Bible Warns of Apostasy and Persecution: Birth Pang 5

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

A one-world government is coming. It’s on its way and there’s nothing you nor I can do to stop it. How do I know this? Because it is very clear from God’s Word that a global system of governance is going to exist during the last few years leading up to the physical return of Jesus Christ.

In our most recent installment of this series – Bible Warns of Apostasy and Persecution: Birth Pang 4B – we talked of the upcoming Northern Invasion, headed up by a character with the title, Gog, from Ezekiel 38-39. Some commentators believe this Gog is the same person as the Antichrist. Others aren’t convinced and believe that Gog and Antichrist are two different people. Whatever the reality turns out to be, there will come a time when Gog will gather troops from several nations and attempt to attack and destroy Jerusalem. As we noted, God will respond mightily.

I also pointed out that I believe this attempted invasion will occur before the upcoming Tribulation period, though there are others who believe that this Northern Invasion is actually also the Battle of Armageddon, which occurs at the end of the Tribulation as Jesus returns. Again, we simply do not have enough information to be dogmatic about our beliefs on this subject.

But apart from this, it is also very clear that eventually, this world will have a final dictator, one who will be given a short time to rule over the entire earth. One of the main texts for this is found in Daniel 7:23-24.

23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.

This is the interpretation of part of the dream that was given to King Nebuchadnezzar originally in Daniel 2. There, God shows the king (with the eventual interpretation being given through Daniel), the fact that there would be four kingdoms beginning with Nebuchadnezzar’s time as king, leading up to the time of Jesus’ return. Just prior to Jesus’ physical return, the fourth kingdom (or as the text above states, the fourth beast), would exist. It’s important to remember that these kingdoms were considered to be global, even though they did not include all of the land throughout the world. However, it is also clear that these individual kingdoms were allowed to exist by God and were the largest/only real kingdoms at the time.

But please notice the above text states that this fourth “beast” will actually be a kingdom and it “will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it.” This is very important because the text paints the picture of a kingdom that will literally take over the entire globe, not simply the “known” world. In fact, while the phrase the “known world” might have been apropos during Daniel’s day, it certainly is not appropriate now since there is virtually nothing left on the globe that has not been seen or explored.

God is telling us – through Daniel – that the fourth and final kingdom (which ultimately stems from the first kingdom) will be different from the kingdoms that came before it and this final kingdom will include the territory of the entire earth. We know according to Daniel 2 and elsewhere that the kingdoms are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Interestingly enough, the Roman Empire has several incarnations and in fact, even though it appears to die out historically, it comes back at the end of this age and that is what exists during the Tribulation period.

If there is to be a global kingdom, there will be a global ruler, which seems odd in today’s society. Who wants another dictator? Certainly, the Antichrist will not be stupid enough to be a dictator right from the start, but it is very clear that this is what he becomes. Let’s not forget that within New Age circles, Islam, and even within Christendom, the belief and expectation is that a “messiah” or “savior” is soon to be arriving to this planet. New Agers call him “Maitreya,” while within Islam, he is referred to as the Final Mahdi, and many within Christendom look toward the coming of the Antichrist, but also Jesus at the end of this age.

The Bible  provides information on this coming dictator.

I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things, (Daniel 7:8).

And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time, (Daniel 7:25).

And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries, (Daniel 11:21).

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, (Revelation 13:8).

The chart I’ve included also compares the “Little Horns of Daniel 7 and 8,” which is the Antichrist (Daniel 7) and Antiochus Epiphanes IV (Daniel 8). Still, in today’s world, it is difficult to comprehend that a final, global empire is coming, but if we stop to consider that it is already in the works, it makes it easier to accept. The European Union (EU) is roughly in the same area as the first set of kingdoms/empires mentioned in Daniel 2 and 7. The global elite has put that together today, in modern times. Work continues behind the scenes to create a union out of Canada, America, and Mexico – the North American Union.

Even though there are severe issues facing the EU and numerous countries within that union, world leaders like President Obama are doing whatever they can to keep it together. Recently, he called upon Great Britain to not remove itself from the EU. This has resulted in the Queen’s refusal to see Mr. Obama when he visits that country. Remember, this is a man who stated how much he originally hated America for its “colonialization,” but now that he’s president, he can’t seem to mind his own business, just like many presidents before him.

There are many things in the works that are behind the scenes, deep in the shadows, that much of the world knows little to nothing about. We might hear little things here or there, but for the most part, all this elitist movement is done well within the shadows.

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.

This globe is moving toward unity. While we might be able to slow the process down here and there, ultimately, the time frame is fully in God’s hands. Things will happen according to His plan.

And what is the job of the Christian during such times? The same job we’ve always had, which is to evangelize the lost, making disciples of all nations for God’s glory.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective