by
Dave Breese
One
of the great calls of our time comes in the form of the insistent voice of many
who say, "We must have a new world order." People are willing to
respond
with
great enthusiasm to anyone who promises "We can bring to pass the dawn of
a new age." We are close to the place where we can expect a convincing and
charismatic
voice to say, "Follow me, I will lead you into a bright Utopia. All of our
expectations for tomorrow need now be transformed because a new
and
golden age is certainly coming upon us." One can certainly see that, given
the mental state of our time, people are looking for a human savior and
are
willing to enthusiastically respond. Jack Anderson, the columnist, said,
"The world is now in such a condition that everyone appears to be waiting
for
a rider and a white horse to pick them up and carry them off to a splendid
tomorrow."
Will
there be such a rider on a white horse? Can we anticipate that a world
government will come to pass which supervenes; its power above all of the
nations
of
the world? Does this represent a real possibility for our time?
The
answer is that it represents a possibility for our time and a certainty for a
given time. That given time may well be now. Yes, the rise of Antichrist
could
well come to pass within our lifetimes. How do we know this? We know this
because we read the Bible and attempt to become students of the Word of
God.
The Bible tells us, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy, unto which
you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place,
until
the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1: 19). The
Bible indicates that we cannot know what a day or an hour shall bring forth.
Happily,
however, it gives us a clear prophetic picture so that we can know the pattern
of the future. Knowing this, our lives are lived with anticipation
and
expectation, for we know that our God presides above history.
We
therefore do not believe that the world is careening along, out of control with
no strong hand at the wheel. No, indeed! Just the opposite is true. One
of
the founding fathers said, "There is a just God who presides above the
destinies of nations." This is one of the great truths on which our nation
of
America
was founded. Other nations might well and profitably pursue the same course.
There
are a number of ways in which God in His Word reveals the scenario of the
future. Being aware of these, we can come to an understanding of history.
One
of those ways is to consider the scenario of the five kings.
During
the captivity of Israel, the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem was controlled
by Babylon and its headstrong king. That king was Nebuchadnezzar
and
he had a very troublesome dream one night. His magicians could not explain this
dream and so they sought after the person they believed might handle
the
problem. That person was Daniel, one of the greatest prophets in the Old
Testament. Daniel appeared before the king and gave him a most telling
explanation
of
the dream which had befallen him. Daniel said:
Thou,
0 king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness
was excellent, stood before thee, and the form of it was terrible. This
image's
head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its
thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part
of
clay. Thou sawest until a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the
image upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.
Then
were the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces
together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors;
and
the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone
that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth
(Dan.
2:31-35).
After
showing the king what he had seen, Daniel then proceeded to give the divine
interpretation. In substance, he said that the entire history of mankind
would
come to pass under the hegemony of four great kingdoms. These kingdoms were
Babylon, Media Persia, Greece, and Rome. Four great kingdoms - their
personal
history will embrace the story of all history.
We
notice quickly, upon reading this account, that considerably more space is
devoted in the Word of God to the fourth kingdom, which is Rome, than the
other
three. Concerning the fourth kingdom, Daniel said:
And
the fourth kingdom 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 whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of
potters' clay and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there
shall
be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed
with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part
of
clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken. And whereas thou
sawest iron mi xed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with
the
seed of men; but they shall not adhere one to another, even as iron is not
mixed with clay (Dan. 2:40-43).
Daniel
then is saying that the mighty fourth kingdom will be characterized by great
strength and permanent divisions, and that it will finally be destroyed
by
the stone cut out without hands that will roll down a great mountain and crush
the kingdoms of this world, especially the fourth kingdom.
How
instructive are these words from the prophet Daniel! He gives us the scenario
of history in a few short verses and reminds us of the triumph of God
over
it all. Because of the emphasis given on this fourth kingdom, we need to think
further about Rome and the role it will play as we move toward the
consummation
of history. In a later chapter from Daniel 9 we have another scenario that also
tells us of the events of history and the completion of the
divine
scenario. Daniel reminds us that "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy
people and. upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make
an
end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in
everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to
anoint
the
most Holy" (Dan. 9:24).
Here
we have the shortest version in the entire Bible of the whole scenario of
history. We do well to note that here history is interpreted in terms of
its
moral content. This great chapter of world history will be finished when God
makes an end of sins and produces reconciliation- for iniquity. Therefore,
we
do well to remember that history is interpreted by God, not as victorious
military battles, economic triumphs, and the like. No, indeed, history is
interpreted
by God as a moral scenario that must be consummated by the Lord.
