Bible Warns of Apostasy and Persecution: Birth Pang 8

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

In our last installment in this series, we discussed some specifics related to the coming Antichrist. We noted that while some individuals believe that the Antichrist is more of a “spirit” rather than a specific individual, it is clear from Scripture that it is both. There is a spirit of Antichrist, which will find final fulfillment in one specific individual who will come on the scene and take his place as head of the final version of the fourth “beast” or empire first highlighted in Daniel 2.

Certainly, many of the godless dictators that the world has witnessed and experienced have been supported by the spirit of Antichrist that John refers to in 1 John 4:3. These human individuals are blinded and led by that spirit of Antichrist so that they refuse to acknowledge that Jesus is from God. In fact, they often deny there is a God of any kind in the supernatural realm. They tend to see themselves as gods. This is exactly what the final “man of lawlessness” of 2 Thessalonians 2 will do and will announce this belief to the world when he takes his seat in the rebuilt Jewish Temple during the coming Tribulation period.

Make no mistake though. While a spirit of Antichrist has existed for quite some time, it will find its way into the body and soul of one particular individual who will be the Antichrist. He will be the summation of the spirit of Antichrist so that nearly the entire world will fall in behind him, so powerful will he be in relation to his ability to deceive people. That was Birth Pang #7. Let’s move onto Birth Pang #8, a time of security and false peace.

We learn about this upcoming time of what appears to be security but turns out to be false peace in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5.

1 Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. 3 Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. 5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness (emphasis added).

Here in this section, Paul is warning the believers at Thessalonica that a time is coming that will take the world by surprise. He is speaking of the world here and reminding those believers that since they are not of the world, they should not be taken by surprise.

The term day of the Lord normally refers to the time of God’s wrath, which He pours out onto humanity and the earth. This specific period of time leads up to the physical return of Jesus in what is known as His Second Coming.

The eschatological “day of the Lord,” prophesied in the Old Testament, begins with the Tribulation and continues through the Millennium (cf. Isa. 13:9-11; Joel 2:28-32; Zeph. 1:14-18; 3:14-15; et al.). It contains both judgment (in the Tribulation) and blessing (in the Millennium). People living on the earth when it begins (i.e., unbelievers, since Christians will be with the Lord in heaven immediately following the Rapture) will not expect it. Paul did not discuss the entire “day of the Lord” here, only its coming. That is why he dealt only with the judgment aspect of that day. [1]

Paul’s use of the metaphor “thief in the night” is to highlight the fact that people will simply not be ready for it anymore than someone is ready or expecting their home to be burglarized. It’s not so much that the specific day in mind would come without announcement, but that it will come and take people completely by surprise.

What is amazing is that as this world is clearly moving toward a time of a unified global system of governance, in general, very few seem concerned. Certainly many Christians are concerned and understand the signs, but the world at large seems to want this to happen. History truly does repeat itself and Satan employs many of the same tactics with a new generation that he has with past ones, understanding that most people in the new generation will not really take note of what has occurred before or convince themselves that what happened before cannot occur again, in spite of the similarities.

World War I was the “war that would end all wars.” That was the general belief at the time, yet only a few years later, the world was plunged into WWII. If we stop to consider that some of the tactics that were used leading up to both WWI and WWII are being employed now, it would seem that another world war is on the horizon. If so, precious little is being done to keep WWIII from occurring and few would admit that another world war may be in the offing.

In Daniel 9:27, we read the following words regarding the Antichrist and his ability to secure what appears to be peace in the Middle East.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of that week he will bring sacrifices and offerings to a halt. On the wing of abominations will come one who destroys, until the decreed end is poured out on the one who destroys.” (NET)

Imagine what the world will be like when someone is able to step up and create some semblance of peace in the Middle East. Currently, much of the world’s problems are related to what is happening in that section of the world and specifically where Israel is concerned. Arab nations do not want to tolerate Israel’s existence. They are constantly threatening to annihilate Israel from the face of the earth. Animosity is thick. It is also why – I believe – Islam is being used to make such headway into other areas of the world. I believe many Muslims are being used as the Elite’s foot soldiers because they are not afraid to die. Like the Japanese Kamikaze pilots of WWII, these militant, radicalized Islamists see their actions as great acts of heroism. It is a repeat of the brainwashed Japanese Kamikaze pilots of decades ago. Their suicide missions helped Japan gain the upper hand in certain sectors of the war at least for a time. Eventually, the Japanese were stopped in their tracks and I believe the same thing will happen to radicalized Muslims.

But at some point, the Antichrist will “confirm” a covenant with “many” (leaders of Israel and surrounding Arab nations) for “one week (the final seven years, which are also the Tribulation period that is still in front of us). Antichrist will do what no other human being has ever been able to do. Revelation 13:3-4 states the following:

3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (NIV)

Some commentators believe verse three refers to the fact that the ancient empire (the fourth beast; Rome) though it died, will come back in generally the same area that Rome existed in geographically. Others believe the actual person, Antichrist, will be killed and will “rise from the dead,” thus imitating Jesus’ death and resurrection. Whatever the scenario, verse 4 tells us that the reason people worship the coming “beast” (Antichrist) is because the dragon (Satan) gives him authority and included in that authority is the ability to deceive just as Satan deceives. People will be extremely impressed with the “beast” (Antichrist).

Could part of that admiration come as a result of the “peace” he is able to achieve in the Middle East? But referring back to Daniel 9:27, we are also told that the “peace” secured by Antichrist is tentative at best. In fact, it is the Antichrist himself who dissolves that peace that he achieved. “But in the middle of that week he will bring sacrifices and offerings to a halt.”

How does Antichrist bring sacrifices and offerings to a halt? Simply by doing what Paul tells us he will do, which is where history repeats itself from 168 BC. Paul tells us that Antichrist will take his seat in the God’s Temple (the rebuilt Jewish Temple that will stand during the Tribulation period) and declare himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2). This is why the peace and security that Paul refers to in 1 Thessalonians 5 will be so short-lived. It will only appear to be true peace and security, but as Paul notes (from above), when people think this has finally come, “sudden destruction comes on them.”

The world actually expects a day of peace and security. They’ll have it but it will be short-lived because it will be “peace and false security” as produced by Satan’s seed.

We’ll be back to deal with the final Birth Pang, #9 next time.

[1] Dr. Thomas L. Constable’s Notes on 1 Thessalonians (2015 Edition), p. 41

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective