Posted on 06/28/2023 5:23:18 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
The Bible prophesies about the coming of the Antichrist, a lawless figure who will bring chaos and deception to the world.
lIn this video, Jack Hibbs, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino Hills, California, says that, as believers, we can identify three significant signs that signal the imminent arrival of demonic and deceptive individual.
“People will swoon over his demonic genius,” Hibbs says.
These three signs include the destabilization of nations on a global scale, increasing natural disasters as foretold in Matthew 24 and the prevalence of wars and rumors of wars.
By examining these signs in light of Scripture, we gain insights into the events that will unfold in the end times.
1. The destabilization of nations
As we observe the current state of the world, we can witness a growing destabilization of nations. The Bible clearly indicates that the Antichrist will rise during a time of global turmoil and panic. Governments and political systems promise solutions to the world’s problems, but often fall short.
The desire for peace and prosperity is deeply ingrained in humanity, and the Antichrist will exploit this longing. Through his demonic influence, he will offer deceptive solutions and gain widespread admiration, making up his own rules as he goes. However, as believers, we should be vigilant and rely on the teachings of the Bible rather than placing our hope in worldly leaders.
“The world is really hurting right now. The globe is destabilizing on a scale never experienced before,” Hibbs says. “In a post-COVID world, global economies are so messed up. As a result of the next wave from being shut down, stores in your nation are closing. They didn’t recover, and there’s an inability for them to get back to business, whether it be bad management or something else. That’s not just here, it’s around the world and that adds to destabilizing factors.” (Luke 21:25)
2. Increasing natural disasters
Matthew 24 records Jesus’ words about the signs of the end times. One of these signs includes the increase in natural disasters. We can witness this today with rising frequencies of earthquakes, famines and incurable diseases. These calamities are harbingers of the approaching tribulation period. While believers in Christ will be spared from experiencing these events firsthand, it is crucial to recognize the signs and prepare spiritually for the future.
3. Wars and Rumors of Wars: Jesus continues describing signs of His return in Matthew 24 with the prevalence of wars and rumors of wars. In today’s world, conflicts and tensions persist in various regions, leading to unrest and violence.
The Bible predicts that the Antichrist will emerge during a time of wars, exacerbating the chaos and offering false solutions. It is important for Christians to remain discerning and not be swayed by the deceptive promises of those who seek power and control.
“Israel announced this past week that they will probably be in a full-scale war within a matter of weeks; it could be as long as a month,” Hibbs says. “Israel is surrounded right now. Rockets are pointing from Lebanon, Syria, Iran and from down south. They’re all pointed at Israel and the Bible says there is a time when this man [the Antichrist] will come on to the world scene and broker peace, because it’s obviously going to be needed.”
Believers in Jesus must remain rooted in the teachings of the Bible and stay watchful, recognizing that hope and salvation rests in Jesus Christ. While the world may be in turmoil, we can find peace and security in our faith, knowing that God is in control and will ultimately bring about His righteous plan.
“The coming of the lawless one, this is something that is not a fairytale,” Hibbs says. “This is not a movie. This is the Bible. Scripture is very clear about it.”
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Maranatha!
There have been wars and rumors of wars for the past 2000 years.
Olive Tree ministries. Jan Markel.
Hibbs is frequent guest.
There have also been famines and pestilences - BUT you ignore that the technology to accomplish Revelation 13 just came into existence within the past 10 years (if that).
META, Google, The Banking System, Microsoft, and others are building the Beast System now.
We’re here...Another War with nukes going off in the Middle East soon, and it’s game time.
The problem is, all 3 of those signs are widely open to interpretation. There will always be unstable nations. There will always be wars. There will always be disasters. So if you go by those signs, then you will always be able to find some evidence that you could use to argue “the Antichrist must be near!” Or not, if you are inclined to interpret them the other way.
But what will not be open to such interpretation is the Antichrist himself. There has never been a single person who actually managed to achieve “world domination”, through conquest, diplomacy, religious evangelism, etc. Some have conquered “the known world”, but not the whole world. Some have come close, but nobody has ever achieved it. And I think there is good reason to believe nobody will, until the Antichrist. So watch for that sign and you can’t be mistaken.
True. But these signs aren’t really the actual key sign he’s coming back.
Matthew 24:14 is the key sign.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
And tremendous progress has been made this last century translating and verbally sharing the Gospel to many, many different cultures and tribes and nations, in their own languages and tongues.
I think we already have several to choose from.
“BUT you ignore that the technology to accomplish Revelation 13 just came into existence within the past 10 years”
Even if we accept that, it only means that we can establish the events of the Tribulation couldn’t have happened until now. We can’t also conclude that the events have begun, or are about to begin (though I suspect they are). After all, we will still (if we are around) possess the same technology in 100 years, or 1000 years.
Even that is just establishing a precondition. The end can’t come until the first part happens. It does not say “and then, immediately after that, the end will come”. So it doesn’t work as a sign that the end is imminent, only that it will now be possible for the end to be imminent (if that makes sense).
But of course, it’s always good to keep in mind, no matter what else the Bible says, we are also told to ACT like the end could come at absolutely any time, and to live accordingly.
Looking for a cause then trying to plug in some scripture into it, or, grab some scripture texts and see where it fits in the world condition today.
🤔. Well, I’m currently re-reading the Left Behind Series and the things in the book seem much more relevant than when I read it before. I also watched Atlas Shrugged again and......same thing with relevancy. Get right if you’re not.
When that is accomplished, then the end will come. Once that condition has been met, the end will come.
We won’t know we’ve achieved it until the end comes. But we are extremely close given the work done to reach all corners and peoples with translators.
I remember Rush talking about end of time since Christ left Earth. I had a friend who had emailed me about end times and while I don’t know or think we’re there yet, I told him that we should all live our lives like it’ll be tomorrow so it’s not a bad thing that its in the forefront of people’s minds.
My old man was big into those end times books. One was how Christ would be back in 1988.
Dad died in 1988 - so at least he was prepared!
(Note - he lived that way for as long as I can remember).
“There have been wars and rumors of wars for the past 2000 years.”
Wrong. There have been wars and rumors of wars for the past 6000 years.
Jesus was merely pointing out that it would be business as usual, not a new condition of mankind.
“When that is accomplished, then the end will come. Once that condition has been met, the end will come.”
If that’s what the Bible said, I’d agree with your interpretation, but that’s not what it says. You are rephrasing it in a way that is not keeping strictly the same meaning of the sentence. There is no “when”, or “once” in the Bible’s phrasing. It just says this will happen, and then this other thing will happen. Not once this thing happens, then the other happens. It states one precedes the other, certainly, but does not imply that the second immediately follows the first. Perhaps it will, but that is not what the Bible says.
It’s also good to note that the immediately following verses give us an ADDITIONAL sign that is emphasized as being an urgent one:
“15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!”
So if the end came immediately after the spreading of the gospel to all nations and peoples, as you argue, then why would there be any need for an additional sign that follows even after that? And why wouldn’t we be advised to “flee to the mountains” as soon as the gospel is preached to all nations? Seems like if you are correct, then the Bible has left us hanging waiting for yet another sign when the end has already begun, which doesn’t make much sense.
I also like the Prophecy Update sermons of Brett Meador of Athey Creek Christian Fellowship, Portland, Oregon.
He’s married to John Corson’s daughter and is a really good preacher.
I go to Edgewater Fellowship in Grants Pass, Oregon, also from John Corson’s ministry.
And Jesus said.... “Those that endure until the end will be saved”.
Matthew 24:13
WW1 and WW2 were brutal. They were also 22 years apart. If that didn’t meat #3 then I want to be dead.
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