Remembering
this, we then note with interest Daniel's very special words about a set of
events that will occur toward the end of world history. He says,
Know,
therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to
restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah, the Prince, shall be
seven
weeks, and threescore and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the
wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall
Messiah
be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come
shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end of it shall
be
with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined (Dan.
9:25-26).
In
these telling statements, Daniel reminds us of two great princes with whom
Israel will have to deal. One is "Messiah the Prince" and, as we well
know,
this
is Jesus Christ. He is the prince who is the Messiah of Israel, a fact yet to
be discovered by the nation of Israel.
But
Daniel also speaks of "the prince that shall come." He tells us that
this prince will emerge from the same cruel, conquering people who destroy the
sanctuary
(the Temple at Jerusalem) and the city of Jerusalem itself. Here we have one of
the most instructive verses in Scripture as to the people from
whom
the Antichrist will spring.
Who
destroyed the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70? The answer is that Rome did. Who
destroyed the Temple in that awful program of conquest? Once again, it
was
Rome.
Who
then will be the people who will produce the Antichrist? This verse indicated
that it will be the kingdom of Rome that fosters the escalation to power
of
this dreadful ruler.
Rome
was once the greatest kingdom on earth. Its power was extended south to Africa,
east to the Holy Land, northeast to Eastern Europe, and even north
to
the center of the land to England. Everything from Spain to what is now Russia
was controlled by the Roman legions, Roman law, and Roman customs.
One
of the characteristics of Roman rule that we remember with some degree of
admiration to this day was its strong government. This succession of governments
during
the days of Rome's prosperity was controlled by Roman Caesars whose names
remain with us until this day.
There
was the great Augustus, who was chiefly responsible for the extension of Roman
law. There was the cruel Caligula, who showed the world what decadence
could
do when it is brought to power. Then there was the reprobate Nero. Nero was the
great enemy of Christians and was degenerate in every way.
We
will recommend for fascinating reading a book on the succession of Caesars in
the days of their control of ancient Rome, Caesar and Christ, by Will Ariel
Durant,
who have given us helpful research in this regard. Their entire series,
"The Story of Civilization," is most helpful.'
Gibbon
gives us an additional set of insights in his classic, The Rise and Fall of the
Roman Empire. It seemed impossible, but the imperial power of Rome
slowly
eroded until finally Rome fell to the barbarians attacking from every
direction.
Durant
suggests, however, that the power of Rome was never fully obliterated. Rather,
he insists that it continued in the form of an imperious system that
operated
tyrannically in the world of religion just as Rome itself had operated
tyrannically in the realm of politics - and also religion. This continuing
system,
built along the facsimile .of the Roman hierarchy, is for Durant, the Roman
Catholic Church.
The
reminder of this is at least the fact that Rome had a strong religious
component in its idolatrous system, along with government power. Realizing
this,
we
note with greater interest the teaching of the prophet Daniel that Rome will
rise again. Rome will then produce "the prince that shall come." He
will
become
the Antichrist! He will rule the world!
Therefore,
one who would understand the direction of history would do well to pay careful
attention to the developments in the new Rome, Europe. Yes, Europe
and
the prince that shall come are inextricably tied together. The scenario of
Europe, therefore, can be observed profitably, and Daniel is properly the
object
of the question, "What are the prophetic implications of a revived
Europe?" Let us think about the European situation of our time as helpful
insight
into
this question.
At
the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, a voice was sounded from
Europe that caught the world's attention. Europe announced that it was
developing
an entity, which it called the EEC. This was the European Economic Community.
Europe had been rather benign since the days of World War 11,
but
now appeared to be noticing itself once again. Europe saw alliances coming
together in various other areas of the world, and also the emergence of
nations
out of the ashes of the war that were latent with the possibility of becoming
superpowers. Japan then (and even now) is an illustration of this.
There
are voices in Europe that were lifted, saying, "We risk the possibility of
Europe becoming very weak unless we can put it all together." What we do
not
want is for Europe to be a set of Banana Republics like Latin America -
divided, multi-directed, ambiguous, and without influence in the world. So
it
seemed that the European Economic Community was the beginning of an answer.
Europe
soon recognized that if it could put together the nations of Europe, it would
have an entity populated by more than 325 million people and with the
largest
gross national product in the world. The bankers of Europe salivated over the
possibility of becoming the brokers of world commerce once again.
Conference
after conference was held to respond affirmatively to the call for a united
economic community in Europe. The EEC became a serious thrust for
power
on the part of Europe. The world still underestimates the possibility of the
European Economic Community. The leaders of Europe are clever diplomats,
forceful
financiers and adept at world diplomacy. Europe in the past has given us such
individuals as Tallyrand, Mitternicht, and others - diplomats par
excellence.
