The Tower of BabelBy Dutch painter Pieter Bruegel (1525-1569) |
THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND THE END-TIME SAINTS.
A study by Gavin Finley MD |
THE NEW WORLD ORDER IS PROPHESIED
TO UNFOLD DURING THE COMING 70TH
WEEK OF DANIEL, THOSE CLIMACTIC
FINAL SEVEN YEARS OF THIS AGE.
President Clinton's mentor, Professor Carrol Quigley, has been another who has proclaimed the coming of a New World Order. Indeed he has come right out in the open with details of the plan to bring it into being. He has written a book in which he tells us all about it. The title of the book is, "Tragedy and Hope". It was published back in 1975. So we are bound to conclude that the coming New World Order, just like End Time Bible Prophecy, is very much an open secret.
So why don't more people know about the coming New World Order if all sorts of information is right there before us? Well, it is just that people are busy. They are pre-occupied pursuing their own personal happiness. They are not paying attention. Wisdom, is as a woman crying out in the street. (See the Book of Proverbs chapter 1.) But very few are listening or giving her heed.
Of course the saints of the God of Israel have been aware of the coming of this end-time world government. They have known about it for at least 2500 years. Daniel has given us accurate details of the ten horned beast rising up from the sea of nations at the end of the age. (Dan.7 - 12) John the Beloved picks up the story giving additional details in Revelation ch. 13.
So what do we know so far? Most evangelicals have been taught, and have come to believe, that the New World Order will arise out of Europe. They have been paying particular attention to the EEC. A horn in Biblical symbology represents a power. So another interpretation that fits the facts may be worthy of consideration here. The ten horns may represent ten future global rulers who will preside over ten global geo-political bio-regions. These would be leaderships we have not yet seen. They have not yet emerged into history. (Dan 7) Daniel said that these ten powers would rise up in the end-time to eventually be ruled over by one man, a certain prince. The ten horns also relate to the ten toes on the image Nebuchadnezzar saw. The image was struck and destroyed by the smiting stone in his dream or nightmare. (See Daniel chapter 2)
John the Apostle saw the very same ten horned beast that Daniel saw. He saw it in two separate visions. The ten horned beast apparently operates in two different time frames. In Revelation 17 John saw the ten horned beast being ridden by a harlot. This would appear to be in the earlier half of the 70th week.
In Revelation 13 John saw the ten-horned beast come up out of the sea, representing an emergence from the nations. Then John saw the ten horns crowned with ten diadems. The crowns represent sovereignty. So as John saw the beast in Revelation 13 the ten horns have the sovereignty and also the power of rulership. The harlot is not featured here in this vision. So apparently at this time she is no longer in control. In Revelation 13 John is seeing the ten horned beast in the very same time period that Daniel saw it in Daniel 7. The harlot is no longer in the picture. This would be in the second half of the 70th week.
The ten horned beast in the later view has ten diadems. The beast has thrown off the harlot. These ten horns represent rulers have sovereign power in their own respective geo-political areas.
Revelation 13 describes the beast when he is no longer under harlot moderation or control. When John sees him in Revelation 13 he is no longer the peacemaking "Mr. Nice-guy". Now he is a man possessed. He has been taken over by the beast-demon from the bottomless pit/Abyss. (Rev.17:8) Both Daniel (Dan.7) and John (Rev.13) saw the beast heading up this global system and behaving in an abominable and unprecedented way. He is given power for the space of three and a half (biblical 360 day) years (Dan.7:25) or 42 (biblical 30 day) months (Rev.13:5. Both Daniel and John saw him blaspheming God, persecuting the saints, and winning politically and militarily over those who come against him. (Dan.7:11&25, Rev.13:5-7)
Since the time given in Revelation 13 is 42 months we are bound to conclude that the beast we see here is in a timeframe which is after the midweek abomination of desolation. We are looking here at the ten horned beast during the 666 system. This is the second half of the 70th week. This of course matches up with the period of the Great Tribulation Jesus spoke of in the Olivet Discourse (Mat.24:15-21) which coincides as well with the 1260 day trampling of Jerusalem by the Gentiles. (Rev.11:2)
The raging of nations is a key to understanding what is happening in the end-time drama. The heathen, biblically speaking, the nations, do not like the idea of the coming of Messiah one bit! They are out to stop Him from returning. This is a vain and futile exercise. King David wrote a song about the end-time conspiracy against the second coming of Messiah way back in about 1,000 B.C. It is sitting there in Psalm 2.
The final world system will rise up, supposedly to try and deal with this political turmoil. The beast, under a covering harlot religious system, will sneak in and assume enormous powers. Apparently he will be quite an impressive when he comes on the scene. He will be a credible crisis manager. He will be able to pull strings and get things done by treaty in the key places of conflict in the world, not least of which is Israel and Jerusalem. All the powers of the world will give him sovereignty by treaty for a period of seven years. - Dan.9:27
The New World Order will come in initially as a peacemaking entity attempting to ensure peace and security on earth. An epic peace treaty with Israel will be made. The deal will call for Israel to give up her sovereignty to some or all of the Holy Land. The Holy City of Jerusalem will be there in the deal as well. The covenant will be time limited to 7 years.
At the midpoint of the agreed on seven years the character of the New World Order leader will change. - Dan.9:27b The false messiah or peacemaking Antichrist, will then assume a new more beastly and malignant identity. It will be a case of "no more Mr. Nice guy". At that time, the midpoint of the seven years, the New World Order will become tyrannical. - Dan.9:27 At the midpoint of the 7 years the NWO will come under under Luciferian 666 rule. By that time the raging of nations will be well underway. - Psalm 2
The scriptures bear witness to this ten horned end-time global entity. According to the vision that John saw in Revelation 17 the global regime will initially be controlled by a harlot system. During those first 3.5 years the Antichrist will be operating in his early peacemaking mode in Machiavellian style. He will use his influence over the harlot from the sidelines. The two will be in cahoots. It will be the quintessential case of 'beauty and the beast'. The harlot will be up front. She will be the one everyone sees. Apparently the peacemaking Antichrist in the first half of the 70th week will just be hovering around in the wings. He will not hold the reigns of power in any direct sort of a way as the seven years start up. So we must expect that the New World Order will come in initially with the 7 year mega deal forged by this "prince" and administered by the harlot system. The prophet Daniel lays this out in that critical scripture of Daniel 9:27.
