THE COMING WORLD DICTATOR

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition….  (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

I almost never carry cash.  I whip out a plastic card.  Gradually, the world is becoming a cashless society.  The technology is in place.  Because of identity fraud, as well as people stealing cards and PIN numbers, the card may soon be replaced with a computer chip implanted in the forehead or hand where a scanner will carry out the transaction.  Is this what the Book of Revelation calls the mark of the Beast?

Paul is discussing that very person here—a coming world dictator.  The world is poised on the threshold of welcoming such a leader.  One of the driving forces behind the European Union is the “fiscal cliff” that not only the United States, but nations around the world are about to drive off.  Combine this with the global implications of World War III breaking out in the Middle East—and we are on the brink of that—the world will enthusiastically accept the solution of a charismatic leader with his promises to solve these staggering problems. 

To help us understand, it would be helpful for us to consider first THE REASON FOR THE EPISTLE.  Paul sets the context for this teaching in the first two verses of 2 Thessalonians 2.  He is writing for their correction and comfort.  The saints at Thessalonica had come under persecution. This led them to believe they had entered the Great Tribulation.  So, Paul speaks of “our gathering together to Him”—that is, the rapture of the church (see 1 Thess.4:13-18).  Although we may face the wrath of man, we will not face the wrath of God.  Paul comforts them in telling them that such a judgment is for the wicked and not His children.  Christ would not treat His Bride as He would His enemies. 

So, Paul moves on to reveal THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE END (v.3). The Apostle provides an explanation as to why they could not be in the Tribulation Period as they feared. That would require apostasy and Antichrist to arise.  There will be a final apostasy. The falling away is the great departure from the faith, which produces a final, world religious system—the apostate church described in Revelation as Mystery Babylon, the Great Harlot.  The day of the Lord not only commences with the ultimate apostasy, but the ultimate Antichrist.  The spirit of Antichrist was already at work in apostolic times—a spirit that at some point will become incarnate in the Antichrist (I Jn.4:3).  We, however, aren’t waiting for the Antichrist, but Christ!   

There in now THE RESTRAINT UPON THE EVIL (v.6-7).  The special ministry of the Holy Spirit through the church is to restrain evil as Christians function as salt and light.  The Restrainer must be taken out of the way before the Antichrist can be revealed. When the Rapture takes place and the church is removed, then earth will be fully demonized.

Then follows THE REVELATION OF THE ANTICHRIST (v.8-12). The apostle paints for us a portrait of the coming world dictator.  The populace will acclaim him to be the evolutionary pinnacle of man.  The Bible pictures him as the bottom of human depravity.  He is the vice-regent of Hell.  Antichrist will demand worship.  What he receives is wrath—and all who follow him, will also.  Things are moving this way.  Are you looking to the skies?  Jesus is coming!

BLOOD MOON

“The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.”  (Joel 2:31)

There are those who view the series of four “blood moons” which began on April 15, and climax on September 28, 2015 as signaling the end of the age.  These are lunar eclipses where the earth’s shadow causes the moon to take on a reddish hue.  They are rare, and much is being made that the first began on Passover, and the last happens on the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles—and the linkage with these Jewish festivals has led some to declare there is prophetic significance for Israel.  The implication is that Israel is going to enter the culmination of her suffering, worldwide cataclysm will come, all paving the way for the Second Advent of Christ.

Perhaps…but, maybe not.

The problem with these lunar eclipses—unusual as they may be, even in their timing—is that these are natural phenomena.  The moon turning to blood as described in Joel and the Book of Revelation also involve darkness for the sun and the stars—the result of God’s wrath being poured out on the earth.

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.  ‎And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.  Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.  And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”  (Rev.6:12-17)

The volcanic ash and clouds of dark smoke from fires, will fill the skies and blot out the sun and turn the moon red.  Asteroids and meteors will plummet from space and their impact on the earth will rock the world and send more dust into the air.  This is what makes that “blood moon” of the end times, which is certainly different than what we are witnessing now.

If I understand prophecy correctly—and certainly pray that I do—I am not planning on being around to see these things first hand.  I’m not looking for a moon to turn red, but for the Son to come back!

How close are we to the rapture of the church?  I’m expecting Jesus to come for His Bride at any moment.  I need to be prepared today, and not think I have until next year and the next lunar eclipse to get ready to meet the Lord.

I think we are very close—but I could be wrong.  We are to watch for Him to come today, but we are told that none know the date of Christ’s return (Matt.24:36).

The sensationalism and speculation do fulfill prophecy, however.  Like the book I read, “88 Reasons Christ Must Return in ‘88” or the sequels in which the author predicted the rapture in 1989, 1993 and 1994, and the late Harold Camping’s proclamation that Christ was coming in 2011, give a skeptical world more reason to ridicule the Christian faith.  If the “blood moon” predictions fall through, that is more fuel to the fire—which by the way Scripture does predict, “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.’ ”  (2 Pet.3:3-4).

There is a convergence of things happening in our world that seems to be speeding us toward the end.  Events in the Middle East, where the players in the final act are taking their place on the stage, should capture our attention.  Prophecies that seemed so incredible, now appear plausible with the advancement of technology we have witnessed in this generation.  If you asked me, “Do you expect Jesus to come in your lifetime?” I would answer, “Yes!”  If He wants to dispatch the Son during the “blood moon” of 2015, that’s a Sovereign God’s call.  He does what and when He wants to do so—He is God.

I am not.  God hasn’t given me a vote.  Christ might come tomorrow—or it could be a thousand years.  What God has done is give me an assignment.  The angels issued a promise and a mission for the disciples who watched Jesus ascend from the Mount of Olives—the very spot where He will one day set foot again—“who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ” (Acts 1:11).  You can be a star-gazer or a soul-winner!  The Lord wants us to warn people that He is coming back and Judgment Day is at hand, with a view of winning them to faith in Christ.

If you want to buy a book about “blood moons” you can.  The money might be better spent on giving to missions so that fewer are left unprepared for the end time.  But, don’t ever lose sight of the Blessed Hope of the return of Jesus Christ!  He is coming again!

Maranatha!  Come, Lord Jesus!