Under the leadership of successors to these men - like Delores of France -
Europe began seriously to knit itself together to become an economic
union.
Out
of this growing economic union a new consciousness emerged in Europe that the
unification of these states would have to be characterized by more than
only
economics. Therefore, Europe quickly moved to face the necessity of military
union. One of the truisms of life is that the person who is rich must
protect
his riches or someone will come in and steal them. This is true not only of
individuals, but also of nations. A very good way to lose the physical
riches
that one possesses is for that person or that entity to be thought weak and
defenseless.
"We
must move toward military union" was then the call. France and Germany
conducted unified military exercises on the field. Imagine - France and
Germany,
mortal
enemies who had fought many wars between themselves now taking the lead in
military unity. The program continues with a standardization of weapons,
transportation
systems, a standard gauge, and many other things. Military union continues to
grow.
In
the minds of the leaders of Europe, a third form of union has appeared to be
most necessary. That is political union. Military and economic union would
continue
to be very difficult without a new and unprecedented political unity in Europe.
Europe is strongly divided by class, race, religion, a sense of
national
destiny, and the like. Divisions as deep as these are not easily brought into a
new and unprecedented unity. More and more talk, therefore, has
characterized
Europe as to what form of government could be conceived that would produce this
common political unity. What can be done to cause people
to
leave their narrow nationalism and march in step in the unity that is needed?
We can be sure that European leadership is still very deep in thought
about
that set of questions.
There
are a number of new developments which have affected the thinking of Europe in
that regard. One of them is the dissolving of the Soviet Union. Indeed,
NATO
itself was formed for the purpose of inhibiting Soviet aggression to the west.
The days of the Cold War saw the buildup of the NATO forces, and with
American
help they can be interpreted as having succeeded inhibiting Russian
expansionism. At the moment one can say that the Soviet Union is no more,
although
we must hold our breath about the future.
So
the question is duly posed in Europe, "What part will Russia play in
NATO?" "Should Russia become a member of NATO as it is now
petitioning?" Political
unity
continues then to have its complications, which complications seem to be
growing every day.
A
second consideration affecting Europe is the endless series of wars in the
troubled Balkans. Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia seem still to be locked in a
fatal
embrace with one another with the "answers" to the problem escaping
almost everyone. What will be the outcome of this complicated process? There
are
a series of "threes" which can help us discuss the question.
1.
The war in the Balkans embraces three nations.
2.
It also touches three races.
3.
It is a confusion of three religions.
4.
It is characterized by three potential backers.
But
as relates to political unity, the Balkans War seems to suggest that political
unity is a total impossibility when there are so many other pressures
for
division.
As
a consequence, it is now commonly reported that Europe is facing "the
bumpy road to reunification." Bumpy indeed, for the implications of
European unity
and
its related problems approach almost the point of infinity. Nevertheless, the
pressure toward unity continues in Europe. All of these forms of union
are
now embraced in the simple expression, "European Union." So the
"EEC" continues to be held before the eyes of the people of Europe as
the goal toward
which
they are moving.
What
will finally bring to pass European union which, as we have suggested, is
predicted in the Word of God? There are two other components which must come
to
pass in Europe in order to realize the goal of unity.
The
first is that Europe must choose an effective, forceful, charismatic, dynamic
leader. In human affairs it is never really possible to put together any
great
program of unity without that unity being characterized by a person. Leadership
means everything in all of the affairs of men. Clever ideas, fine
goals,
fond ambitions, and lofty hopes are so much empty rhetoric apart from their
being embodied in the form of a strong man. Again and again in history,
the
frustrations of people were vanquished and hope was built within them by the
words of a leader. Europe has seen the latest, great example of that in
the
form of Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich. Pre-Revolutionary France experienced
that with the escalation of Napoleon Bonaparte as the emperor. Peter
the
Great did that for Russia and Alexander for the Grecian Empire of Antiquity.
Yes, the key to unity is a charismatic leader. People cannot be beguiled
to
gather around a strong center unless in the epic center is a person with
flashing eyes and visions for the future. He must be the "Man with a
Plan."
There's
one more characteristic, however, that is imperative in order to produce a
vortex of history. That component is what the world calls "ideology."
A
plan for the future must be characterized by something great to believe, some
compelling philosophy, some great truth that draws people up and out of
their
common, banal circumstances. Passionate unity cannot be created unless the
speaker can reach into the vital core of the personality, the spiritual
center
of everything. Many who otherwise might have been significant leaders,
forgetting this, never moved much beyond mediocrity. This quality - charisma
perhaps
- is found in people only very seldom. It is a one-in-a-thousand,
one-in-a-million capability. The ability to press a compelling ideology upon
the
masses of people is the key to the control of a nation. In that day, the day of
the rise of Antichrist, it will be a needed key toward world control.