Here below is Daniel 9:27 in a composite of King James Version, the New Living Translation, and New King James Version. This will help us to see the picture accurately and in a way that the true sense of what is happening comes across clearly. KJV is navy blue, the New King James is purple, and the New Living Translation is in teal.
Dan.9:27 is an extremely important verse of scripture. It spotlights the Antichrist as the main peacemaker who confirms or finalizes this coming climactic middle east peace deal. Daniel 9:27 also lays out a very informative timeline for end-time eschatology. We simply must get it right. There is a huge swirl of religious disinformation spinning off and twisting the facts related to this scripture in Dan.9:27. Mark this passage well, dear saints. Because most of your Christian fellow-believers who are taken into custody at the beginning of the seven years when the trumpets sound for the opening of Daniel's 70th week will be imprisoned because of their witness to this very verse of scripture right here.
This coming peacemaker, who ends up being a defiler of the future Jewish Temple will draw political power to himself by the brokering of an epic international treaty. This treaty will involve the sovereignty of Israel. The prophet Daniel said that this peacemaker would carve up the land of Eretz Israel for profit. (Dan.11:39) The time period of this treaty, (or covenant), will be a period of seven years. This will be the unfolding of the long awaited 70th week of Daniel.
DANIEL 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week, one group of seven,
and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, ... he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. Then as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration ... and on the wing of abominations, shall be one who makes desolate, .. and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, until the end that has been decreed is poured out on this defiler."
THE COMING OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND THE SEVEN YEAR TREATY OF DAN. 9:27
THIS MAY COME IN THE WAKE OF A VERY SERIOUS FUTURE WAR.
IT MIGHT POSSIBLY INVOLVE THE DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS.
As the New World Order comes online its main agenda,
(at least outwardly), will be 'world peace'.
Perhaps it will be after a future war in the Middle East
that the global mega dealer and peacemaker will finally succeed in hammering
out an agreement between the warring parties. (Dan.9:27)
This seems to be the historical pattern.
World War 1 gave us the League of Nations. After World War 2
we saw the United Nations spring up.
Peace treaties cause almost as many wars as they prevent. Many are not sincere treaties at all. Some can actually be seen as attempts at appeasement of an aggressor. They are a waste of time. All they accomplish is to forestall the inevitable and to broker a short period for the deluded party to either prepare for war or enjoy living a bit longer in a fool's paradise. Many such treaties are in fact early warnings of an impending war. This was the case with the treaty between British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Hitler in 1939. Similarly Hitler's pact with Stalin was a sham. These peace treaties weren't worth the paper they were written on.
False peace treaties often tend to precede wars. They can even ignite war as well. It has been said that the most dangerous and explosive material on planet earth is the ink on the paper in which treaties have been written. Treaties which are diplomatically forced and not based on reality are often counterproductive. These treaties can be political bombshells just waiting for something or someone to set them off.
Treaties that mean anything are often seen to follow wars. These covenants often do accomplish something. The spoils of war must be divided. New political boundaries are drawn up. And new balances of power are then set in place. A new array of nations, and perhaps even a new superpower, comes to the fore. So true and lasting peace treaties often follow on the heels of terrible wars. After these awful outrages people are ready to sit down and make peace.
So might the future Middle East Peace Treaty come after a future war in the Middle East? This would seem quite possible. There is a war prophesied to break out in the future that will almost certainly involve Israel. It is a war in which the city of Damascus is destroyed. - Isa.17
Damascus is an ancient city dating back to Abraham. It is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. It has never been destroyed. Now we hear that it is a city which harbors terrorists such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Damascus is very close to the borders of Israel. This city is now being viewed by Israel as a very real threat. What is going to happen?
The prophet Isaiah says that a futur history will see Damascus destroyed. It will become "a heap of rubble". (Isa.17:1) What will have precipitated this war? Will a nuke be sent towards Israel by terrorists operating out of Damascus? Is this how Israel might respond?
From what we have seen in past history Israel is not a nation to be fooled around with. They do hesitate to take pre-emptive action when they are threatened. Now we see that pressure is building up once again. As current events are unfolding right now such a war would seem quite possible. The next time Israeli commando forces will not stop at the wailing wall. They will go all the way to the temple mount!
Will this be significant? It certainly will be! After the ensuing peace deal is worked out it would seem that the temple mount could be secured and in international hands. A future Temple Mount area may well see both an Arab/Muslim shrine and a rebuilt Jewish Temple.
As we have seen, the all important verse of prophecy relating to the commencement of the New World Order as it comes into in its final climactic phases are laid out for us in Daniel 9:27. Daniel says that the future world leader will "come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." (Dan.11:21) 'Peace' is given as the main agenda and the shoe-in for the coming global leader. This is a very important fact to have established. Only later, when the New World Order is no longer subject to government by a harlot system will it step forward in its own sovereignty and power. Daniel saw ten crowns upon the ten horns. At that time it will have become a 'beast' regime. It will have become openly hostile towards Israel, the Judeo-Christian God, and His Christian and Messianic witnesses upon this earth. The 666 economic system will have started. And the Great Tribulation will have begun.
The New World Order has been a long time in the making. It is the grand climax of a broad and longstanding conspiracy going all the way back to Nimrod and the Tower of Babel. For those who know holy history as revealed in the Bible it is quite evident that this plot has been in the planning stages for a long long time. The fact is this conspiracy has been going on since the serpent entered the Garden of Eden and tempted Eve.
King David was a man after God's own heart. He wrote a song about the end-time conspiracy of nations against his kingdom, the Kingdom of prophesied coming Messiah who is the Son of David. King David composed the song 3,000 years ago. We can read the lyrics in Psalm 2.
The Holy Scriptures are not silent regarding the end-time conspiracy
against the Rule of Christ/Messiah.
It is through the Bible that
God has revealed all these hidden things to His saints.
So it is no secret to them.
The conspiracy, at its heart, is not primarily against the present superpower or dismantling the U.S. Constitution. Nor is it against fundamentalist Christianity, fundamentalist Jewry or fundamentalist Islam. These may be singled out for domination this is true. But they are not the main target. The New World Order in it final post-Christian era will have one main target. The regime will be against Christ/Messiah, His Christian witnesses in the world, and against the Holy City of Jerusalem.
