The Conductor

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”  2 Thessalonians 2:8-9  KJV 

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  Are you familiar with that saying?  If one were to choose to apply that to the current events we are seeing in this country, as well as around the world, who would you say is the one who is desperate?  Who, or should I say what, entity desires nothing more than the overthrow of society as we know it, and the objective to which is the total control of this world?  I think you have guessed by now that Satan, the evil one who has, since creation, tried to corrupt and control this world, is the one who is behind all the evil we see occurring in the world right now. 

Most students of prophecy, or even those who only passingly familiar with what the Bible teaches about the tribulation period which is soon to come upon the earth, will recognize the passage above from Thessalonians as referring to the coming world leader, most often called the antichrist.  Yet many miss the one word which helps to explain exactly what we are seeing in the world today, and the reason for the violence which seems to be evolving into an almost daily occurrence.  The word I am referring to is found in verse 9, and it is the word “after”.

You see, we as believers are told, and most are willing to accept, that the individual behind the evil we are seeing today is none other than Satan.  Of course, some might well ask the question why it is all of a sudden increasing to the extent we are seeing with signs of only getting worse and not better. Personally, I see a parallel between what Satan is doing, and what a conductor of a symphony does as he conducts an orchestra.  I have had the opportunity to watch many performances by some of the world’s greatest conductors and it is always amazing to me to watch the intensity build as the conductor leads the orchestra to where he wants them to go, the grand finale.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.  2 Thessalonians 2:7  NKJV

Did you notice Paul’s comment, “already at work”?  Of course, Satan has been working against our Father since the Garden of Eden, but in the context of the preparation for the appearing of his minion the antichrist, Satan is now creating the conditions which will allow the antichrist to take power as easily as he will.  It seems a simple premise, but many miss the fact that in order for one man to become the world’s “Mr. Fixit”, the world has to be broken.  What we are seeing now with such an increase in violence is Satan leading the world to the finale which will usher in the reign of his chosen one.

All these are the beginning of birth pains.  Matthew 24:8  NIV

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.  Mark 13:8  NIV

When Jesus spoke to his disciples in the garden concerning the point in time that we have so obviously arrived at, He chose to use the example of a woman in labor to illustrate how events would unfold.  Although some might argue that the events Jesus was referring to occur exclusively within the seven year tribulation, I believe the picture we are given is enlightening in the fact that for nine months of a pregnancy it is painfully obvious that a woman is preparing to give birth.  Not only do I believe some of the events Jesus referred to can occur before the beginning of the tribulation, I am certain what we are witnessing today in this world and the dramatic increase in violence is a sign the labor is upon us.

As I watch the world attempt to explain away the increasing level of violence we are witnessing and place the blame for it on something or someone, I often hear things like the Far Left, the New World Order, the Illuminati, the Bilderburg Group, and even George Soros, one of the world’s richest men.  While not disagreeing with any speculation for the possibility of some or all of these entities having a hand in the violence we are seeing, my question for you today is rather simple.  Who do you think is behind them?  You see although the world looks for an easy, explainable scapegoat, as believers we understand that the presence of evil in this world lies at the feet of only one source, Satan.  Men are simply the tool he uses to accomplish his goals.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”  Jeremiah 17:9  NKJV

I believe that not only the overall upsurge in violence around the world, but even the outright hatred exhibited in our country right now comes from just one source.  Satan is orchestrating the evil we see today and is using it to lead an unbelieving world to the point in time where they will gladly embrace the appearance of Satan’s handpicked world leader who will usher in the period of time which will eventually threaten the very existence of the world we know. Unfortunately for those who choose to embrace this “savior”, rather than bringing the utopia they believe will come, the result will be something much different.  How bad will things get? 

“men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”  Luke 21:26  NKJV

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”  Matthew 24:21-22  NKJV

As believers we are told that the violence during tribulation period will be so bad that not only will men die simply from the fear they experience, if God did not intervene and stop the tribulation at seven years every man, woman, and child on earth would die.  This is Satan’s plan for this world, and what we are seeing now is Satan orchestrating events to bring his plan to fruition.  I believe the labor pains are only going to get worse, and according to the Word of God, they will not stop until He comes to put an end to it.  Our responsibility today as the church, the body of Christ, is to recognize the enemy, resist the enemy, and reveal the enemy.  When an unbelieving world wonders at the violence we are seeing, we as believers are afforded the perfect opportunity to share the hope of our deliverance. 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6:12  NKJV

Of course, while the deliverance from the evil of this world is available to all, it’s guaranteed only to those who choose to accept it by believing on the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  If you are reading this today and have never made that decision, you can do it right now wherever you might be by simply praying a prayer like this;

