One
morning after returning from an early church service in a small town in the
heart of America, the railroad crossbars went down, and the bell loudly clanged
its familiar warning. As the long train slowly moved northward, the names
printed on the sides of the boxcars were noticeably different from the
companies and manufacturers that had been a familiar sight on America's
railroads for almost half a century. The boxcars were all labeled with names of
Chinese companies.
Most
of the Chinese acronyms were unfamiliar; however, the name "COSCO"
kept showing up on many of the boxcars. COSCO stands for the Chinese Overseas
Shipping Company. While waiting at the railroad crossing on this sunny July
4th, some 200-plus years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, I
pondered the many changes that have taken place in the United States in recent
years. How long would we continue to enjoy the freedoms that have been passed
down to us by the founding fathers of this nation? How long would God's hand of
protection be upon us despite the rapid moral and spiritual decline that has
engulfed our country? How long, 0 Lord, before You intervene in the affairs of
mankind and set up your eternal kingdom? How long, 0 Lord?
While
attending a Bible college in the late 1950's in southern Arkansas, my sister
studied under an economics teacher, an old professor who, cognizant of the
future, told his class one of the things they should fear was Red China. Today,
that "sleeping giant" has awakened from centuries of dormancy to
begin its rise to world prominence as anticipated by many students of Bible
prophecy.
The
book of Revelation speaks of an "end-time" gathering of kings from
the East that will join other armies in the valley of Megiddo in order to take
control of the land given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants.
Although China's name is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, this large
country located east of the Euphrates is uniquely qualified as a candidate for
the final battle of the age that is sometimes called "the battle of
Armageddon."
And
the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the
water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be
prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of
the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the
false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go
forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the
battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is
he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see
his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew
tongue Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16).
Although
many in the world consider the word "Armageddon" synonymous with any
major war that appears on the horizon, "Armageddon" is the ultimate
final battle between good and evil that will be fought by the King of kings and
Lord of lords at the close of this dispensation. The armies of the world, who
have been deceived by the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, will be
marshaled into action by a hoard of demonic spirits who have destructive
designs for planet earth.
The
events leading up to the climax of Armageddon described in chapter 16 of
Revelation are detailed in chapter 9, where the kings of the East destroy a
large portion of the earth's population as they traverse westward across the
Euphrates River en route to the Promised Land.
And
the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden
altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet,
loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the
four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a
month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the
army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number
of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them,
having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of
the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and
smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the
fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were
like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of
the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of
their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and
silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor
walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of
their fornication nor of their thefts (Revelation 9:13-21).
The
army of 200 million horsemen is marshaled into action by four demonic angels
bound at the Euphrates River. They are commissioned to kill a third of the
earth's population. The fourth seal which unleashes the pale horse in
Revelation 6:8 has already killed one-fourth of the human race with sword,
hunger, death, and the beasts of the earth. With less than three-fourths of the
earth's population remaining when the 200-million-man army begins its carnage,
an additional third of the people on earth are killed, thus reducing the
population of the earth by one-half.
The
world's population crossed the six-billion mark during the latter half of 1999.
Using that figure as a benchmark and discounting the effect of future wars and
famines, there will be at least three-billion people killed prior to the final
battle that takes place in Israel at the close of the great tribulation. This
will include one-and-one-half billion deaths worldwide after the fourth seal is
opened and an additional one-and-one-half billion, primarily in Asia, after the
sixth angel sounds his trumpet.
Whether
the 200-million-man army is a human army that is demonically influenced or an
army that is entirely demonic in nature is not altogether clear from the text.
The fire, smoke, and brimstone is an apt description of modern warfare
involving gunpowder and explosives, however, the strange-looking horses may be
demonic in nature like the locusts described in the preceding verses of chapter
nine. Since the kings of the east are destined to bring their armies across the
Euphrates, the large army is probably comprised of humans rather than of demons
riding horses.
In
1965, an article in Time magazine stated that China was able to field an army
of 200 million men. China had an estimated population of 1.2 billion in 1998
and projects 1.8 billion by the year 2020. Since several kings of the east are
involved in the march toward Israel, fielding a 200-millionman army is in the
realm of possibility. The logistics of quickly moving an army this size across
the Euphrates River and into the Mid-east is formidable due to the large amount
of food and water necessary. This army, however, is energized by the demons
loosed from the Euphrates and it will be capable of superhuman endurance.
If
the 200-million-man army is a hoard of demons, one wonders why these demons
will have lost their ability to function as free spirits, as opposed to being
confined to a cavalry-based army.
On
the other hand, the earth during this time will experience a bombardment of
demonic forces from the bottomless pit (center of earth) that has never been
witnessed before. Understanding the true nature of the 200-million-man army may
not be possible from our perspective. It is possible the apocalyptic riders
will be both human and demonic in nature since Satan will be exerting his
influence on the armies of the world in a way that this world has never seen
before.
Perhaps
the most conspicuous force gathered at the battle of God Almighty (Armageddon) is
these kings of the east who miraculously cross the Euphrates River which will
be dried up through drought or possibly because of a series of dams that have
been constructed in recent years.
Prior
to the 20th century and the invention of airplanes, rockets, and other forms of
modern warfare, an invasion of the Middle East from nations east of the
Euphrates, as described in the book of Revelation, would be expected to be
primarily ground forces with a large contingent of horsemen. With the advent of
new weapon systems, including advanced fighter jets, intercontinental ballistic
missiles (ICBMs) and other strategic weapons following World War 11, the
scenario describing the large armies that are to cross the Euphrates seems to
be primitive by today's standards of combat.
We
need to remember, however, that a large portion of the earth's population will
have been exterminated toward the latter stages of the great tribulation. Many
of the weapons of mass destruction will already have been used or rendered useless
by a warfare technology called electromagnetic pulsing or deemed inappropriate
for accomplishing strategic goals in the land of Israel. Whatever the reason,
the kings of the east seem to follow a more primitive mode of warfare involving
large numbers of soldiers rather than the high-tech weapons in abundance today
that could quickly decimate a large army. The ability of the kings of the east
to cross the Euphrates and enter the Holy Land without being quickly wiped out
indicates that more conventional weapons will be used rather than today's
strategic nuclear weapons.
It
is not yet evident from our vantage point which nations will make up "the
kings of the east." Until the 200 million warriors actually cross the
Euphrates, we can only speculate as to who they will be. Traditionally, China
has been the major candidate mentioned among Bible scholars. "Kings of the
east," however, implies a confederacy of several nations that unites to
accomplish a diabolical plan. Since the Euphrates River will be dried up to
prepare the way for the kings of the east, we must obviously include only those
nations that are east of the Euphrates.
The
Euphrates, which is the longest river in western Asia, is 1, 700 miles in
length. It begins its journey in the mountains of eastern Turkey around the
40th parallel, crosses eastern Syria, and flows southeastward through Iraq
where it joins the Tigris River. The two rivers merge in a swamp to form the
Shatt-el-Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf at the 30th parallel.
The
land between the Euphrates and Tigris supported an early center of civilization
called Mesopotamia. The kingdoms of Assyria to the north and Babylon to the
south, described in the Old Testament, are the progenitors of modern-day Syria
and Iraq. When the Assyrian and Babylonian armies invaded Israel between 722
and 586 BC, they followed the Euphrates River northwest and then cut back
southwest across modern day Syria and Lebanon to enter the land of
Israel.
This
route assured an adequate water supply and prevented certain death in the
Syrian Desert to the south, which is located in today's Jordan and Saudi
Arabia. If the kings of the east follow a similar route when they hasten to
their appointment with destiny in the valley of Megiddo, they will cross the
Euphrates around the 35th parallel before heading southwest toward the Promised
Land.
If
we assume that the invading armies from the east (Revelation 16:12) cross the
Euphrates at the same location (35th parallel) that was followed by the ancient
armies of Assyria and Babylon, we can extend an imaginary line eastward to see
which nations might comprise "the kings of the east." An imaginary
line crossing the Euphrates in Syria and going east would pass through Iraq (ancient
Babylon), Iran (ancient Persia), Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China. The
same imaginary line extended eastward from Jerusalem (32nd parallel) would pass
through the same countries.
The
westward march of the large army from the east would of necessity incorporate
or decimate all the nations that it would pass through. Nations from Southeast
Asia that might join Asia's Armageddon army include Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan,
Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and North and South Vietnam. Japan,
known as "the land of the rising sun," and Taiwan are both east of
China and would qualify as "kings of the east" or "kings of the
sunrise," however, their involvement will likely be limited due to a lack
of direct access to the Asian mainland. Since the "kings of the east"
implies nations directly east of the Euphrates, the primary candidates for this
designation, based upon today's national boundaries, would be Iran,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and China.
Up
until the latter half of the 20th century, China remained a primitive country
for the most part, with minimal progress in its economic and manufacturing
base. The limited influx of modern technology into China from 1949 to 1973
restricted economic growth and expansion that was commonplace in the United
States and Europe. That has all changed in the last decade. The label
"Made in China" has recently replaced "Made in Japan" and
"Made in Taiwan" on many of the goods purchased in America and
throughout the world. In his bestselling book, Mega Trends Asia, John Naisbitt
states:
What
is happening in Asia is by far the most important development in the world
today. Nothing else comes close - not only for Asians but for the entire
planet. The modernization of Asia will forever reshape the world as we move
toward the next millennium ... Until the 1990's everything revolved around the
West. The West set the rules. Japan abided by these rules during its economic
emergence. But now Asians - the rest of Asia - are creating their own rules and
will soon determine the game as well.
In
the 1990's, Asia came of age ... Asia will become the dominant region of the
world: economically, politically and culturally. We are on the threshold of the
Asian Renaissance ... the principal emphasis is on China, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan,
Thailand and Vietnam. That is where the main dynamic of growth and change is
located ... The global axis of influence has shifted from West to East. Asia
was once the center of the world, and now the center is again returning to Asia
(Megatrends Asia, Eight Asian Megatrends that are reshaping our world, John
Naisbitt, Simon & Schuster, 1996, pp. 10, 12, 16).
The
rapid rise of China to world prominence is likely to have major implications
for world peace during the Twenty First Century. Nearly 200 years ago, Napoleon
Bonaparte, French military leader and emperor of France (1804-15), stated:
"When China awakens, the world will tremble." The sleeping giant
awoke during the final decade of the 20th century as the Bush and Clinton
administrations allowed the Chinese spy network to infiltrate many of the
military and defense installations and steal the nation's top military secrets.
The Cox Report published in May of 1999 detailed much of the espionage engaged
in by the Chinese.
During
the years following World War 11, the United States helped rebuild Japan's
economy. Devastation caused by the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki prompted Japan to neglect the rebuilding of its military in order
to pursue a purely commercial course involving the manufacture of goods and
services. For many years, the words "Made in Japan" were associated
with cheap, inferior products. Japan quickly reversed its course and jumped
into the manufacture of electronics and automobiles and became a world leader
in hightech goods and services. Brands such as Toshiba, Nissan and Toyota are
commonplace in today's economy.
The
words "Made in Japan" were soon joined by "Made in Taiwan"
and more recently "Made in China" as inexpensive products from the
Far East flooded the marketplace and whetted the appetites of the
industrialized nations in the West. In recent years, China's mass production of
goods and services with cheap labor has attracted the attention of foreign
investors and businesses from both the United States and Europe.
China's
ready access to American technology and top military secrets has opened a
Pandora's box that will accelerate an arms buildup of both nuclear and
conventional weapons among the enemies of "the free world." Many
observers, this writer included, believe that the irresponsible and insane
actions of the power brokers and politicians in Washington will likely come
back to haunt the United States and perhaps the whole world in the foreseeable
future.
On
January 4, the 1999 annual forecast and Global Intelligence Update from
STRATFOR.COM titled 'A New and Dangerous World" projected that
"Russia and China will be moving into a closer, primarily anti- American
alliance in 1999 ... The Post-Cold War world quietly ended in 1998. A new era
will emerge in 1999 ... We should not think of the period 1989 - 1998 as an
era. It was an interregnum, a pause between two eras ... 1999 is the first of
many years of increasing tension and conflict involving not only minor players,
but also the world's great powers. It is the beginning of what will prove to be
a tense first decade in the 21st century."
Russia
and China's new strategic alliance is designed to neutralize the effect of the
United States in the economic and geopolitical spheres. How they plan to
accomplish that goal has ominous implications since neither Russia nor China
can compete economically with the United States. Colonel Stanislav Lunev, the
highest ranking military officer ever to defect to the U.S., in an article
titled "Russia-China, the New World Superpower" written for
NEWSMAX.COM, states:
Seminal
change has taken place in the balance of world power, and scant notice has been
paid to this dramatic shift. Russia and China, for decades hostile enemies, are
moving ever closer to forming a political and military alliance to challenge
the United States and the West ....
The
military ties between Russia and China began to develop in 1992. These were,
and still are, characterized by active military sharing on the highest levels,
with ongoing cooperation in the development and production of the most modern
weapons systems .... The West should be alarmed by such an alliance. The two
countries together would combine the largest conventional army, the Chinese
army, with the largest atomic arsenal, the Russian nuclear stockpile. Again,
this menacing shift of power, which will likely be realized in the next few
months, will have dramatic consequences for our civilization that cannot be
overestimated.