Christ/Messiah is the key to Israel and the key to the true Church. He is the anointed Messiah under the dual offices of Melchizedek. He rules in human hearts now in this era. And He will rule on this earth when He returns. He will establish His Millennial Kingdom for a literal 1,000 years. He is the coming Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The world system, the angelic principalities and powers, and many human agents in liberal human government and liberal human religion hate all this. They hate His coming with a passion. The angelic rulers of this world system, like the present humanistic man-centered system over which they rule are destined to go on into full rebellion against Christ and His rule.
This hatred of God's rule is the real basis for hatred of the Jews, which has been termed, (rather inadequately), as Antisemitism. But antisemitism at its quintessential root is really anti-Israel, and more specifically anti-tribe of Judah and even more specifically 'anti-Throne of David". The Throne of David is the place of Christ's future rule. This is what is really hated. Antisemitism is not just a racial thing as we have been told. There is much more to it than that. King David sat upon the throne he had established, the Throne of David. David was of the Jewish tribe of Judah which even saw anti-Throne of David/anti-Semitism flash out against it from other tribes within Israel itself. (1Sam.20:1-2, 1Kings12:16) This raging against the One who will come to sit and rule from the Throne of David is the main drama that will be expressed internationally in the end-time drama.
This is all so very intriguing. Why this venom against Israel? The power of this world in government and ecumenical religion would rather sit down and wine and dine a Palestinian terrorist who wants to destroy Israel than have any good things to say about Israel or their coming Messiah who will sit upon the Throne of David. Nor do the powers in the New World Order have any love for evangelicals. Most of them uphold Israel and the agenda of the Lion of Judah, our coming and future Messiah. He is the One who will rule upon this earth. But the powers of this world, governmental and religious, don't want to know Him. They hate Him.
From what John saw (Rev.17) it is quite clear that humanistic global governance of the last days will initially be very religious. Therein will be its cover. But hidden within it will be its real agenda. And that agenda is rebellion against Messiah. It is a rejection of the coming Christ and a rebellion of His coming righteous Millennial rule.
The apex of all this godless iniquity is quite clearly an event known as 'the abomination of desolation'. This was spoken of by Daniel. (Dan.9:27b)(See the table above) This blasphemous event does not happen until three and a half years into the seven year treaty. Half way through those seven years the world leader breaks the covenant. The abomination of desolation follows soon after. This key event was also referred to by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Mat.24:15-28) The Antichrist will set himself up as god and call for respect/adulation/worship. Then he will attempt to number and mark all mankind in a mass blood covenant initiation into the worship of self, himself, and the angel of self, Lucifer. Debased harlot Christianity is well into this self-worship religion already. It will also be a blood covenant initiation into his 666 economic system. God allows him to rule for 42 months, (or 1260 days) (Revelation 13:5). This time of "Great Tribulation prevails for the last 3.5 years of this age.
The final attempt by a totally humanistic man to prevent the coming rule of Messiah upon this earth will end in cataclysmic failure. His armies will face the Master of the Universe at a place called Armageddon. And right there, at that place, their feeble attempt to thwart the plans of God by taking over Jerusalem will draw the laughter and derision of God Almighty. Then He will terrify them with His fierce rebuke and wrath. (Psalm 2)
John the Apostle saw the ten horned beast system throughout its seven year history. He saw it when it was initially being ruled over by the harlot. (Revelation 17) He also saw the destruction of the harlot system. (Revelation 18) After that he saw the doom of the beast's world order at Armageddon, not by human hand but by the sword of God's Word. (Revelation 19:11-21) For those who have rejected Christ and who have opposed Him it will be a terrifying spectacle. (Isaiah 63) The blood that flows that day in the Valley of Jezreel will be up to the horses bridles. (Revelation 14:14-20
The New World Order is not yet officially recognized. Nor has it yet been given sovereignty by the nations. But it seems that behind the scenes the G-7/G-8 ruling powers are preparing for it. It is being quietly set up in readiness to swing into place should the strong light of the current Pax Americana go dim. Will the light of the American superpower fragment into those "dim and flaring lamps" the hymn writer saw in that vision of the apocalypse, the 'Battle Hymn of the Republic'? If so then pray God it will not be in our lifetime. America has no great Christian superpower to hand the baton over to like the British had after World War 2. So we must have our souls prepared for this possibility. We should make it a priority to seek the face of God. And like the five wise virgins let us seek and find the oil for our lamps against the coming night. History does have a habit of coming knocking at our door at the most inopportune times.
THE NEW WORLD ORDER WILL COME AT THE END OF A STRING OF
SUPERPOWERS TO COME OUT OF EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN CHRISTENDOM.
We take our current peace for granted. But let us take a longer
historic view. The United States looks like being the last in a long line
of
western Christian superpowers. Each took their turn in leading
the way throughout the centuries.
Now what might well be the last remaining superpower is trying to
provide covering for a just and prosperous peace in the world.
But let us take a trip back through the centuries. Let us trace
the rise and fall of the dominoes of the western nations that
have been shining lights in their time.
Our story begins with the Portuguese navigators and chart makers. Henry the Navigator was a guiding light in his day. Seven hundred years ago the Portuguese led Christendom beyond the shores of Europe with seafaring explorations out into the Atlantic. Ferdinand Magellan and his crew were the first to sail around the world. This Portuguese leadership unshackled the hearts and minds in western Christendom. They began to awaken from the dark ages and look out beyond their own coasts.
Then came the Spanish Pax Espaniol in the 1500's. With fiery zeal for missions and the glory of God (and also for conquest and gold) they lead the way in colonizing the Americas. The glorious Renaissance Italiano provided wonderful inspiration from the arts and music during the same timeframe and indeed Christopher Columbus was from Genoa. The Dutch led on in the 1600's with a peaceful sea trade extending into the orient. In the 1700's the Pax Francais under Napoleon sought to take over all of Christendom. To this day the French still affirm that all the world should speak French. Early in the 1800's the British then rose up and put a stop to the French European domination. The Battle of Trafalgar at sea and at the Battle of Waterloo on the continent opened the Pax Brittannia. The British Empire colonized 25% of the planet and became fabulously wealthy in the process. Under men like Cecil Rhodes the British planned to take over the whole world. Under the Victorians it was said that "the sun never set on the British Empire". When the Titanic sailed out of Southampton in April of 1912 it was said that, "not even God Himself could sink her!" The ensuing disaster was God's warning that British arrogance had come to a peak. Two years later World War 1 broke out sending the British Empire into decline. Kaiser Wilhem and later Adolf Hitler sought to bring "Teutonic order" and a Pax Germanica into the world.
