End Time Insights

The epistle to the  Galatians  opens with a stern warning. What some believers contemplated doing would replace the true Gospel with something quite alien to the Apostolic message. To turn from the “ faith of Jesus Christ ” to the “ works of the law ” for justification meant abandoning the grace of God and rejecting the message preached by Paul, which is why he summoned God to “ curse ” any man, even “ an angel from Heaven ,” who preached “ another gospel .”

The False Prophet uses every means necessary to coax or coerce men to give their allegiance to the Beast from the sea .  The “ false prophet ” uses “ signs and wonders ” and its control of commerce to cause the “ inhabitants of the earth ” to render homage to the “ Beast .” Whether he employs force or persuasion, the goal is the same. Anyone who refuses to submit is excluded from the economic life of the  Empire.

The Beast of Revelation is the embodiment of the ancient power that has been stalking the saints since the fall of Adam .  History repeats itself. It is littered with past efforts by tyrants and regimes to dominate the Earth. Each may experience some success, but so far, every empire that has appointed itself sovereign over humanity has floundered in the end. For example, the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar and Caesar’s imper9al realm both ceased to exist thousands of years ago.

In the book of Revelation, Satan attacks the Lamb by persecuting his followers, those who have the testimony of Jesus .  At times, there may be so many “trees” that we find it difficult to see the “forest” - details distract us from seeing the obvious. This is often the case when dealing with the visions of  Revelation . According to its very first verse, it is intended to “ reveal what things must come to pass ,” not to conceal them or mystify its readers.

The Bible claims that God gives political power to whomever He pleases, “ even to the basest of men .” He “ removes kings and installs kings ” to accomplish His purposes, including rulers of whom many church leaders and members may disapprove. Disciples of Jesus who assume that certain politicians should hold governmental power presume on God’s patience and prerogative, and this is especially problematic in Western-style democratic societies.