Theological College

of
Southern Africa

Study Guide
Module 26
Eschatology

Number 1 of 1
Version 1.2
Edition Date: 23 October 2012
Author: Professor Johan Malan
Pages: 98
Copyright: Professor Johan Malan
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RESOURCES NEEDED FOR THIS MODULE

In order to complete this module you will need:
1. This Study guide (there is only one study guide to this module)
2. A Reference Bible.
3. A Concordance
4. Module evaluation sheet

There are no MP3’s to this module

INTRODUCTION
Dear Student,

This module deals with the events that surround the Second Coming of our Lord. The word
eschatology comes from the Greek eschatos/eschatē/eschaton meaning “last” and -logy meaning
“the study of”. So it is the study of last things or the end times. You should be aware that there
are many different views on these events and especially on the sequence of the events. This
course is based on the classical Pre-millennial and Pre-tribulation (pre-trib) rapture view, also
known as Dispensationalism. This is the view that has traditionally been held by Pentecostal
and Evangelical churches, even though many have moved away from these views in recent
years.

The material in this module is a compilation of articles as well as extracts from a book 1 by
Professor Johan Malan of South Africa. We are very grateful to him for the use of the articles.
You may find the occasional overlap in a few chapters but this is because we did not want to edit
his work, except to arrange the chapters to comply with our style.

The author has used the King James Version in most of his quotes. Those that are from the New
King James Version are indicated as “NKJV”.

Please study this guide carefully in order to be able to complete the assignments successfully.
This course is simply an introduction to a very big subject and by no means do we cover even a
fraction of the data on this subject. At the end of the course is a list of additional material. Please
make use of those, especially those that are free like Prof Malan’s online books and articles and
my MP3 studies on Revelation. You will also find it helpful to read the books of Revelation and
Daniel at the same time as doing this course.

Anton Bosch
4 October – Los Angeles

1Johan Malan. The Day of the Lord. Bible Guidance. Mossel Bay, SA.
http://www.bibleguidance.co.za/Librarylists/Bookschaplist/Thedaychaplist.htm
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ESCHATOLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Revelation is important because it is the last divinely inspired Bible book that was written. It is
rightly positioned as the Bible’s final book. As the New Testament opens with the four Gospels
relating to the first coming of Christ, so the book of Revelation closes the New Testament with
the general theme of the Second Coming of Christ.

According to Profs. Walvoord and Zuck (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) the book of
Revelation is also the climax of many lines of revelation running through both testaments, and it
brings to a conclusion the revelation of many prophecies yet to be fulfilled.

In Revelation, the Second Coming of Jesus, and the seven years of the tribulation period
immediately preceding it, are revealed more graphically than in any other book of the Bible. In
the book of Daniel the period between Daniel’s time and the first coming of Christ is described
in detail, while less detailed references are also made to the Antichrist, the great tribulation, and
Christ’s reign on earth after His Second Coming. In Revelation, however, the great end-time
events are elaborately revealed, while the prophetic perspective is extended to include the
creation of a new heaven and a new earth. Revelation, therefore, expounds upon and gives the
final unfolding of future events that are described in Daniel and other prophetic books of the
Bible.

AUTHORSHIP

In Revelation 1:1 it is clearly stated that the book was written by the Lord’s servant, John. Most
evangelical scholars accept the fact that the apostle John is the author of the book. When John
received these visions he was in exile on the isle of Patmos. He was deported by Caesar
Domitian who ruled as a tyrant in Rome from 84 to 96 A.D. Domitian was a second Nero who
tried to completely obliterate Christianity. He demanded the worship of Caesar. Christians who
refused to submit themselves to this practice were gruesomely tortured and killed.

This Caesar exiled John to Patmos who, as an old man, ministered to the congregation in
Ephesus. That is how John landed on the small, rocky island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea
between Asia Minor and Greece. He stayed there until the death of Domitian in the year 96, after
which he was allowed to return to Ephesus. The book of Revelation was written in the year 95
or 96 on this island.