After World War 2 saw the defeat of the Germans and after the two A-bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the current Pax Americana came into power. A half century of peace has been maintained by the American dominance of free enterprise, the multinationals and global business. The huge American military has a part in keeping the peace as well. Just as the British Empire used "gunboat diplomacy" in the 19th century so today the Pax Americana uses its powerful fleet of aircraft carriers and "tomahawk missile diplomacy" to try to maintain a measure of peace in the world. The rule of English speaking people has generally been benevolent and has offered protection for Christian witness. 90% of current mission activity originates in the USA. With the future New World order that will most certainly not be the case. See the article on the coming harlot system. So the time for us to support missionary activity is now. We just don't know how much time we have left.
OUR ATTITUDE AS EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS
TO THE COMING NEW WORLD ORDER.
So as we look at our role as saints of the end time just how
important is it that we be found blameless before God and before men?
Just what is our chief duty and burden as Christian men and women?
Has it not been laid out by our Lord Jesus in the
Great Commission?
Does our Great Commission mention anything at all about compromising this holy calling by seeking political protection and making or maintaining alliances with earthly kings and rulers? Does it mention anything about God's people embracing political/military alliances with secular sword wielding princes? Does it mention anything about the church gathering unto herself worldly lovers?
What if the New World Order should draw out for itself a harlot religious system which goes on to alienate, even persecute true Christians? - Rev.17:6 What if this harlot system actually manages to ride on the back of the end time ten-horned global 4th beast power for a time before she is gored? This very vision was seen by John in Rev. 17 & 18. Well if that should happen, (and it has in past church history and will again), then we can be sure of this. We shall have a parting of the ways. God will 'call out' and separate His true ecclesia/church from the false harlot church. This is history. And it happens to people who cannot imagine that the status quo will ever change in their lifetime.
As we consider these possibilities we inevitably begin to ask ourselves what we as Christians are supposed to do about it if these things appear before our eyes in our lifetime? Just how shall we respond? Do we enlist nationalist political/military support and fight this harlot system and her lover, the ten horned global beast system she rides? She is prophesied to ride and John saw her dominating the world in Revelation 17. Can we change that?
THE DOOMED CAMPAIGN OF CHRISTIAN MILITARY POWER
AGAINST THE ANTICHRIST.
How about the Christian response to the 666 beast system which follows?
Can Christian evangelicals wage a successful war against the
Antichrist? He will emerge as the beast at midweek. What if
hard pressed evangelicals do indeed try to
wage a war against the New World Order in its final beast phase?
What does the scripture say will be the outcome? Who would
win out if such power struggle should open up?
Would God be with us? Or not?
We are not left to speculate here. The Word of God has already been spoken and written down the details for us concerning this matter of the end time saints versus the New World Order. Daniel was told that end time Christian 'mighty men' would indeed fight in the flesh against the final world dictator. These 'saints and mighty men' will apparently fight with the wrong weapons; weapons that are carnal. -2Cor.10:4. And they will lose!
This is a huge lesson for us as fundamentalist Christians. We need to be forewarned here. The sad result of this doomed final campaign has already been pre-determined. The sovereign God of Israel, the Ancient of Days has already spoken concerning this. Here is what the Gabriel, the angel of God's throne, told Daniel two and a half millennia ago about the coming New World Order.
Daniel 7 (NKJV)
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Gabriel gave very specific details concerning God's people and the outcome of that final struggle with the hostile world politic that will be prevailing in the latter days. As we see in the verses following, the picture our dear prophet Daniel was given is not a pretty one.
Daniel 8 (NKJV)
8:23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom,
When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
A king shall arise, Having fierce features,
Who understands sinister schemes.8:24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;
He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.8:25 Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;
And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity.
He shall even rise against the Prince of princes;
But he shall be broken without human means.8:26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true;
Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.8:27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days;
afterward I arose and went about the king's business.
I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it."
Daniel fainted when he received this Word from Gabriel the angel of God's throne. It is a sober word and I entreat all who seek to follow God in holiness to mark well what the scriptures clearly say will happen. When the saints of the endtime take up weapons that are carnal to fight for a holy cause those campaigns will end in total disaster.
This is also a warning
for Puritan, Dominionist, and "Kingdom Now" Christians.
The wars against the Antichrist will fail.
God is not a mean and unjust God here.
He will share His glory with no earthly prince.
Even if Gandalf himself should turn up and call
carnal Christians to the sword for that last crusade
it will have a different ending than the movie.
They will be defeated!
Dear saints, this history that has to happen. There must be a 'final witness' in the end-time. This is 'blood covenant Christianity'. We cannot fight our way out of the witness. The true church will be called to bring their testimony before the nations in time for them to make a response before we come to the end of this age. The pathway ahead is difficult. It is a strait and narrow gate which leads onto the Paradise Road. It is a Highway of Holiness. The saints will move on into that witness. They will surrender their lives for their faith in Jesus Christ if they are called upon to do so. Our brothers and sisters are already doing this now in places abroad. At the end of this age God will be calling His people to a mission which is far beyond fighting for God and country. There is to be a climactic and epic fifth seal witness of all the saints worldwide. -Rev.6:9-11 And then Messiah will come and straighten things out.
This final witness of the saints will lead on to the opening of the 6th seal. - Rev.6:12-17 Then the sign of the Son of Man will be seen in the heavens and Messiah's return will be imminent. - Mat.24:30
It is exceedingly difficult for our flesh/ego life to accept these truths. Our Lord Jesus Christ has already won the victory for us at the cross. But we are the covenant people of God. The witness of the church is an essential part of the New Covenant and we have an essential role in the unfolding of holy history. The Bride of Christ will indeed co-sign the covenant alongside the signature of the Bridegroom. This is the means by which the kingdoms of darkness will fall. And this is the way this evil age will come to a close.
THE SHATTERING OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY PEOPLE
Here is a further scripture passage from Daniel 12 which further confirms the final collapse of Christian temporal, political, and military power.Daniel 12 (NKJV)
12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others,
one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank.12:6 And one said to the man clothed in linen,
who was above the waters of the river,
"How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?12:7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen,
who was above the waters of the river,
when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven,
and swore by Him who lives forever,
that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and
when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered
all these things shall be finished.12:8 Although I heard, I did not understand.
Then I said, 'My lord, what shall be the end of these things?'12:9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel,
for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.12:10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined,
but the wicked shall do wickedly;
and none of the wicked shall understand,
but the wise shall understand."