Jesus I know that I am a sinner, and have sinned against you.  I believe you loved me enough to send your Son Jesus to die for my sins, and that He rose from the dead so that I can live.  Forgive me of my sins and come into my life and help me to live for you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Romans 10:9-10  NKJV

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Professing to be Wise, They Became Fools

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”               Genesis 6:5-8  NKJV

Yesterday was the anniversary of Noah’s flood, (if you use the sighting of the new moon to establish the start of the Jewish month as they did in Old Testament times), and I thought since Jesus linked the flood of Noah to the end of this age I would share some of my thoughts on the subject.  For no reason I can think of, (other than the prompting of the Holy Spirit), I have always been fascinated by the story of Noah.  In fact, at one point in time I spent considerable time and effort to research the possible location of where the ark might have come to rest. 

Much has been said and written lately on the subject of God judging this world, and even singling out America as a nation deserving God’s special attention.  As we see evil growing and manifesting itself in sometimes horrific ways around the world, is it any wonder that many believe that we are approaching, or even have arrived at the time where God will once again reveal Himself to mankind by directing His wrath upon an unbelieving, sinful world.  As believers, we know that God has already warned that there will be a coming time of judgment just as there was in Noah’s day but instead of using water, this time He will use fire.

“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and 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, by 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.”             2 Peter 3:3-7  NKJV

While many in the world would use promises like this to portray God as being cruel and vindictive, they choose to not only ignore the fact that this judgment is well deserved, but also that God has provided both a way of escape and given mankind ample opportunity to make the right choice.  In Noah’s day, even those witnessing the ark being constructed over a period of so many years never made the choice to join Noah and his family on the ark.  It has been almost two thousand years since Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again as a sacrifice for mankind’s sin, yet slowly but surely that sacrifice has been ignored by more and more of the world’s population until we find ourselves once again facing the time of God’s judgment.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”                       2 Peter 3:9  NKJV

I’m sure most of us have heard people say that although they believe, the rapture of the church is still many years away and the world is no worse off than it ever was.  Unfortunately these people mistake God’s patience for indifference or “slackness”.  I can recall while raising my children and setting boundaries they often mistook my patience for indifference.  The looks on their faces when my promise of judgment actually occurred was often priceless.  Although God has promised a sure and final judgment, He is giving the world time to make the right choice because as a loving father, He wants no one to go to hell.  Yet as in Noah’s day, more will choose to ignore God’s providence than accept it.

“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”                                2 Thessalonians 2:11-12  NKJV

The lie that God will not judge is the same one that Satan introduced in the Garden of Eden so many years ago when he convinced Eve to ignore God’s warning not to eat the fruit of the tree.  Just as he was able to deceive Eve, he is also able to deceive many in the world today.  The question for us as believers is how do we react to the situation we find ourselves in as the world looks more and more like it did in Noah’s day?  Noah made the choice to be obedient to God, and followed His instructions to build an ark.  In much the same way, salvation by faith in the gospel of Christ is the modern day ark which will save mankind from the coming judgment, and it is our responsibility to share it with an unbelieving world.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”                                  Romans 1:16  NKJV

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  Have you?  Have you made the choice to accept the gift of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ?  If not, if you are reading this you still have time to do so before God’s judgment begins.  Becoming a believer is accomplished by asking Christ to come into your life and to begin to help you live life as He directs.  If you want to do that today, simply pray this prayer to Him;

 "Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins.  I want to turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen." 

If you have done this today, or have done it in the past, you have God’s promise that you will be spared from the judgment He has promised is going to occur to those who choose not to believe.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,”               Romans 1:18-22  NKJV

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Coincidence isn't Kosher

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, “and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; “Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.   Ezekiel 38:1-6  NKJV

There is a saying in Jewish culture which goes something like this; “coincidence isn’t kosher.”  So I would be the first to say that the number of articles and commentaries from different sources and people regarding this prophecy from Ezekiel in the past few weeks is definitely not a coincidence.  This article written by Britt Gillette is a very good example of just what I am talking about.  Be sure to visit endtimesbibleprophecy.com if you haven’t already done so.

The Rise of the Russian-Turkish-Iranian Alliance

In early September, Russia, Turkey, and Iran met in Tehran to discuss the future of Syria. It was just one of many meetings in the past several years between three of the most powerful nations in Middle Eastern politics. In a mid-September meeting, Russia and Turkey agreed to carry out coordinated military patrols on the borders of a "demilitarized" buffer zone between Syrian troops and rebel forces in Syria's Idlib province. Idlib is the last major stronghold of rebel and jihadist groups trying to overthrow Assad in a civil war that has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced millions. For Russia and Iran, retaking Idlib is crucial to complete the military victory they crave in Syria's civil war after almost 8 years of fighting. As the war winds down, these three powers will decide the future of Syria.