At
a meeting on June 9, 1999, between Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin and
Chinese delegation-head Zhang Wannian, deputy chief of the Central Military Commission
of the CCP, Mr. Stepashin made it absolutely clear that: "Building close
ties with China is one of Russia's top foreign-policy priorities and that the
two nations desire a strong strategic partnership . " According to Lunev:
Both
nations have already introduced compatible weapons systems. By integrating the
weapons systems of the Russian Armed Forces and the Chinese People's Liberation
Army, the two countries are rapidly becoming a superpower. More-over,
cooperation between Russia and Red China is expanding in the area of
intelligence, which is laying the foundation for a climate of mutual trust in
Russian-Chinese relations, including guarantees of each other's mutual
security. Thus, all the necessary preconditions for the strategic alliance between
the Russian Federation and Communist China are in place. And this alliance
could threaten the United States and the West much sooner than anyone thinks.
The
Kosovo crisis in the Spring of 1999, initiated by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
Organization), under the direction of President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister
Tony Blair of Great Britain, greatly increased tensions between the United
States, Russia, and China. This first-time use of NATO as an offensive force
rather than for defensive purposes set a new precedent that some believe may be
used to provide the military muscle necessary to set up and enforce the new
world order (now called "global governance"). This abuse of power
marked the first time that NATO forces had invaded a sovereign nation,
Yugoslavia. The United Nations (UN) was not consulted by the leaders of NATO
since it is certain that both Russia and China would have vetoed the invasion
had the UN become involved in the decision-making process.
The
invasion of the province of Kosovo in Yugoslavia provided cover for the Clinton
administration scandals and helped set the stage for future military excursions
by NATO. This act of military aggression may be part of a larger plan to use
NATO to enforce global peacekeeping operations. Peacekeeping troops sent to the
island of Timor in Indonesia during the latter part of 1999 serve as another
example of the movement towards an international peacekeeping force.
One
of Clinton's global strategists, Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State,
before joining the administration, wrote in an essay titled "The Birth of
the Global Nation" which appeared in TIME magazine that he is looking
forward to government run by "one global authority." "Here is
one optimist's reason for believing unity will prevail ... within the next
hundred years ... nationhood as we know it will be obsolete; all states will
recognize a single, global authority," Talbott remarked in the July 20,
1992, issue. He continued, "All countries are basically social
arrangements, accommodations to changing circumstances. No matter how permanent
and even sacred they may seem at any one time, in fact they are all artificial
and temporary."
Talbott's
allusion to a 100-year goal for setting up a world government is a smoke screen
to disguise the real intentions of the globalists, who are looking at a shorter
time span, perhaps a few months or years, to put their plan in place. The
linkage between a global government and Christ's return is contained in Daniel's
vision of the great image, and an amazing future glimpse of God's displeasure
with the nations of the world is revealed in the book of Psalms.
And
the fourth kingdom (Final Gentile World Empire) shall be strong as iron:
forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that
breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise ... And in the days of
these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed (Daniel 2:40, 41).
Why
do the heathen (nations) rage, and the people imagine a vain thine. The kings
of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the
Lord, and against his anointed, saying let us break their bands asunder, and
cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the
Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,
and vex them in his sore displeasure ... Thou shalt break them with a rod of
iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel (Psalm 2:1-9).
The
coming world government system, which is already in an advanced stage of
development, will seek to stifle religious freedom and expression and outlaw
the teachings contained in the Bible. As Psalm 2 alludes, the nations of the
world will directly oppose God, the Word of God, and those who follow God. This
soon-coming global government, which may be only months or years away, should
be a wake-up call to all believers, since the events of the great tribulation and
the return of Christ are directly linked to implementation of a world
government system.
As
a result of NATO's military involvement in Kosovo, Russia and China accelerated
their movement toward a strategic partnership. In June of 1999, the Secretary
of Russia's Security Council and Federal Security Service Director Vladimir
Putin (now acting-president) met with the Deputy Chairman of the Central
Military Council of the People's Republic of China, Zhang Wannian, in the
Kremlin. Putin was quoted as saying, "In the light of the rapidly changing
situation in the world, relations between Russia and China have assumed
strategic nature."
The
STRATFOR.COM third-quarter forecast on June 27, 1999, stated that the
Russia-China alliance was:
...
the most important global trend today. It is well under way and is also
intensifying ... The purpose of the alliance is twofold. First, it is to create
a counterweight to the United States that would force the U.S. to take Russia
and China seriously. The second purpose would be to provide a focal point for
secondary states looking for a safe haven from American power, which would, in
turn, enhance the power of the Sino-Russian bloc ... We therefore expect that
the Third Quarter of 1999 will bring Russia and China to the brink, if not over
the edge, of a formal alliance whose goal will be to contain American power and
provide a counterbalance to American geopolitical power ... The Post-Cold War
is over. We are now deep into the transition to a new era.
On
September 24, 1999, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported that Russian and Chinese
warships would take part in first ever joint maneuvers in early October.
"The Russian Pacific Fleet destroyer Burny and missile cruiser Varyag will
visit the port of Shanghai on Oct. 2-6 to mark China's 50th anniversary and the
50th anniversary of Russian- Chinese diplomatic relations, said Russian Navy
spokesman Igor Dygalo."
During
the visit, the two Russian vessels were to hold joint exercises with ships from
China's Eastern Fleet. "It was to be the first joint maneuver between the
two fleets," ITAR-Tass said "...Russian-Chinese relations have been
warming steadily since the early 1990's, following decades of tension. China is
a top client for Russia's ailing military industrial complex, purchasing
billions worth of jets, missiles and submarines."
What
does the current strategic position of the United States in world affairs have
to do with Russia, China, Israel, Europe, and the end-time prophetic scenario?
If we are close to the fulfillment of end-time events described in the books of
Daniel and Revelation, students of Bible prophecy and current events should be
asking probing questions such as: Where is the United States in Bible prophecy?
Why does the United States not appear to have a major part in the end time
prophecies? After all, the U.S. was, up until recent years, the strongest
military nation to ever exist on the face of the earth.
To
the chagrin of some, the United States will probably not be a prominent player
in the end-time events described in the Bible. Although America is today the
strongest nation in the world economically, the United States will more than
likely be neutralized economically and/or militarily so that she will not be a
major factor in future prophetic events that take place in Europe, Asia and the
Mid-east.
Whether
removal of the United States from its position of economic and military
authority takes place gradually or, God forbid, through a preemptive strike by
Russia's nuclear arsenal remains to be seen. The United States has been
unilaterally disarming under the Clinton administration. On the other hand,
Russia has been steadily building its war machine for decades and has surpassed
the United States in military strength, especially in the area of nuclear
weapons. Conventional weapons will not be a major factor in a nuclear war.