SO IF WE CANNOT PREVENT OR DEFEAT THE COMING NEW WORLD ORDER
CAN WE AT LEAST MAKE A DEAL WITH THEM? MAYBE WIN THEM OVER?
The enormous temporal power of the Antichrist is not lost on most
evangelicals. They are well aware of just how powerful the
coming Antichrist and the coming New World Order is.
This is why the pre-tribulation rapture
escape fantasy has been crafted and why it is so enormously popular.
Evangelicals also have some understanding as to why the ecumenical movement
is all too willing
to compromise whatever is necessary in order to make a deal with the
emerging secular global powers. Fear is the key.
And it is in their fear that they compromise.
Unfortunately evangelicals are not aware of the far greater danger of spiritual compromise within their own family. The Bible prophesies that a harlot religious system will bear rule for the first half of the 70th week, (the final seven years of this age). Their focus is on the emerging Antichrist in his beast 666 role. They do not realize that 3.5 years will pass before they even see a beast version Antichrist. He will not be possessed by the hideous demon spirit (Rev.17:11) until midway through the seven years. when he will set up the 'abomination that makes desolate'. He will not be taking over absolute power until he stops the temple sacrifices and commits these monstrous abominable deeds midway through the seven years. The beginning of those seven years will see him acclaimed as global peacemaker. Later, at the 'abomination of desolation' when he is possessed by the ultimate beast antichrist he will set up his 666 system.
Is compromise an option for true saints? Did ancient Israel ever win by making "white knight" or "godfather" deals with the gentile nations? Never! That is how they became morally compromised, lost the favor of YHVH/God and lost the sovereignty of the land they lived in! But compromise by a significant number of God's own covenant people is apparently what happens at the beginning of the 70th week. (John 5:43) And that, dear saints, is what brings us into the tribulation. God does not bring tribulation and calamity on us. We bring it on ourselves!
The end time drama begins when God's Judeo-Christian people sign on the dotted line with the emerging Antichrist in his early Peacemaker/global powerbroker role. -Dan.9:27 This is the classic story of 'Beauty and the Beast'. The world at that time will be divided into ten global bio-regions and ruled over by a harlot system. See the article on the ten horned kingdom of the end-time. For the first half of these 7 years it will be ruled over by a harlot system.
Dear saints, it is time we learned the truth about the ten horns. The ten horns are not 10 European nations "over there" belonging to the EEC. The real story is something different. Something larger and more global.
Click on the image below to go to the Pennsylvania Crier article on the New World Order.
I would entreat all who name the name of Christ to be patient in this. Holy history is ultimately under His sovereign control. Nothing happens that He does not allow. There are bounds to how far the enemy can go. We are called to be the people of His grace and the people of His peace.
We can also take comfort in this. Globalism is not our enemy. We ourselves are a global company! Our coming Messiah also will come to rule over a global Kingdom. It went global 2,000 years ago. It was on the Feast of Pentecost in the summer of 32 A.D that the church, which was then predominantly Jewish, began its expansion. On the very day the Church began it went global being translated into the tongues of the surrounding nations. The Gospel went out from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and then on to the ends of the earth. The throne of Christ's Kingdom is right now in the hearts of His people. But our King of Kings will literally return to this earth establish His glorious Millennial Kingdom. All of His growing global company of saints will take their places. Our Messiah has prepared a place for each of them. They are destined to become joint-heirs with Him. - Rom.8:17, Rev. 7:9-17 This is a truly magnificent inheritance! Because that is just the sort of Messiah we have.
SOME OF THE CHURCH WILL SIGN ON WITH THE NEW WORLD
ORDER PEACEMAKER. THESE WILL BECOME PART OF THE
HARLOT SYSTEM WHICH WILL PERSECUTE THE SAINTS.
Will established Christianity make a deal with the emerging humanistic
global powers? Will the church at large join National Israel/Judah in
signing the seven year comprehensive global peace treaty
with a global peacemaker as prophesied
in Dan.9:27? Will established Christianity sign themselves over
to the
false messiah?
If we are to believe the holy scriptures it
would seem that a
harlot church will indeed sign on.
They will join Israel,
And accept this peacemaking Antichrist.
And how do we know this?
Jesus Himself said that they would.
(John 5:43)
For many years, perhaps centuries Bible students have known about the end time harlot church. Many established churches are already preparing to sign with through the World Council of Churches and the United Religions Initiative. These Christians have long since abandoned the scriptures. Like the Lady of Shalott they are drifting away towards Camelot. Their eyes are on their earthly princes and lovers. But here is the shocking truth. Even our evangelical and charismatic leaders are joining the dialogue on politico-religious unity. Huge amounts of money seem to be involved. We too are in danger of being seduced and drawn in. We need to pray diligently concerning this.
"But surely we must DO something!" some will say. "We cannot go the way of compromise and we cannot allow the Name of Christ to be degraded? And we cannot allow our national sovereignty to be sold to a global power that does not recognize our Judeo-Christian God in holiness and exclusivity." These sentiments are quite understandable. But what if at some future point there is a nuclear exchange, one let's say initiated by a rogue state? And what if the consensus of the citizens of the nations is to go for global unity under some peacemaker? What then can we really do about that? The kingdom of God does not advance using the methods of a "god of forces". Esau is the one who lives by force of the sword.-Gen.27:40 If we take up arms might we be in danger of actually joining the Edomites ourselves?
Our brother Esau, who lives among us in the rich places of the earth,
is forever angry and full of wrath. He never repents. We are in the
spiritual flow of Abraham,(-Gal.3:29) Isaac and Jacob.
Our flesh wants to wrestle with Esau even as Jacob wrestled with
Esau in the womb of their mother Rebecca four millennia ago.-Gen.25:23-27
But we must be careful to conduct our warfare in the Spirit and in holiness.
We are called to prayer and a gracious witness. This IS doing something!
Our witness alongside that of our Bridegroom is what brings down the evil
principalities and powers and defeats Satan!
And this witness is what confirms the emergence of true bride.
This final witness will be called for from the church?
Are we listening?
How shall we respond?
The covenant calls for our witness, even unto our own death. Death is the last enemy to be conquered by Christ.-1Cor.15:26 We are called to stand as a witness to His victory over death. He bought that victory for us at the cross. He has promised to cover us in, through and out of our hour of trial. -Rev.3:10 And He will.
"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.
But they are mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds".
-2Cor.10:4
FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT IN THE SPIRIT VS. FIGHTING IN THE FLESH.