The burning question that must have troubled John was most probably: “What will happen to
the church of Christ in the midst of all the persecution?” In answer to this question, he received
from heaven visions of future events while on this lonely island. In these visions not only Satan’s
great battle against the kingdom of God is revealed, but also the final triumph of Christ over the
powers of darkness. The glory and dominion of God is sharply contrasted with the rebellion,
judgements and condemnation of sinners and their deceivers – the Devil, the Antichrist and the
false prophet.
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THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

The purpose of the book is to reveal things that will occur shortly before, during, and directly
after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In accordance with this purpose, the greatest part of the
book is devoted to the events of the last seven years before the Second Coming of Jesus, as
described in chapters 4 to 18. The Second Coming itself is dramatically depicted in Revelation
19, followed by the millennial reign of Christ in Revelation 20, and the final judgement at the
end of it. In Revelation 21–22, the eternal state is revealed.

The book of Revelation consummates the prophetic themes discussed in other books of the Old
and New Testaments, particularly the book of Daniel and the prophetic discourse of the Lord
Jesus. Important theological pronouncements are made – not only on the subject of eschatology
(the doctrine about end-time events), but also on the doctrines of justification, sanctification,
dedication, works of faith, and the perseverance of the saints in the face of fierce struggle and
persecution in a degenerating world. Knowledge about God’s end-time program, as well as the
future expectation of the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom, is given as a strong incentive
towards holy living and an unwavering commitment to Christ. Peter says:

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy
conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Pet. 3:11-12).

THE DAY OF THE LORD

The visions which John received are clearly placed in the context of the day of the Lord. He
says: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Rev. 1:10). This expression refers to the experience
in which a person is transformed into a state in which God communicates with him personally
in a supernatural way. That was also the experience of Ezekiel (Ezek. 2:2, 3:12, 14), Peter (Acts
10:10-11, 11:15) and Paul (Acts 22:17-18).

There are people who wrongly associate the expression “the Lord’s day” with a Sunday or even
with the Sabbath. Nowhere in the Bible is a Sunday described as “the day of the Lord,” but
always as “the first day of the week” (cf. Mt. 28:1, Mk. 16:2, Lk. 24:1, Jn. 20:1 and 19, Acts 20:7, 1
Cor. 16:2).

The expression “the day of the Lord” clearly has an end-time (eschatological) meaning. Several
of the Old Testament prophets referred to it. The visions which John received on Patmos are
clearly also related to the coming day of the Lord. John speaks of the day of the Lord as the time
when He will pour out His judgements over the wicked. Panic-stricken people will call on the
mountains and rocks, saying: “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne
and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to
stand?” (Rev. 6:16-17). In Revelation 16:14-16 the battle of Armageddon is described as “the
battle of that great day of God Almighty.”

Isaiah says in chapter 2:12 that on the day of the Lord everything proud and lofty will be
brought down and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day (v. 17). In chapter 13:6-9 he says
that the day of the Lord will come as destruction from the Almighty. This day will be cruel, with
both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and the Lord will destroy its sinners from
it. In chapter 34:8 he calls the day of the Lord a day of vengeance and a year of recompense.

Joel says in chapter 1:15 that the day of the Lord shall come as destruction from the Almighty. In
chapter 2:11 he says: “For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it?” In
chapter 3:14 he says that in that day there will be multitudes in the valley of decision.
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In Zechariah 14 the great wars that will be waged in and around Jerusalem during the great
tribulation are specifically associated with the day of the Lord. In this chapter the Second
Coming of Jesus is also described, when His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4-5).
He will be followed by a heavenly host and enter into judgement with His enemies.

Malachi says in chapter 3:2: “Who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He
appears?” In chapter 4:1, 2 he says: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all
the proud, yes, all who do wickedly, will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them
up, says the Lord of hosts… But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with
healing in His wings.”

In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Paul refers to the day of the Lord that will come like a thief in the
night. Peter makes the same reference in chapter 3:10-12 of his second Epistle.

It is clear that the expression “the day of the Lord” always had an end-time meaning, and in
most cases refers to the judgements of God that are described in the book of Revelation.