America
Disarms While Russia and China Prepare for War In a provocative book published
by NEWSMAX.COM, Christopher Ruddy states:
The
only thing that makes Russia a great power is its nuclear weapons. One pundit
has described Russia as 'Bangladesh with nukes.' In fact, Russia has more
nuclear weapons than every other country in the world combined, over 30,000.
[The United States only has approximately 10,000 such weapons.] .... To put it
briefly, the West has been disarming, while the Russians and Chinese have been
building their militaries rapidly - especially their strategic forces, or 'super
weapons'...
Although
it has been largely unreported by the national media, President Clinton has
overseen the destruction of nearly two-thirds of America's nuclear weapons
stockpile. He has removed America's "launch on warning" policy and
has replaced it with one that says America will retaliate only after it has
been attacked. This policy from the Clinton administration means that American
cities and military targets must first be destroyed before America retaliates.
To the contrary, Russia's President Boris Yeltsin, on December 17, 1997, issued
a 37-page policy statement reneging on previous pledges not to use nuclear
weapons first.
Clinton
has proposed removing computer circuitry from land-based missiles so that they
could not be launched in an emergency. He has also proposed making it much more
difficult for our submarines to launch their weapons, and has suggested welding
shut the missile hatches on our submarines. The American people need to wake
up, get informed, and get involved in the political process, especially at the
national level, if our republic is to survive. Sir Winston Churchill once said,
"If you don't look the facts in the face, they have a way of stabbing you
in the back." If America does not have a strong-enough military to defend
its vital interests, our entire way of life and western civilization as we know
it is in jeopardy!
After
decades of peace and economic prosperity, the American people have been lulled
to sleep and think war with Russia and China is now impossible. Unfortunately,
leadership of Russia and China do not think that way. Russia and China have
murdered tens of millions of their own citizens and have tens of thousands of
strategic and tactical nuclear weapons pointed at the United States. Never
before has the strategic balance been so favorable to Russia and China. Recent activities
in these countries indicate that they are at the least contemplating nuclear
blackmail of the United States. These ominous developments include:
An
enormous military build-up which includes expansion of their arsenal of
strategic nuclear weapons and an introduction of new biological and nuclear
weapons with first strike capability.
A
huge expansion of their navies (while the U.S. mothballs over half of its
ships).
A
new form of brinkmanship, where Russia and China regularly probe America's
defenses.
Large
new civil-defense programs, including enormous fallout shelters in Russia (One
new underground city is larger than Washington, DC).
While
Russia and China have been preparing for war, the Clinton administration has
cut the U.S. military to the bone, leaving America more vulnerable to foreign
attack than at any time since the Cold War.
Clinton
has slashed troop levels in the U.S. Army, Navy and Marines by 30-40 percent.
Most remaining battle troops are now deployed overseas, in the Middle East,
Bosnia, South America and elsewhere.
The
U.S. arsenal of cruise missiles has dropped to a dangerously low number with
less than 100 left. The few remaining missiles are being quickly discarded
through senseless engagements in Kosovo, Iraq, and the Middle East, and the
Clinton administration is not building any more.
Clinton
has slashed defense spending from 28 percent of the federal budget in 1988 to
17 percent in 1999.
The
Navy has decommissioned almost half of its ships, down from 600 in 1991 to 336,
which is the lowest level since 1938.
The
critical balance of nuclear weapons is now heavily in Russia's favor. Many of
our remaining nuclear weapons are vulnerable to attack, since the strategic
bombers that carry the nuclear warheads, located in the United States, are in
the Middle East and Europe.
The
United States has practically no civil defense system to protect its citizens
from a biological, chemical or nuclear attack, and there is no anti-ballistic
missile system to protect against incoming missiles. Former Secretary of
Defense, Casper Weinberger states in his book The Next War, "...the United
States has embarked on a massive disarmament. Since 1985, the military budgets
have declined 35 percent. Spending on research and development has been slashed
by 57 percent, and procurement of newly produced weapons by a whopping 71
percent." Never before has the United States been so vulnerable to attack
by the worst mass murderers in human history, and never before has an American
leader so jeopardized America's ability to defend herself.
The
greatest threat to America and modern civilization is not a stock market crash,
an international banking crisis, or some other unexpected disruption of the
global economy. The greatest danger to America is a preemptive nuclear strike
from Russia. This danger is not imaginary, as some would like to believe.
Unlike Russia, the United States does not have an antiballistic missile defense
or an active national civil defense plan.
Anatoliy
Golitsyn, a high-ranking KGB defector who predicted the collapse of the Soviet
Union several years before it happened, alleged in his 1984 book New Lies for
Old that the coming Soviet collapse will be orchestrated by the KGB in order to
disarm the West. Gen. Jan Sejna, a Czech defector, made a similar claim in 1982
in his book, We Will Bury You. Both Golitsyn and Sejna described a long-range
Soviet plan that involved a grand deception, unprecedented in scope. According
to Sejna, "One of the basic problems with the West is its frequent failure
to recognize the existence of any Soviet 'grand design' at all. Those rejecting
this concept unwittingly serve Soviet efforts."
In
1984, Golitsyn predicted a Russian military alliance with China that will be
formed toward the end of the "final phase" of the long-range
strategy. Golitsyn's book suggested that the end of the "final phase"
would roughly coincide with the year 1999. He believed the West would disarm
after the Communist collapse, and Russia would form a military partnership with
China while both countries continue their buildup in military power. Golitsyn's
predictions have been remarkably accurate.
According
to J.R. Nyquist, a WorldNetDaily contributing editor and author of Origins of
the Fourth World War, nuclear war has two basic objectives. "The first
objective is the elimination of the enemy's strategic weapons. The second
objective is the preservation of friendly nuclear strength in order to
blackmail the surviving countries. A country that successfully destroys all
opposing nuclear weapons (while retaining a large nuclear reserve) can dictate
the shape of the future."
In
Russian strategy, a nuclear war would not simply be an exchange of nuclear
strikes, but many countries would be invaded and occupied in the process. These
countries wouldn't dare resist with conventional forces without risking
annihilation by Russia's reserves of nuclear and biological weapons. The
successful side in a nuclear exchange would be able to translate the slaughter
and destruction into their design for a New World Order.
If
the United States' nuclear arsenal were ever destroyed, Russia and China would
gain control of the whole earth. Therefore, members of the Russian military
staff have their eyes fixed on America's nuclear missiles. That is what they
care most about and what they worry most about. Without our nuclear deterrent,
we would be "sitting ducks." America's nuclear weapons protect
western civilization from annihilation and conquest by the barbaric, Communist
leaders of Russia and China.
According
to CIA analyst Peter Vincent Pry, "Soviet military textbooks written in
the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's generally endorsed the view that nuclear war
could be won and that victory was likely to go to the side that struck first.