A word to gun lovers. Remember when Jesus was about to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane? Peter rose up and struck the servant of the high priest cutting off his ear. What did Jesus say to Peter?
"Put your sword back in it's proper place.Unlike Christian Crusaders and also unlike our Puritan brethren, most of us of Pilgrim persuasion will agree that there is nothing to be gained from struggling in the flesh against the coming New World Order. Nothing other than perhaps to bring shame to the name of Christ or perhaps to open the door for the end time Edomites, those ultimate sword wielders, to rise up in our midst and cause us to be targeted as troublemakers or heaven help us, "terrorists". The New World Order would then hammer us on the pretext of "upholding law and order". Do we want this?
For all who take the sword shall perish by the sword". -Mat. 26:52
Could God use the sons of Esau to break down our own exuberant carnality? Perhaps a lot of that subjugating of the flesh-life is bound to happen to us anyway. It would not be the first time that God has used the enemies of His people to bring judgment and thus to purify them and restore them to Him. We, along with our returning and saved Jewish brethren,(-Zech12:7-13:1) are the end time Judeo-Christian people of Jacob. The true church is a part of that people of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. -Gal.3:29;Eph 2:12&13 The tribulation we shall face in the coming 70th week is what Jacob's trouble is about. It is every bit our trouble as Christians as well as the trouble of our Jewish brethren. Dan. 9:27 is our story of Christian compromise and apostasy as well as that of the nation of Israel. This is an untold story too dreadful to tell from pulpits and too painful for us to face. But face it we must.
THE RISE OF THE SONS OF ESAU, THE EDOMITES, IN THE END-TIME DRAMA
Here is another element. Will the end time see red Esau rising up again? We know that this is prophesied. (Gen.27:39-40) Will this involve us? Most assuredly it will. Many supposed Christians have and will sell their spiritual inheritance for a mess of earthly pottage. Then as they depart from the pathways of grace in bitterness, inner anger and wrath will rise up in their hearts. They will be be walking powder kegs. Oh yes, end time Esau is among us and in the rich nations of the earth too just as Isaac prophesied. He is full of anger and wrath just as he was in OT times. He is also capable of genocide as Doeg (1Sam.22:18) and the Herod's were. And whenever he acts Rachel is found weeping for her children. Should we provoke him? Not if we are wise. We might discover that we are a bit like him. Perhaps like our patriarch Jacob the goatskins of Esau are still on our forearms? Perhaps Esau's hairy coverings are causing us as Christian believers to do cruel things as well. No, we had best treat him the same way our patriarch Jacob treated him. Give him respect as someone who understands something at least of God's covenant with Abraham. God will do the rest, and in His good time. (Obadiah)
THE COMING NEW WORLD ORDER AND THE SUBSEQUENT GREAT TRIBULATION
HAVE BEEN SET BY GOD AND WILL SURELY COME TO PASS. OUR FINAL
WITNESS WILL LEAD ON TO THE VICTORIOUS SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
It is a bitter pill to swallow, but like the earlier captivities
of the saints in Egypt, Assyria, Babylon etc. this coming subjection
and this great tribulation has been determined and set by the sovereign
will of God Almighty. He means for us to go through it. His holy purposes
will be accomplished in it. By the time it is all over the saints
of this age and of previous ages will be glorified, the heavens
will be cleared of dark angelic ruling powers, the wicked as tares
will be destroyed by angels
of wrath (Mat.13:36-43), the Antichrist and false prophet will be
in the Lake of Fire, (Rev.19:20), Satan will be bound in the
bottomless pit (Rev.20:2), and Messiah will be judging the
nations on the earth below (Mat.25:31-46). Daniel saw this
great victory snatched from the jaws of the apparent defeat
of the saints. But he was totally mystified as to how it
happened. He asked the angelic messenger but was given no answer.
(Dan.12:7-13) The answer can not be conveyed in words.
It will only be seen in deeds. And will only be known by
those who know the covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
who in loving obedience and joy proceed to walk it out in
His Holy Spirit power.
Is there an end time conspiracy against the people of God? Of course there is! It is no secret. It started in the garden of Eden. The only people who don't know about it are those human ostriches with their heads in the sand. The conspiracy has been going on for millennia. The "vain thing", that David wrote the song about, that awful conspiracy against Messiah, is recorded in Psalm 2. Yes there is a plot to prevent the Messiah from ruling. It is spearheaded by both secular humanism and religious humanism. Both are man centered. Religious humanism promoted by religious double agents has been around since Simon Magus who tried to buy Christian power from the Apostle Paul. He was preceded in ancient Israel by Balaam who pointed out the way to corrupt God's people away from their everlasting covenant with YHVH/God. The first item on the humanistic agenda is to deny that God has come to earth in the flesh and to prevent the ruling of Messiah in the hearts of men. It is to deny Him His rightful place on the throne and altar of human hearts. It is to deny He created us and the universe and has a right to us. Then secondly, the plot is to deny the future second coming of Messiah back to this earth. It is to deny His future coming to tabernacle or camp out with His people. This 'conspiracy of silence' seeks to shut down the heralding of Christ's soon return. The conspirators, both the godless secular rulers and their paid churchmen seek to deny and to prevent Messiah's coming to rule upon this earth for a literal 1,000 years.
King David wrote about the end time conspiracy against Messiah 3,000 years ago. He put the lyrics to music in Psalm 2. In the song does God look particularly worried about the end time plot against Him? Apparently not. In fact He laughs!
Dear saints, the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth" is in control here below. -Rev.5:6 Neither the Bilderbergers, nor the UN, nor "black helicopters", nor those ruling the "power of the air" with "fire from heaven" nor any other rulership will be able to stand in "that day".-Ps.24:3 This earth and its inhabitants has been purchased by the blood of God Almighty. He came here in the flesh, paid the penalty for sin by laying down His life and conquered death in His glorious resurrection! The scepter of Israel is in Judah's hand "until Shiloh come".-Gen.49:10. It will not be taken away! As for Jerusalem well it is His holy city! The Messiah, as the Lion of Judah. He will rule this world from the throne of David as priest/king after the Order of Melchizedek. As Emmanuel, God with us, He will rule upon this earth for a literal thousand years. (Rev.20:4 & 20:6). All this will indeed happen in spite of what is decreed by the Millennium denying dignitaries of the United Religions Organization, the World Council of Churches or their coming champion, the peacemaking Antichrist. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob sets the end time agenda! HE is the One that has opened the seals. (Rev.ch.5) The Apocalypse is all about the unveiling of CHRIST. It is for Him and His coming kingdom that the trumpets will sound. (Rev.8-11) And God is not slack concerning His promises. He will exonerate and deliver His covenant people. He will step into history Himself to do it! He will see to it personally on behalf of his hard pressed saints. And He will do so with jealous anger and with vials of His "wrath poured out".(Rev.14:10). Jesus Christ is in control. Those who hate Him will surely be found at the last day hiding in caves and crying out for the rocks to fall down and cover them from the face of the Lamb! (Rev.6:15-16) May God help any would-be enemies of Him to turn from their wickedness while there is still time!