Such
a person will emerge out of the European situation. Watch for him.
What
could possibly be the trigger mechanism that causes Europe and then the world
to turn in admiration and obedience to the Antichrist? There are several
possibilities
for such a thing in today's world. They certainly would include the following.
1.
Global Economic Collapse: The present world economic situation is on the most
precarious footing in a] I of history. Voracious governments have raised
the
program of taxation to the place where they are now confiscating the wealth of
individuals. This is a most shortsighted activity because it will produce
depression
on the part of people of substance and economic depression in the external
world. Economic capability does not grow out of government manipulation.
It
grows out of individual confidence and individual competence.
2.
The Threat of Nuclear War: Nuclear proliferation continues in our time with no
assurance that it will come to a halt. Therefore, the possibility of one
of
the great powers or even a rogue nation of the world producing a nuclear
exchange is a very real one. Iraq, with its near insane political situation,
could
easily decide to shoot at someone. Libya, under the mad Colonel Kadaffi, is
looking for a suitcase bomb even now. Russia, savoring the old days,
could
decide on a fast nuclear conquest somewhere. Israel, facing destruction by a
500,000-man Arab army could begin a nuclear war. The prospect of this
is
most frightening to the people of earth. Should such a war be threatened, they
could be expected to turn to the assuring voice of the great leader who
promised
peace and safety. We
The
Man with the Plan note that the Scripture says, "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" (I Thess. 5:3). The promise
of peace has again and again been the producer of false confidence and the
trigger
mechanism
for war.
The
fact is that any kind of percolation - such as a war between small nations -
could escalate into a larger conflict and the stated danger of global war.
Any
one of these developments could cause people and nations to take leave of their
senses and opt for global unity. That's when the "Man with a Plan"
will
appear. We can be sure that the Antichrist will not have to shoot his way into
power. Rather, he will be accepted by a grateful people as the proper
custodian
of the future.
We
do well to note that the Bible itself states a number of conditions that will
call for the rise of this world leader and make possible his acceptance
by
the peoples of earth. The Christians at Thessalonica were one day concerned by
the possibility that the Day of the Lord had come upon them. The Day
of
the Lord is that period of time of divine retribution. The world is even now
treasuring up wrath against the Day of Wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment
of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds. This prescription
given to us by the apostle Paul is in effect as of now. The vast
iniquities
of men are being, in effect, put in the bank and one day will be poured out
upon the society. That is the beginning of the Day of the Lord,
the
time of the Tribulation.
But
these dear Thessalonican Christians, under persecution, thought that perhaps
the Day of the Lord had come. With words of assurance then, the apostle
Paul
speaks to them and says, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that you be
not
soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by
letter as from us, as that the day of the Lord is present" (2 Thess.
2:1-2).
So
it is that the apostle Paul argues that because Christ has not come to gather
us to himself - because the rapture of the Church has not taken place --
the
Day of the Lord has not commenced. This must have come as great assurance to
these Christians who were already being subverted by those who said to
them
that the Church must plan on going through the Tribulation.
Having
said this, the apostle Paul gives us a number of characteristics that will
appear in the world in the days of the emergence of Rome's greatest Caesar.
The
first is apostasy, "That day shall not come, except there come the falling
away first" (2 Thess. 2:3). The expression, "the falling away,"
means to
stand
away from, to betray a former loyalty, to turn your back to an earlier
commitment. The word opistimi is the word we translate "apostasy."
So
it is that the Scripture predicts apostasy as one of the characteristics of the
day of the emergence of Antichrist.
Do
we see anything like that in today's world? The answer is, of course. In the United
States alone there are possibly 400,000 churches. How many still
stand
for the truth of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the pre-millennial return of
the Lord, and other cardinal Christian doctrines? Indeed, the Church
will
become so depraved by apostasy as we move to the last days that it will be
easily co-opted by the Antichrist. He will make organized religion a tool
in
his hand. Thank God that by that time the Church will be taken from the world
in that blessed event of the Rapture.
A
second characteristic of the rise of Antichrist will be anarchy. Paul says,
"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders
will
continue
to hinder until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked one be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth,
and
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, even him whose coming is after
the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (2
Thess.
2:7-9).
The
Bible indicates that we live in a wretchedly evil world. However, the evil has
not yet taken over the world in the sense of the mastery of everything.