" Russia has been making many provocative statements in recent months
concerning their use of force against the Western nations, specifically the
United States. During November 1999, Gen. Valery Manilov, deputy chief of the
Russian General Staff, said, "When aggression cannot be stopped by
conventional weapons, when it poses a threat to the very existence of Russia
and its people, then Russia has the right to use all its potential in defense
of its sovereignty, including its nuclear potential." The Russian generals
are taught that war involves preparations in three areas;
1)
Preparation of the armed forces;
2)
Preparation of the national economy;
3)
Preparation of the population.
Again
quoting Nyquist:
Preparation
is 90 percent of the game. The leaders of a successful nuclear offensive must
plan for the survival of their own people. They must lay the groundwork for
post-war economic recovery. Without such preparations the war becomes an
exercise in suicide. Therefore, if Russia's leaders have decided on war, their
preparations must give them away .... For example, the Americans see Russia
mobilizing forces in 1999 (authentic information), but American analysts are
none the less tricked into concluding that the mobilization is to deal with a
terrorist threat in the North Caucasus (erroneous conclusion). They will not
notice that a deployment exceeding 100,000 troops is out of proportion to the 5,000
lightly armed guerrillas that are led by one of the GRU's own agents (in this
case, Shamil Basayev). As the operation proceeds, the Chief Directorate of
Strategic Camouflage will continue to generate diversions and feints.
America's
willingness to ignore and write off warning signs that are increasingly
prevalent is a reflection of the arrogance and naivete present among many of
the politicians who live in the Washington beltway. "Men are so simple,
and so much creatures of circumstance," wrote Machiavelli in The Prince,
"that the deceiver will always find someone ready to be deceived."
Nyquist lists ten indicators of Russian military preparations for nuclear war:
1.
Significant troop mobilizations in response to a fabricated crisis;
2.
An increase in missile tests, to assure the readiness and accuracy of the
Strategic Rocket Forces;
3.
An increase in prohibited underground nuclear tests;
4.
An increase in war exercises of all service branches;
5.
Significant troop mobilizations in satellite or allied countries, especially
China, North Korea, Iraq, or Serbia;
6.
Any attempt to create a unified nuclear command;
7.
Efforts to extend the range of fighter-bomber formations by upgrading them with
extra fuel tanks and in-flight refueling capability;
8.
An increase in high-level meetings between government and military leaders;
9.
Misleading official statements about the military readiness of the armed
forces;
10.
The sudden distribution of a new generation of conventional weapons to the
armed forces.
Every
indicator in the above list has been reported and verified by the Russian or
Western press, except for item 6, the creation of a unified Russian nuclear
command; however, its creation was reported last January and then supposedly
dropped. Nyquist lists ten key economic indicators of Russian war preparations:
1.
The unusual stockpiling of nonferrous and rare metals;
2.
Significant cutbacks in petroleum exports for increased military consumption
and/or stockpiling;
3.
Large government purchases of gold;
4.
A large increase in food imports (above normal domestic consumption);
5.
Large imports of agricultural machinery;
6.
The creation of hardened underground sites for the relocation of war factories;
The sudden closing of heavy industrial plants or key scientific centers
involved in aerospace research;
8.
An increase in shipping assets operating along the Volga and Caspian waterways;
9.
A sharp increase in rail traffic in the Ural Mountains and Far East regions;
and
10.
A sudden rise in domestic energy consumption.
Except
for item 8, all of the above indicators have been reported in the Russian or
Western press. The third area of war preparation described in Russian military
writings involves preparation of the population. The four areas listed in
Russian military texts include:
1.
Warning the population in advance of attack; 2. 3. 4. Evacuating areas which
lack blast or fallout shelters; Construction of emergency shelters; Proper
instruction of the population on protective measures against weapons of mass
destruction.
Psychological
preparation of the population is very important in preparing for war. According
to Soviet Military Strategy, "The political preparation of the morale of
the people is of decisive importance ... since the use of weapons of mass
destruction in war imposes exceptionally high and unprecedented demands on the
political morale of the population." The population must be conditioned to
have a strong "love of the Motherland." To accomplish this, the
Russian leadership must effectively paint America as a vicious and warmongering
country.
NATO's
attack on Kosovo and Yugoslavia in the spring of 1999, which included the
Chinese embassy, was used by Russian and Chinese propagandists to generate
hatred toward the western nations and America in particular. Quoting from the
text of Soviet Military Strategy, "Hatred of the enemy should arouse the
desire to destroy the armed forces and military-industrial potential of the
aggressor and achieve complete victory in a just war." In order to
psychologically prepare the Russian public for war, the Kremlin must:
1.
Convince the Russian people that America them;
2.
Show that Western capitalists have been looting the Russian economy;
3.
Say that the United States has designs on Russia's neighbors, or on Russian
resources;
4.
Say that the United States is preparing to build new weapons - in violation of
treaty obligations - that will make America invincible to attack;
5.
Suggest that corrupt Russian officials and capitalist "oligarches"
are agents of the CIA;
6.
Work behind the scenes to provoke a regional crisis that makes the United
States appear in the role of aggressor;
7.
Repeatedly expose the public to official statements that nuclear war is close
at hand;
8.
Increase the number of civil defense drills;
9.
Require the population to organize itself into voluntary civil defense units;
and
10.
Initiate a new program of education on methods of defense from nuclear weapons
and fallout radiation.
According
to Nyquist, all of the above indicators have been reported in open press
reports except for item 9. A special Kremlin meeting chaired last summer by
former Prime Minister Stepashin focused on civil defense and the creation of an
improved program for the people. Detailed reports about specific policy changes
or programs were not given. In the event a nuclear war is close at hand,
perhaps only a few hours away, additional danger signals will become evident.
Nyquist lists 10 indicators that suggest a nuclear attack is probably imminent,
with any three simultaneous occurrences being a "red flag" of
warning.
1.
A rash of high level-assassinations within the United States and other Western
countries;
2.
A sudden outbreak of an unknown and virulent disease which quickly kills or
debilitates thousands of people in a matter of hours;
3.
Unexplained underwater nuclear explosions in the North Atlantic, Norwegian Sea,
North Pacific or Arctic;
4.
Reports or rumors of an attempted military coup against the president of the
United States;
5.
A collapse of the power grid throughout most of North America;
6.
Failure of the phone system in the United States and Canada;
7.
Motor vehicles with computerized ignition systems failing to start up;
8.
Widespread terrorism, mayhem in the cities, rioting, looting, fires and general
unrest caused by "unknown forces" (regardless of who is blamed); and
9.
The Russian population is moved into fallout and blast shelters;
10.
Russia evacuates many small towns and rural districts.