So, all that being understood, why should we spend one second worrying about the future? God has determined to guarantee the eternal destiny of those who keep covenant with Him. That is all that really matters. Our security will not depend on our political or gun slinging talents either. Should we perhaps re-route the survivalist energies and monies we have been expending to a better cause? Can we really change the political climate of the world system to favor Christianity? Can the church as "damsel in distress" we go to bed with her worldly sword wielding Sir Lancelot without becoming corrupted? Should we not turn from our pre-occupation with politics and attend to the Great Commission and concentrate on our missionary outreach instead? Missionary work will produce a more lasting and eternal reward. And Christian missionaries will probably be less likely to two time us as politicians are wont to do. Even godly politicians can be outvoted and outmaneuvered in the dark back halls of earthly power. And they will be!
So what shall be our response as Christians to this emerging New World Order? Well history moves on. Praise be to God! Instead of dying in bed after a dreary life of self serving emptiness, of tending one's stock portfolio, of watching spectator sports and the harlots of Hollywood on the screen, and eating gluttonous quantities of dainties we are it seems to go out in a blaze of glory! Yes the saints are being tapped to take the stage for a far more wonderful calling and destiny. So why struggle against it? By surrendering ourselves to the cup of Christ we shall overcome. This is the 'mystery of godliness'. It is a race to the finish line. And we shall demonstrate it to the angels and the watching world. -Heb 12:1
OK, so we may have a police state.
Wasn't there a police state under the Roman Empire in the time of Christ?
So the 4th horseman on a pale horse may be seen riding down
main street and hovering above in Apache and Hind helicopter
gunships picking off "runners".
So what? Our Chinese brethren have no freedom.
Does that stop them from witness? Not at all.
The Chinese church doubles its numbers every 7 years.
So they want your guns.
OK. Give them your guns when they come asking for them!
And while you are at it hand over your your anti-tank weapons
and stinger missiles as well! Sell that cave in Idaho, give
the money to missions, and prepare your heart for witness.
So they want to carry you into exile?
OK go along with them. If we are scattered to the ends of the earth
we shall just spread the gospel that much further. And we shall
certainly do it with much more zeal than we have ever known before.
So some of us, (the more spiritually dangerous, like those who
write about the Biblical apocalypse for example) may be imprisoned
or executed under a future regime or exiled for the faith.
What then?
Well God will be glorified! The people will be warned and many
will be saved.
What if in times to come many fine believers are persecuted to the
nth degree? This is happening to our Chinese and Burmese brethren
right now as the dragon puffs out its persecution.
What if many saints "fall asleep" as witness/martyrs?
Well then they shall go on to a "better resurrection". -Heb.11:35
THE EXILE TO BOZRAH IN THE END-TIME AND THE SECOND COMING
OF CHRIST IN DELIVERANCE OF HIS ELECT AND WRATH ON HIS
ENEMIES AT BOTH BOZRAH AND AT ARMAGEDDON.
What will become of God's elect people in the end-time?
Many will give their lives in witness we know.
But we do have scriptural evidence that many of the saints will be
sequestered off to a safe place, (or places), to be spiritually nurtured
for the last half of the 70th week.
(Rev.12)
This is the Bozrah story
of which we have been told virtually nothing
by Bible prophecy teachers. -Mic.2:12-13.
This will
not happen by survivalist planning.
Many will be delivered
from the face of the Dragon but it will come
by the merciful hand of God. (Ps.91:1-16)
This action will be undertaken on
'the wings of a great eagle'.(Rev.12:14)
Whatever happens to the saints physically in their end time witness it matters little in the eternal scheme of things. Why? Because we are
"Looking for that 'BLESSED HOPE'Dear brothers and sisters. We serve a God of Love. So we have no reason to be fearful. Perfect love casts out fear. (1John 4:18) We shall have enemies rise up against us in the end-time. But we should feel compassion for them. They are the ones on dangerous ground here. We are safely preserved in blood covenant connection with the Lord of Hosts. He is the returning King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the Holy One of Israel, and He sits upon the throne. He is the One who calls the shots. Our enemies are His enemies. When He returns to this planet His feet will touch the Mount of Olives. A mighty earthquake will split the mount in two. He will be seen roaring from Zion. (Joel 3:16) And that is not all.
and the GLORIOUS APPEARING
of the Great God and Saviour,
our Lord Jesus Christ."
-Titus 2:13
Our returning Messiah will go out to the ends of the earth to gather his covenant people. His jealous anger will not be abated. Bozrah is a spiritual place belonging to Edom of end time global significance where a lot of end time saints will be penned up. When our Messiah pulls up at Bozrah it will not be a pretty sight. It will be curtains for those who have abused His elect! Truly, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God". -Heb.10:31
Here is the lesson in all this. In the end time our God is not absent. He means business! He is going to come back into this cosmos personally! And we can be sure that He will attend to His covenant business with diligence and zeal! He will deliver His covenant people!
The arrival of Messiah at Bozrah will be an awesome scene. He will bring vengeance on His enemies and deliverance of His covenant people. At His return Messiah is seen in many places. He will be seen in the clouds, at the Mount of Olives, at Bozrah and finally at Mount Zion, the political center of Jerusalem. Bozrah may be a spiritual place representing many scattered places of end time tribulation bondage and incarceration across the earth. Bozrah is Edomite territory. This is an important clue to events in the last days. The Edomites will not not be taken under the 666 system of the Antichrist. (Dan. 11:41) The Messiah will return as "the Breaker". His leading of the breakout at Bozrah in which Messiah springs loose His covenant people is among the most electrifying and glorious events in all of scripture. The future breakout at Bozrah was even seen by the ancients in the stars. Few Bible teachers dare to bring out this magnificent story of deliverance. It raises some embarrassing questions which they are not prepared to address or even have aired. The more modern Bible translations seem to have "lost" the word 'Bozrah' (along with its message) somehow. So here below are two non-modern translations. Both of them have preserved the full Bozrah message which Micah has given us.