Why
is this the case? It is because God has ordained a force that inhibits the rise
of evil in the world. That force is personal responsibility, marriage,
the
family, and civil authority. That force is also the Holy Spirit of God working
in the life of the Church. When these things are gone, nothing inhibits
the
tidal wave of iniquity that the Antichrist will actually bring to pass and upon
which he will build his kingdom and influence.
A
third condition that will make possible his rise is strong delusion, "And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe
the
lie, that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:11-12). By the days of the emergence
of
the Antichrist, the world will be so confused, deluded by the many lies that it
has embraced, that it hardly knows truth from falsity. That delusion
will
be something on which the Antichrist capitalizes, using it to produce the
emergence of his power.
In
the midst of all these things, the Antichrist, the man of sin, the son of
perdition will be revealed. The Scripture says that he "opposes and exalts
himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sits in
the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. 2:4).
Here
we have the ultimate of arrogance, a mere man professing himself to be God. Be
very sure that this presumption does not go unnoticed by the Lord.
The
Antichrist, at this point, has a very short life ahead.
Considering
all these things, there certainly is a question that remains. That question is,
"Do we see these conditions developing in our time?" We suggest
that
we only need to consider the daily news, check the newspapers and magazines,
and involve ourselves in the acquiring of awareness about our world.
With
such a program we immediately begin to notice in our time the remarkable
developments of those things which are consonant with the age of the rise
of
Antichrist. As we have seen, the Bible, via the prophets, gives us many
characteristics of the time of the emergence of the beast. A quick glance
across
today's
world must lead us to agree that there is a frightening similarity between the
events of our time and those predicted in the Word of God. The Bible
speaks
again and again about "the latter days," "the last days the end
of the world," and other such terminal statements. In speaking about these
things,
we
are then given by the Lord a set of emergent characteristics, "signs"
of the end times. In this regard, we have a most interesting conversation by
our
Lord
which is recorded by Scripture.
The
Pharisees, with the Sadducees, came and, testing him, desired that he would
show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is
evening,
you say, It will be fair weather; for the sky is red. And in the morning, it
will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and overcast. 0 you
hypocrites,
you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the
times? (Matt. 16:1-3).
The
lesson of this account should be clear to all and has an even greater
application in our times. Can we discern the face of the sky? Indeed, we can.
Via
the amazing modem satellites, we can look at every cloud in an entire
hemisphere, all in one viewing. The face of the sky is a million times more
discernable
to
us than it was to the Pharisees of that day.
But
what about the signs of the times? It seems that our generation is totally
unable to draw a conclusion from the dark clouds around us. Here is a cloud
of
moral iniquity about to break upon us and we notice it not. The clouds of
judgment gather in a more ominous fashion than ever and we take no notice.
That,
Jesus said, is hypocrisy. That is, we pretend to be knowledgeable about the
things that are important, but we are willingly ignorant, in fact, concerning
the
things that matter. Signs of the times are everywhere, but a kind of spiritual
blindness prevents the world from truly seeing them.
Willing
spiritual ignorance produces a result predicted by our Lord when He spoke to
the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. The Scripture says:
And
when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, if you had
known, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong
unto
your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come up
on you, that your enemies shall cast a trench about you, and compass
you
around, and keep you on every side, and shall lay you even with the ground, and
your children within you, and they shall not leave in you one stone
upon
another; because you knew not the time of your visitation (Luke 19:41-44).
The
things that make for your peace, "the time of your visitation," -
what telling words. These warnings were addressed to the nation of Israel and
we can
be
sure that they are addressed to us as well. Any nation, any people, which
forgets that we live in a dangerous world, relaxes its guard, and says,
"All
Is
well," is very close to judgment. Yes, the time of divine visitation upon
our world may well be very close. Not to keep this in mind is surely a sin
of
omission. Not to be concerned with the things that make for our peace, is in
the same class, a sin of omission.
What
makes for peace when peace is available? It is the blessing of God and the
protection of Jesus Christ. Any substitute foundation that pretends to produce
peace
is false. Nevertheless, forgetting this, the world will one day turn to its
great leader and suppose that he can bring peace. Indeed, he will make
this
promise, but alas, the promise will be false. "When they shall say, peace
and safety, sudden destruction will come upon them, as travail upon a woman
with
child, and they shall not escape" (I Thess. 5:3).
One
day, Rome's greatest Caesar will promise deliverance from that destruction and
the glorious result of world peace. The fact is that the result will
be
just the opposite of this. It will be war and destruction. Finally, Rome's
greatest Caesar will be deposed by the reign of Jesus Christ. We look forward
to
that day and, indeed, we see that day approaching.