Ultimately,
the fate of America and the freedom of the world rest in God's hands. God has
preserved this nation for over 200 years; however, many evil forces are working
overtime to destroy the spiritual and moral foundations of this country that
were based upon the teachings in the Bible. Isaiah received a vision from the
Lord concerning Judah and Jerusalem that should also be a wake-up call to our
generation: "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the
land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the
mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isaiah 1:19,20).
The
United States in recent years has invited Chinese and Russian military leaders
to inspect military facilities in our country that are classified and
off-limits to average American citizens. What madness! The Washington
bureaucrats are more interested in appeasing our enemies than in protecting the
vital interests and security of this nation. Good judgment and common sense
have been abandoned in the interest of pursuing a global government agenda that
is believed will bring peace to the world.
During
the days of Hezekiah, King of Judah, prior to the Babylonian captivity that
began in 606 BC, the king decided to open his country to foreign inspection in
the hopes of achieving peace and appeasing his enemies.
At
that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters
and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was
recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his
precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious
ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his
treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that
Hezekiah shewed them not.
Then
came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these
men? And from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from
a far country unto me, even from Babylon. Then said he, What have they seen in
thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen:
there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
Then
said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: Behold, the days
come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up
in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left,
saith the Lord. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt
beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the
king of Babylon (Isaiah 39: 1-7).
In
586 BC, exactly 100 years after Hezekiah's death, Isaiah's prophecy was
literally fulfilled when King Nebuchadnezzar completed his third invasion of
Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and took the national treasures and many of the Jews
captive to Babylon. The fatal breach of national security by King Hezekiah is
being copied by the United States as we open our borders, military bases,
defense industries and other national treasures to inspection by those who have
vowed to destroy us.
Welcoming
adversarial nations into our midst is a "recipe for disaster," and
signing treaties with foreign nations who break them when it is convenient is
bad foreign policy. We should realize from past experience that treaties bind
the righteous rather than the wicked and give license to those who have evil
intentions. The Psalmist accurately reveals the heart of those who seek a
military advantage, "The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but
war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn
swords" (55:21).
How
many weeks, months, or years remain before God says, "Enough is
enough?!" "For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their
arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If
the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:2, 3)
Daniel
explains why God allowed Judah to be taken captive by the Babylonians: As it is
written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our
prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and
understand thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and
brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he
doeth: for we obeyed not his voice (9:13, 14).
The
leadership of our country needs to take Isaiah's warning seriously and reverse
the policies that are destroying the moral foundations on which our nation was
founded. If not, God will allow our enemies to destroy us as he did with Judah.
We should guard diligently the national heritage that has been passed down to
us from the founding patriarchs of our nation. If not, we will reap the fruits
of our negligence.
At
some point in the future, the world-power structure will shift back to Europe,
Asia and the Mid-east. If the return of Christ for His Bride is near, what
events must transpire for us to move from the current state of world affairs to
the end-time conditions depicted in Revelation 16 where the kings of the east
mobilize for the final battle of God Almighty (Armageddon)? The kings of the
east show up at the end of the great tribulation, which is a 3 1/2 year period
that begins when the seven-year covenant in Daniel 9:27 is broken (Matthew
24:15). How do we get there from here?
Although
there is nothing prophetically significant in the Bible concerning the new
millennium we are entering, many prophetic scenarios are developing
simultaneously throughout the world that deserve the close attention of serious
Bible students. Some of the most interesting parallel, prophetic passages in
the New Testament are found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Jesus'
description of events leading up to His return, sometimes called the Olivet
Discourse, depicts an atmosphere that is increasingly hostile to Christians.
Luke tells us that there will be "wars and commotions" and
"nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Luke
21:9-10).
Are
the international conflicts currently taking place around the world setting the
stage for the period of "wars and rumors of wars" that will precede
Christ's return? During recent months, several hot spots around the world have
threatened global peace. Conflicts in 1999 alone include NATO's intrusion into
Kosovo in Yugoslavia, India and Pakistan's squabble over the province of
Kashmir in Northern India, the United States and Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan,
North Korea and South Korea, China and Taiwan, the island of Timor in
Indonesia, and the ongoing Mid-east conflict between Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO), also called the Palestinian Authority (PA). Many
of these nations have nuclear weapons or will soon have them.
The
pseudo "peace and security" agreements (I Thessalonians 5:3) taking
place in the Mid-east and other parts of the world today will prove fatal,
according to the prophetic Word. Daniel the prophet was informed by a heavenly
messenger more than 2,500 years ago that at the time of the end, many would run
to and fro and knowledge would increase (12:4). He was also told that the
wicked would prosper but not understand "the big picture"
spiritually; however, the wise would understand what was taking place (12:10).
We
are entering one of the most challenging times in world history as Daniel's
prophecies unfold before our very eyes and set the stage for the end-time
players. At the end of the great tribulation, the kings of the east appear to
have the military advantage as they cross the Euphrates River en route to
"the battle of that great day of God Almighty" with the King of kings
and Lord of lords.
By
assuming that China, symbolized by the dragon, will be one of the kings of the
east, as described in Revelation 16:12, we can begin to make some projections based
upon our current understanding of the prophetic Scriptures and world events as
they exist today. If we are living in "the time of the end" as
described by Daniel the prophet, what should we expect to happen in order to
move from the strategic alignment of nations present today to the alignment
present
during
the latter days of the great tribulation?
The
focus of economic and military power during the last half of the 20th century
has been centered around the United States and Russia. The center of power
during the last seven years (Daniel's 70th week) before Christ returns will be
a ten nation confederacy headquartered in Europe and controlled by the
"man of sin," commonly referred to as the antichrist. Before the
revived Roman Empire, as pictured by the ten toes in Daniel 2 and the ten horns
in Revelation chapters 13 and 17, can become the final world kingdom of the
Gentiles, economic and military superiority must be relinquished by the United
States and Russia.
In
the case of the United States, its economic output has increased at a
phenomenal rate, but its military strength has decreased dramatically during
the final decade of the millennium as she unilaterally disarms in favor of
social programs and implementation of a one-world government system. On the
other hand, Russia's civilian economy has fallen apart while its military
economy has been growing at an alarming rate. The United States has for the
most part dominated the world militarily since World War I. U.S. military might
reached a peak during the Reagan years of the 80's, but has decreased rapidly
during the 90's under the Clinton administration. The unilateral disarming of
the United States at a time while Russia and China have been rapidly building
their stockpile of nuclear and conventional weapons may have ominous prophetic
implications.
Although
it is perhaps safer and less controversial to relegate all prophetic events to
the distant past or the distant future, the times in which we are living invite
a fresh approach to interpreting the prophetic Scriptures. The Pharisees and
Sadducees were rebuked harshly by Jesus for not paying attention to the times
in which they were living (Matthew 16:3). We should strive to be Scripturally
sound but remain open-minded in order to discern "the signs of the
times."
