that fit this description. By
and large, Christians are honest, decent people, but there are bad apples among us as prophesied.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
describes people in the last days as being "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from
such people turn away!" Again I would say that this description fits our society a little too well.
2 Peter
3:3-7 also foretells that people will deny the truth of the Bible in the last days. "...Scoffers will come in the last
days, walking according to their own lusts, 4and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell
asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." For this they willfully forget: that by the
word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6by which the world that then existed
perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for
fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." This even seems to foretell the denial of God's Creation
and the Great Flood.
Finally, Revelation 3:14-16 tells that the churches of the last days will be little more than
social clubs. "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because
you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." Many churches today teach only a watered
down version of the Gospel that is compatible with political correctness. In doing this, they compromise the message of Jesus,
and make themselves useless.
In conclusion, we cannot know for certain when the end of time as we know it will occur,
and cannot say for certain that the current war will usher in the regime of the AntiChrist. We can, however, know that the
signs point to Jesus' return being closer at hand than ever before. If you are not ready to face Jesus' judgment on your
life, please visit the link below.
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