DISPENSATIONS OF GOD

There is a progressive revelation of God and His plan for the ages in human history on earth
since Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden until the end of time when humanity will reach its
final destination. Seven clear dispensations can be distinguished in the counsel of God, and they
are characterised by increasing knowledge of good and evil. As the dispensations follow one
another, greater clarity is obtained on the kingdom of Christ which will be revealed in all its
glory and splendour at His second coming. At the same time, more detail is given on the
opposing kingdom of darkness which will be revealed in all its evil depravity at the time of the
coming of the Antichrist.

Although there are certain timeless principles which remain the same in all seven dispensations,
e.g. God’s righteousness and His abhorrence of sin, there are also new principles which are
introduced to every new dispensation. These differences are often so important that a custom
which was highly regarded in one dispensation, e.g. circumcision in the Old Testament, is
described as an act of betrayal of Christ during the subsequent dispensation. Paul said to the
legalistic Galatians: “I say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing”
(Gal. 5:2).

The seven dispensations in God’s plan of salvation for humanity are the following:

1. THE DISPENSATION OF INNOCENCE

The very first dispensation in which Adam and Eve found themselves was that of innocence in
Eden as they had no knowledge of good and evil. God had forbidden them to eat of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil and warned that they would surely die should they eat of its
fruit (Gen. 2:17). With great cunning Satan deceived Adam and Eve to rebel against God by
disobeying Him (Gen. 3:1-5). They foolishly heeded Satan’s advice and yielded to his evil
influence, thus becoming sinners. Not only did they become aware of the distinction between
good and evil but they also became victims of evil. Spiritual death immediately set in, while they
also physically became mortal beings. The original sin of our first parents gave rise to a fallen,
sinful nature which was inherited by all their descendants (Rom. 5:12). This situation can only
be changed by a spiritual rebirth. The dispensation of innocence ended with the Fall, leading to
the eviction of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
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2. THE DISPENSATION OF THE CONSCIENCE

For a long time after the Fall humanity had no laws and could only distinguish between good
and evil by way of the voice of conscience. In spite of this innate knowledge Cain preferred to sin
(Gen. 4:7-8). Various other people pursued righteousness in accordance with their inner
convictions and whatever personal revelations God gave them. Some of them, like Abel, Enoch,
and Noah, became preachers of righteousness. At times during this dispensation evil was so
intense and pervasive that God’s anger was kindled against humankind. During the Flood all but
eight people were destroyed.

3. THE DISPENSATION OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT AFTER THE FLOOD

After the Flood God concluded a covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:1-9) and subsequently held the
leaders of family groups responsible for their decisions and the spiritual wellbeing of their
followers. According to Romans 13:1 these authorities, or human governments, were instituted
by God. Genesis 10 contains a list of Noah’s descendants through Shem, Ham and Japheth, who
all became heads of extended families which later developed into distinct peoples or nations.
When these leaders became involved with idolatry, the whole group followed suit. Abraham was
also a patriarch with a large following, but he believed in the Lord and taught his followers to do
the same. The consolidation of human governments gave rise to the establishment of the
Babylonian world empire which constituted an extreme form of rebellion against the kingdom
of God. It formed the basis for apostate government and world empires that followed, but also
offered the possibility for the establishment of God-fearing governments.

4. THE DISPENSATION OF THE LAW

With the introduction of the dispensation of the law a much clearer distinction was made
between good and evil. Not only in the Ten Commandments, but through a great number of
other laws and decrees, God defined righteousness and sin. In this way Israel became better
acquainted with God’s kingdom and the kingdom of Satan. In spite of all the serious warnings
they repeatedly worshipped the gods of the heathen nations around them because their inner
motivation to serve the Lord was weak. They hardened their hearts and refused to repent to the
Lord and to obey His commandments (Jer. 5:3; 23:14; 44:5).

5. THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE (THE CHURCH DISPENSATION)

With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the church age was ushered in. After the crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus the Holy Spirit was poured out to regenerate people and to guide them into
all truth. Because He convicts them of sin and righteousness, they have clearer discernment
between good and evil. The New Testament reveals to us deeper knowledge of God. The devil
and his works are also more extensively revealed (Col. 2:15). We know much more of Satan, his
demons and how they go about to deceive people. Although we have enlightened eyes of the
mind (Eph. 1:18) to understand much more about spiritual light and darkness than was the case
during preceding dispensations, we still only know in part (1 Cor. 13:9). However, since the
divine agape love is the guiding principle of our lives the Holy Spirit enables us to be rooted and
grounded in love, to comprehend with all the saints what the width, length and depth of Christ’s
love is, so we may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:16-19). The Holy Spirit imparts
the heavenly life of Christ to us. We should decrease so that Christ can increase in our lives
(John 3:30).
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6. DISPENSATION OF THE ANTICHRIST’S REIGN

When the one who withholds – i.e. the true church indwelt by the Holy Spirit – has been taken
out of the way during the rapture, the Antichrist will be revealed (2 Thess. 2:6-12). He will be
globally accepted as spiritual and political leader (Rev. 13:3-8). Strong delusion will prevail on
earth and the masses will blindly follow and worship the Antichrist. Evil will develop to its
fullest extent and there will be no limits to blasphemous and sinful conduct (Rev. 12:12; 13:4).
Satan will be worshipped as the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). In contradiction to this situation,
the true church that will have been removed by way of the rapture will receive glorified
resurrection bodies and will fully know all goodness. They will see Jesus Christ face to face and
will never again be separated from Him (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

7. THE DISPENSATION OF THE KINGDOM

During the Millennium the true believers will rule with Christ in His kingdom (Rev. 5:10; 20:6).
They will have glorified, immortal bodies, fullness of joy and perfect knowledge of God. There
will be no more pain, suffering, death or tears. During that time the spiritually restored Israel
will proclaim the praises of the Lord everywhere and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of
the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:9). Satan will be bound (Rev. 20:2-3) and the
righteousness of the Lord will reign supreme everywhere on earth. Harmony and good order
will also prevail in nature. This seventh dispensation will eventually be followed by the eternal
order of the new heavens and the new earth.

LAW AND GRACE

We are presently in the church dispensation, which is the dispensation of grace. This
dispensation was made possible by the atoning death of Jesus on the cross, and started on the
day when the Holy Spirit was poured out to convict people of their sin, to regenerate them, fill
them and guide them into all truth. Before the crucifixion of Christ the law still applied and
people were commanded to observe it. But subsequent to these events people had to come to
Christ for salvation and were instructed to walk in the Spirit if they wanted to prevail against sin
and the flesh. The Lord Jesus fulfilled all the sacrifices and feasts of the Old Testament, thereby
introducing a new dispensation.

It is imperative that we make a clear and complete transition to the dispensation of grace and
avoid trying to mix the Old Testament law with the grace of Christ as that would jeopardise our
salvation. Paul says, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who
believes.” We are saved only by faith based upon Christ’s completed work of grace on the cross.
The Holy Spirit, not the law, convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgement. In the New
Testament, sin is identified as the works of the sinful flesh, and includes everything that falls
short of the righteousness of Christ. Our command is not to be conformed to the law but to the
holiness of God as revealed to us by Jesus Christ.

Should we in any way try to supplement our salvation by Old Testament law observance,
regardless of whether it is circumcision, Sabbath-keeping or any other law, we will thereby
minimise the grace of Christ and even deny the basis of our salvation. Many of the Galatians
followed this course and Paul warned against the serious consequences of their actions: “You
have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen
from grace” (Gal. 5:4). This warning refers to people who were already saved by grace, but
subsequently nullified their salvation by their legalism.
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We too, after our salvation, are not subjected to the law for the upholding of moral standards,
but to the principles of God’s grace: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not
under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). The law renders people slaves of sin as it can only
convict them of sin but cannot save them from their sins. But when the Holy Spirit convicts us of
sin, He leads us to the cross where we can obtain full salvation.

When we are born again we are endued with the new nature of Christ which is based upon the
principles of God’s love and grace. When we completely surrender our lives to the Lord, the
Holy Spirit fills our life and richly pours out the love of God in our hearts (Rom. 5:5). When we
live in accordance with the demands of God’s love which has graciously been given to us, we
have fulfilled the law: “For the commandments, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not
murder, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet, and if there is
any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, you shall love your
neighbour as yourself” (Rom. 13:9).