Bible
prophecy students have for some time debated whether or not the United States
is symbolically represented in the prophetic Scriptures. Although answers to
the United States question are not clear, there is no evidence of the United
States being a major player in the end-time events described in the Bible.
Although Babylon the great, described in Revelation 17 and 18, is a great
commercial city that thrives during the end-times and resembles the economic success
that is currently present in the United States, this prophecy appears to be
more aligned with some future city, possibly the city of Rome.
Since
the final Gentile world empire will exercise control over Europe, Asia, Africa,
and the whole world, the United States must necessarily cease to be the
dominant economic force in world affairs. Whether America's demise is brought
about by economic collapse, moral disintegration, nuclear war or other
unforeseen catastrophe remains to be seen; however, the absence of the U.S. in
the end-time picture should be a sobering thought to all Christians living today.
Removal of the Christian evangelistic base in the United States would radically
change the impact of worldwide evangelism and threaten the basic freedoms enjoyed
by many in the Western world.
The
final worldwide kingdom that is to rule the earth prior to the return of Jesus
Christ is described in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 17. In Revelation, the
future world kingdom is described as a beast that rises up out of the sea.
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. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard,
and his feet were as 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
(Revelation 13:1, 2).
This
beast, which is described as having seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns, has
characteristics like a leopard, a bear, and a lion. This end-time world
government will be different from all previous kingdoms, "and shall devour
the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces" (Daniel
7:23). Daniel also gives a different view of the same end-time kingdom.
Daniel
spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the
heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea,
diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I
beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the
earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to
it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself
on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it:
and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and
lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl;
the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw
in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and
strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in
pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from
all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns (Daniel
7:
2-7).
The
fourth beast (end-time world empire) described in Daniel will operate globally
in international commerce and will work closely with Satan's team of deceivers
to control all buying and selling of merchandise. This composite beast, having
characteristics of a lion, a bear, and a leopard, represents the final world
Gentile kingdom on earth. This beast, together with the second beast
(Revelation 13:11-16), sets up an economic world order that requires a mark in
the right hand or on the forehead in order to buy or sell. The underlying
feature of this new world commercial system involves the number 666.
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: 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. 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 (Revelation 13:16-18).
Today's
computer and global satellite system has made commercial transactions
commonplace through the use of credit cards, which can carry a vast amount of
information from the point of transaction to an overhead satellite, the
customer's bank, and back to the satellite and point of sale in a few seconds.
Incorporation of this technology permanently under the skin is now taking place
in animals and in some cases with humans.
The
traditional interpretation of Daniel's dream in chapter 7 links the lion with
eagle's wings to the Babylonian empire, the bear to the Medo-Persian empire,
and the leopard to the empire of Alexander the Great. This interpretation fits
in well with the interpretation of Daniel 2 where the first three kingdoms are
represented by the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, and the Alexandrian empires.
The fourth kingdom in Daniel 2, the fourth beast in Daniel 7, and the beast
described in Revelation chapters 13 and 17 represent the same end-time global
empire.
Although
some interesting parallels can be drawn from equating the first three kingdoms
of Daniel 2 with the first three beasts of Daniel 7, there are also some
problems associated with them. First, the four winds striving upon the great
sea in Daniel 7 seem to be a spiritual striving that determines the order of
the beasts that are to arise on the world scene. It is clear from Daniel's
vision that all four kingdoms (or beasts) were still future in Daniel's vision
since Babylon had already fallen and Persia had taken over. The distant
fulfillment of all of this prophecy is implied by the statement, "These
great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the
earth (7:17)."
After
the judgment takes place in the heavenlies (7:9,10), the fourth beast (final
end-time kingdom) is judged, destroyed and given to the burning flame (7:11).
The judgment of the fourth beast and little horn (antichrist) is followed by
judgment of "the rest of the beasts," (i.e. lion-eagle, bear,
leopard) who are contemporary with the fourth beast. They have their dominion
(power and authority) removed but their lives are prolonged for a period of
time (7:12). Since the fourth beast is judged and destroyed before the
lion-eagle, bear, and leopard empires whose lives are temporarily spared, all
four empires appear to exist at the same time. The kingdoms of Babylon,
Medo-Persia, and Alexander the great were not contemporary with each other, are
not present today, and will not be present when the fourth beast is judged and
destroyed.
In
review, the four beasts of Daniel 7 appear to coexist at the same time, strive
against each other, and become incorporated into the fourth beast that takes
control of the world during the 70th week of Daniel (9:27) (seven-year
tribulation) at the close of this age. It is interesting to note that the lion,
the bear and the leopard are included in the description of the composite beast
of Revelation that rules over the earth; however, the eagle, which was plucked
from the lion, is not mentioned.
The
first three beasts of Daniel 7 may refer to the major nations that have
controlled and influenced commerce and military affairs in the 20th century and
have paralleled Israel's return to world status. Up until World War I, Great
Britain (lion) was the major world military power that controlled the Great Sea
(Mediterranean) and world politics. The United States (eagle), which was
birthed from England, has been the dominant nation in the Mediterranean area
since World War Il. Russia (bear), due to her military strength and nuclear
warheads, has been a major factor in world politics for several decades.
Although Russia's civilian economy is in ruins today, her military machine is
very much intact.
The
fourth world empire will be a composite beast made up of 10 kings (horns) which
will include a lion (England?), a bear (Russia?), and a leopard M. Who or what
the Leopard may represent is unclear, however it may represent the African
nations, the Arab nations, or some Far Eastern nations. It appears that Russia
will be a major world military power up until the invasion of Israel that is
detailed in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Therefore, it would not be prudent to dismiss
Russia's role in world affairs in the foreseeable future.
Although
the national media has deceived the American people into thinking that the Cold
War ended when the Berlin wall came down, and Russia is no longer a threat to
world peace, the United States and European nations keep sending billions of
dollars to keep the bear from raising its paw and unleashing its nuclear
weapons. The three ribs in the mouth of the bear (7:5), which may represent
three nations or a religious or political alliance controlled by the bear,
encourage the bear to "arise and devour much flesh." Obviously, this
prophecy by Daniel has ominous implications if its fulfillment is still in the
future.
If
the lion is represented by England, the eagle is the United States, the bear is
Russia, the leopard is yet to be determined, and the fourth beast is the final
world kingdom, possibly involving the European Union, we are living in the most
exciting time period since Jesus Christ came to earth nearly 2100 years ago. As
stated previously, this is a possible scenario based upon current world events
and the prophetic Scriptures and is not a dogmatic assertion. Only God knows
the true course of future events.
The
return of the Lord in the air for His saints will be followed by an
unprecedented destruction of the earth's population. We will examine four
Scripture passages that are associated with the "blessed hope" or
Rapture, when the Lord shall return to take His people away from the earth
before judgment is unleashed.