Young's Literal Translation
Micah 212. I do surely gather thee, O Jacob, all of thee, I surely bring together the remnant of Israel, Together I do set it as the flock of BOZRAH, As a drove in the midst of its pasture, It maketh a noise because of man.
13. Gone up hath the breaker before them, They have broken through, Yea, they pass through the gate, Yea, they go out through it,
And pass on doth their king before them, And Jehovah at their head!The King James Version
Micah 212. I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of BOZRAH, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
13. The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them."
So what are we asked to do in all this? Jesus gave us specific details and instructions concerning the end time sequence of events. They are laid out for us in the Olivet Discourse. "Mat. 24-25.
THE FINAL WITNESS AT THE END OF THE AGE AND THE CUP OF CHRIST.
We are asked to be faithful and gracious witnesses to Christ our Messiah through all of this, if necessary unto death. Our relationship as written in scripture is not the language of the contract law of merchants where we wheel and deal and terminate the contract whenever it suits us or whenever it gets too expensive or painful to maintain. Our relationship is typified in the cup of Joseph and Benjamin. It is also the cup of Agape Love which is unconditional. It is the cup of betrothal in the Hebrew tradition and also the communion cup of Christ and His ecclesia/congregation. This is not well known among western Christians but the cup is a covenant unto death. It is the communion cup where He as our Savior has pledged His all to us. In His presence the honest seeking saint will eventually come to realize that this is where we pledge our all to Him. That part of the covenant has been "cloaked" by Laodicean lukewarm religion. But it is the "rest of the story".Is this cup of Communion a unilateral contractual agreement in which God just gives us things? No it is not. Like the bride in the marriage ceremony we are called to bring our full witness to the everlasting covenant.
Will God cover us as we bear witness to His covenant in our hour of trial? Yes He will. -Rev.3:10
Saints of old discovered and experienced that cup when they were persecuted for the sake of the God of Jacob. David, when he was pursued by King Saul was alone under the threat of death in the wilderness. But in all of this he was not cut off from the Presence of God. He wrote,
23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
-Ps.23:4&5
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over."
THE END OF THE AGE BRINGS THE CONSUMATION OF THE ABRAHAMIC
COVENANT AND THE FINAL GATHERING OF THE MYRIAD COMPANY OF
ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB.
So who will cover us in our hour of "trial"? Will we too lie exhausted
in the flesh as Abraham our father did on that dreadful night when the
Abrahamic covenant was first cut? (Gen.15) As darkness falls upon the
earth and the awesome burden of the Judeo-Christian people of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob comes over us the arm of flesh will surely fail us.
Like Abraham the burden we are called to share will be overwhelming.
It will be too great for us to handle in our own strength.
Under its weight we faint. Daniel fainted under the burden of prayer
for the future people of God coming into the end time. (Dan 8:27)
And like our father Abraham when he saw the responsibility of the
covenant he had entered into with his God, we too are overwhelmed.
Like Abraham under the burden of the covenant we find ourselves
collapsing in a heap even as the vultures and ravens gather around
in the gathering gloom. They seek to make a spoil of the covenant,
- and of us. In that hour of trial as the crows caw and the vultures
jostle and squabble around us it seems that all the denizens of hell
have come against us. Our own strength fails us as we attempt to
grapple with the enormity of our witness. The everlasting blood
covenant of our God seems too much for us. This is that "dark
night of the soul" of which much is written in literature.
It is our own personal time of wrestling with our God.-Gen.32:24-28
For the elect of God this passage is unavoidable. It must come to
pass in order for the usurping conniving Judeo-Christian people of
Jacob to have their character changed. The day will finally come
when Jesus will recognize His chosen people. Even as they rest
under the fig tree of sweetness and good fruit He will meet
them saying " Behold, an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile!"
-John 1:47
So what will happen? Who will preserve and keep us in that hour?
The scripture below gives us the answer. And it demonstrates and
prophesies for you and I the good news of the eternal agape love
of our God. Because He Himself takes responsibility for the
covenant on our behalf! As it was with Abraham 4,000 years ago,
so it will be with the end time saints. It was God Himself as
Abraham's covenant partner who walked down the aisle between
those pieces to 'cut' the covenant. As a blazing torch
He walks through the blood of the covenant for us!
He takes us through it even as we rest in Him.
Genesis 151. "After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
2. Then He brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him,
'So shall your descendants be.'9. So He said to him, 'Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.'
Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
11. And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12. Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.
17. And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces."
-Gen. 15:1,2,9-17.
Dear saints, this is indeed good news. We are the people of Abraham -Gal.3:29 We are identified with Abraham through the indwelling Christ who is Abraham's Seed. The God of Abraham does not change His character. He takes responsibility for the covenant of promise on our behalf! It is He who walks down the aisle between those blood covered pieces. The "footprints in the sand" are there. And they are in bloody endtime sand this time. But there is still just one set of footprints. He is carrying the burden of the covenant for us! Even as we go through our time of testing He is there with us, lifting us up in His strength. By His divine enabling grace and Holy Spirit power we are able to to bear witness to the covenant and thus fulfill it. Our witness to the covenant is as essential as a bride's signature on the marriage covenant. Oh yes, we must be there when the covenant is cut. It is an awesome 'hour of trial'. But He carries us through. Even as a bridegroom sweeps his bride off her feet and bears her in His arms carrying her across the threshold into another realm so it is with our God. He carries His beloved covenant people across the threshold. And so they pass through the gates of splendor. This is the end time story of Christ with His church. It is also the story of the late salvation and deliverance of the Jewish nation. Because the returning Messiah will be seen paying a visit to the world armies mustering in the Valley of Jezreel. There at Armageddon blood will flow in an unprecedented slaughter of those who would come against the holy city of Jerusalem.
The battle of Armageddon will be climactic for this poor abused earth. Every last one of His sheep will be found in that final Day of the Lord. -Ezek.34:12-14 The God of Jacob will re-gather all His called out "ecclesia", His chosen people, the full and complete congregation of Israel. -Eph.2:12&13. The Bozrah story as with the Armageddon story tells of the Messiah coming to reunite both houses of His beloved people at the end of days. It is the final scene of the drama of this age.
And we are there!
Grace and shalom to all the saints,
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