At first glance, Russia, Turkey, and Iran make unlikely allies. For instance, Turkey is a Sunni Muslim nation, while Iran is a Shiite Muslim nation. Also, Turkey is a member of NATO, an alliance formed specifically to counter Russian military aggression. These three nations have many differences and a number of competing interests. Yet, with each passing day, they become closer and closer. Why? Syria. The ongoing Syrian civil war highlights a number of overlapping interests for these nations. Understanding those interests is the key to understanding why these nations are coming together. So let's look at what each nation seeks to gain.

Russia

Why does Russia care so much about Syria? Several reasons. First, Russia maintains an important naval facility in Tartus, Syria. It's the Russian Navy's only overseas base, vital for repair and refueling of the Russian Navy. As we've seen, Russia will fight to keep its naval installation in Tartus. Second, Syria has long been an ally of Russia and the Soviet Union. Dating back to the Cold War, Syria's ruling Assad family has been aligned with Russia against western influence in the region. Russia wants to keep Assad in power and maintain its regional presence. Syria has also been a lucrative market for the sale of Russian weapons and commodities, and Russia doesn't want to lose that market. Third, Russia wants to do more than maintain its presence in the Middle East. It wants to expand it. Russia's military entry into the Syrian civil war in 2015 turned the tide of the war. It clinched eventual victory for Assad. This means Russia will maintain enormous influence over Assad and Syria. Finally, Russia's alliance with Turkey and Iran serves to strengthen its influence in the Middle East, but it also serves another purpose. The warming relationship between Turkey and Russia (and Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan) divides NATO. It strains the relationship between Turkey and its western NATO allies. So it's easy to see why Russia has such a vested interest in Turkey as well as Syria.

Turkey

What does Syria mean to Turkey? A lot. A massive attack on rebels in Idlib (home to around 3 million people) could spark a humanitarian crisis on its border. It could unleash a nightmare scenario where hundreds of thousands of refugees, including militants, flee toward Turkey's border, destabilizing towns and cities under its control. Turkey already hosts 3 million Syrian refugees, and it's sealed its borders to new entrants. Turkey wants a stable border. It wants to take advantage of Syria's civil war and gain influence and control over Syrian territory (by backing Sunni rebel groups). Most of all, Turkey wants to suppress Kurdish militants on its border. Turkey already has Kurdish-controlled areas on its border in northern Iraq. It wants to avoid the rise of new ones. This puts it in direct conflict with the United States, which is backing Kurdish rebels in Syria. This has driven Turkey closer to Russia and led it to play Russia and the NATO powers against each other to its own benefit.

Iran

Why is Syria so important to Iran? Iran has decades of close ties to Syria going back to the 1979 Islamic revolution, and both champion the Shiite Muslim branch of Islam. Iran already has regional footholds in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, and it wants to keep and expand its influence in a nation neighboring Israel and Lebanon. A presence in Syria gives Iran land access to the Mediterranean Sea, a staging ground for Hezbollah and other proxies to attack Israel, and access to Israel's border for Iranian armed forces to launch a future invasion of Israel. Iran wants to keep Syria allied against Israel, and since Hezbollah and advisors from Iran's Revolutionary Guard have helped Assad throughout the civil war, they're well positioned to take advantage if he retains power.

What the Future Holds

After almost 8 years of conflict, the Syrian civil war is coming to a close. The aftermath will see Syria carved into spheres of influence. Russia, Turkey, and Iran will dominate those spheres, and all three countries will remain in Syria. This makes it likely they'll continue to work together to avoid conflict and pursue their shared interests. So why should you care? Because the new Syria might be foreshadowing the soon fulfillment of bible prophecy. The shared interests of Russia, Turkey, and Iran could lead them to launch an invasion prophesied 2,600 years ago.

The Ezekiel 38-39 War

Six centuries before the crucifixion of Jesus, the prophet Ezekiel foretold a future invasion of Israel. He said it will occur in the last days (Ezekiel 38:16). He said it will come from north of Israel (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2), and he said it will involve a coalition of nations led by Russia (Ezekiel 38:2) that includes Iran and Turkey (Ezekiel 38:5-6). Never before have these three nations been in alliance. But today, all three sit on Israel's northern border. Coincidence? I don't think so. Who knows why they'll ultimately attack, but rest assured, they will. The stage is now set for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will win the battle (Ezekiel 39:3-6), and the whole world will know He is the One behind the victory (Ezekiel 39:21).

http://www.end-times-bible-prophecy.com/the-rise-of-the-russian-turkish-iranian-alliance.html

If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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