For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. But of the times and the
seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For your selves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when
they shall say, Peace and safety: then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as
travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren,
are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief
....
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober ....
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord
Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:9).
And
as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of
man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage,
until the day that Noe [Noah] entered the ark, and the flood came, and
destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat,
they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same
day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and
destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is
revealed (Luke 17:26-30).
But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing
then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye
to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to
his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness (2 Peter 3:10- 13).
And
take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon
you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face
of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:34-36).
In
the examples given above, the return of the Lord is associated with
"sudden destruction," "fire and brimstone," "a great
noise," "the elements .... melt(ing) with fervent heat," and
"a snare" that comes upon the whole world. The context implies
economic, business, and social events proceeding as usual during a time of
pseudo peace and security which is followed by the sudden return of the Lord for
His saints "in the twinkling of an eye," and an associated
destruction that impacts the whole world.
How
this destructive string of events develops and progresses toward the judgments
contained in the book of Revelation is not clear from our vantage point. We
"see through a glass darkly" and "know in part" (1
Corinthians 13:12); however, an Old Testament prophecy that might be associated
with the "rapture" is given in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. The author
is not dogmatic concerning this possible scenario, since there is not
sufficient Scriptural evidence to fill in the gaps. It is offered only as a
possibility based upon the development of world events in recent years and
historic prophecies that may be close to fulfillment.
Since
the prophecy given to Ezekiel more than 2,500 years ago is yet to be fulfilled,
and the stage for its fulfillment is being prepared, we may be closer to a
major paradigm shift in world events than is apparent to the casual observer.
Ezekiel's prophecy is to take place "in the latter years," and
"the latter days," when a large confederacy of nations, made up of
Iran (Persia), Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey (Togarmah) and Magog (Russia), invades
Israel.
Prior
to the 20th century, the Ezekiel prophecy could not have been fulfilled. Israel
did not exist as a nation, Russia did not exist as a nation, the military
alignment of nations given in Ezekiel did not exist, and the means of
coordinating an invasion of Israel was not possible due to primitive
communications equipment. All of the hindrances to fulfilling Ezekiel chapters
38 and 39 have been removed. We are now poised for the fulfillment of this
remarkable prophecy which may be the major prophetic event that realigns the
nations of the world and ushers in the end-time events described in the books
of Daniel and Revelation.
An
article written for World Net Daily (worldnetdaily.com) by editor Joseph Farah,
in September 1999, entitled "Is Russia planning Mideast attack?"
sheds new light on the possible fulfillment of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.
Farah's article quotes Joseph de Courcy, editor of the well- respected journal,
Intelligence Digest, concerning a possible Mideast invasion: While NATO
congratulates itself on bombing the Serbs into submission, Israel's Mossad and other
Middle Eastern intelligence sources have discovered that Kosovo was one
humiliation too many for Russia. Now Moscow has agreed to back Saddam's secret
plan of revenge. With this all-important Russian backing, Saddam is joining
with hated Iran and Syria to launch one final war against Israel. Amazingly,
Saddam will allow Iranian troops to cross Iraqi territory to join the attack on
Israel. And to keep America from interfering, Moscow has given Osama bin Laden
and other terrorists the means to attack American population centers with
weapons of mass destruction. The threat is real .... and the implications
terrifying.
Although
the secular press would have us think that Russia is not capable of waging war
due to its weak economy, Russia's war machine is poised for fulfilling the
prophecy contained in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.
Therefore,
son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day
when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it: And thou
shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with
thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And
thou shalt come up against my people of Israel as a cloud to cover the land; it
shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the
heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, 0 Gog, before their
eyes (Ezekiel 38: 14-16).
In
Ezekiel 38:4, the Lord says: "I will turn thee back, and put hooks into
thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and
horsemen." The context implies that Gog, the leader of the nations that
invade Israel, will be turned back from his intended plans in order to invade
Israel. The phrase "I will turn thee back" might refer to the
disastrous economic problems currently being experienced in Russia's civilian
economy that tempted the "hungry bear" to "take a spoil"
and "take a prey" or it may refer to Russia's military ambitions that
are directed towards the Western nations, but for unknown reasons, are to be
redirected towards the land of Israel.
Although
the actual reason for turning Russia back may not be clear until the event
happens, the following scenario is possible. Russia's number one enemy is the
United States, due to many factors, including its nuclear arsenal. The shortest
distance for Russian nuclear weapons to strike America is not across Europe and
the Atlantic Ocean, but directly north across the Arctic Ocean and Canada. If
Ezekiel's prophecy implies that Russia will be planning a preemptive military
strike towards the north but is turned back by God who puts hooks (incentives)
into Russia's jaws (bear jaws) and brings them south into the land of Israel
"to take a spoil" and "take a prey," the world may be in
for some very disturbing times.
Ezekiel
tells us that, "In that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of
Israel; so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the
beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all
the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and
the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every
wall shall fall to the ground" (38:19,20).
It
is clear from Ezekiel that God will defend Israel from its enemies with
"an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone"
(38:22). Whether the judgments orchestrated by God against the invading forces
are God-made, man-made, or a combination of both, remains to be seen. God sent
the flood in Noah's day and fire and brimstone against Sodom and Gomorrah;
however, He chose to use the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Roman armies and their
war machines against Israel when she rebelled.
The
possibility of nuclear armaments being present in the invasion seems to be
implied due to the special precautions taken during the cleanup and disposal of
the weapons and bodies described in chapter 39:9-16. God tells Ezekiel:
I
will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles:
and they shall know that I am the Lord. (39:6) And it shall come to pass at the
same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the lord God,
that my fury shall come up in my face .... For in my jealousy and in the fire
of my wrath have I spoken, Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and
I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the
Lord (Ezekiel 38: 17-23).
Since
the rapture of the saints is associated with a major destruction and
conflagration, it is possible that the Lord's return might immediately precede
or coincide with the prophecy given to Ezekiel. The prophecy in 2 Peter and the
other passages given above take on a new meaning if they coincide with the
prophecy of Ezekiel.
Seeing
then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye
to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:11, 12).
The
United States and the other major Western powers will be blackmailed or
neutralized militarily prior to or possibly during the confrontation described
in Ezekiel, which some have called World War III. Those nations observing this
invasion through the modern inventions of television and global communications
watch from the sidelines but do not get directly involved. "Sheba and Dedan,
and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto
thee (i.e. Russia, Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey, etc.), Art thou come to take
a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? To carry away silver
and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?" (Ezekiel
38:13).
After the earth-shaking fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 and 39, Russia's global agenda will be shattered, and she will cease to be a major world power. With both the United States and Russia out of the way, the stage will be set for the rapid emergence of the fourth beast (final world empire). This final world empire will not be abl