I like to direct people to read their own Bibles and come up with their own answers because I believe that, if you truly are of God and you are hungering and thirsting after the Truth, God will not allow you to be deceived. That's not to say that many, many so-called Christians throughout history have not been deceived. In fact, as we know, there are many strange doctrines out there to choose from. God help US not to be deceived!
Simply, what are the signs that would tell us when we are living in the "Last Days" or the "Last Seven Years" of world history?
Besides the entire chapter of Matthew 24, there are more details in Revelation to clue us in. In chapter 13, we can read a description of the new world dictator we Christians affectionately refer to as "The Antichrist".
Revelation 13
1. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea,having seven heads and ten horns,and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns. Crowns usually indicate kingdoms. It seems ten major kingdoms will join with him and horns usually mean a threat, don't they? So, ten kingdoms will be pushing his programme. Blasphemy is not a good thing, by the way. To blaspheme means to speak irreverently about God. There's a LOT of THAT going around these days!
2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat,and great authority.
Some people have pointed out that the dragon is a very revered creature in China. Dragon dances are performed at Chinese New Year and when a family moves into a new house. People pay good money to have two guys in a van jump around in their house inside a dragon costume, making a LOT of noise.
3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. (3 1/2 years)
6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name,and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints,and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Here's another verse which, to me, indicates that the Tribulation is for Christians. Who are the saints that he is making war against? (You don't have to be perfect to be a saint. You just have to be saved. The true definition of what a saint is in God's eyes is quite different than what man calls a saint.)
8. 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.
Here's the clincher! Why would people worship someone? Think about it.
Maybe he has convinced them he's a god, or he's controlling their food sources, their will to live. Maybe he has implanted a device in these people that can actually control their will?
9. If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Is your name written in the Book of Life of the Lamb? Make sure that it is brother! Make sure you are born again and believing in the power of the Resurrection of Christ, sister!
10. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity; he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Again, this will be a time for true believers to showcase their patience and faith!
11. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
It seems that the Antichrist is going to be killed and them come back to life.
13. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
14. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
This "image" is going to have some sort of "life" and be able to speak! Modern technology has now made this quite possible. GPS has made it possible to track anyone on the planet up to five feet away!
16. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
That could never happen! Right? I mean, how could everyone on the planet be forced to receive a mark?
17. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the Beast, or the number of his name.
18. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (A score is 20.)
People! The "Mark of the Beast" is on its way to your town as we speak. Don't be deceived. It won't save your life! It will destroy your soul! Don't receive the chip! Receive Jesus Christ instead. He will save your life and soul for eternity!
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