We are indeed on a higher level than the law since the Holy Spirit convicts us of sins which are
not even mentioned in the law. He also promotes Christian virtues to which the law makes no
reference, e.g. evangelisation, prayer, the filling of the Holy Spirit, as well as spiritual warfare by
putting on the whole armour of God. The love of Christ which was given to us by grace, has its
own nature and principles which teach and motivate us to live on a much higher level than was
expected from people under the law: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to
all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of
our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).

The love of Christ is the basic command or principle of life in the New Testament. Jesus said to
His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved
you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). From this commandment flow various other
New Testament commands or instructions, including the Great Command to evangelise the
entire world. The commandments of Christ should not be equated with the Old Testament law.

Why would people reduce this sublime life which is lived in the love of the Lord Jesus and under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to the shadowy practices of the law? Among the Galatians there
were believers who again started observing Old Testament Sabbaths and sabbatical years. Paul
said to them: “Now after you have known God… how is it that you turn again to the weak and
beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months
and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have laboured for you in vain” (Gal. 4:9-11).

How can we revert to the shadows of the law if we have its complete fulfilment in the New
Testament? Nevertheless, in the early church there were Judaisers who went around and
proclaimed that salvation in the Name of Jesus was not enough – believers also had to observe
the Law of Moses to obtain salvation. Shortly after Paul and Barnabas were commissioned in
Acts 13 to evangelise the Gentiles, Judaisers endeavoured to yoke these converts together under
the law. This matter also became a serious dispute among the disciples and, according to Acts
15, gave rise to the first meeting of the early church’s synod in Jerusalem. The decision taken by
this council was that the Gentiles were not under the law as the Lord purifies their hearts by
faith through His grace (Acts 15:8-11). The Gentiles were never under the law – neither before
nor after their salvation.

Only the people of Israel were under the law as, for many centuries they brought sacrifices, all of
which were fulfilled by the slaying of Christ as the Lamb of God. The Messiah did for them what
the law could not accomplish, i.e. to deliver them from their sin (cf. Matt. 1:21). The law kept
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them under guard and served as a tutor to bring them to Christ. After their salvation they no
longer need a tutor since they are now guided by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:23-25).

It is of the utmost importance that we should stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made
us free, that we should strictly walk according to the principles of His divine love, and that we
should refrain from putting ourselves in bondage to the law. We must not, in the church
dispensation, try to live under the shadow of the law, thereby undermining the principles of
Christ’s saving grace by trying to supplement them by laws.

We grieve the Holy Spirit when we infringe the high moral standards of our life in Christ. The
solution to this problem is not to revert to the law, but to more intimately identify with Christ:
“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts” (Rom.
13:14). We should walk by the Spirit in the footsteps of Christ until He is fully formed in us –
then He will also be to us the end of the law towards righteousness. When my heart has been
filled with His love, I do not need outward laws to govern my relationship with God and with
other people. He who truly loves has fulfilled the law.

DOMINIONISM

Not only is the dispensation of grace undermined and rendered powerless by integrating it with
the dispensation of the law, but there are also those who give a false character to it by
integrating it with the future dispensation of God’s kingdom on earth. If the future dispensation
of the kingdom – that is the millennial reign of Christ – is not clearly distinguished from the
present church dispensation, it can give rise to serious theological confusion and also promote
wrong expectations. When these two dispensations are merged they lead to a form of
dominionism (kingdom-now theology) in which signs and wonders are pursued, as well as
transformation meetings and manmade revivals aimed at taking control of the world. Many
Christian leaders want to live as kings now and be able to wield great powers.

It is completely impossible to establish millennium-like conditions on earth right now. Only the
Lord Jesus can save a remnant of Israel and the nations, have the devil bound in a pit, restore the
throne of David, and ensure that peace and harmony prevail on earth. If we are prepared to
suffer now and fulfil our ministry in the midst of great opposition, we will be worthy to rule
with Christ in His kingdom which will soon be revealed (Rom. 8:17). We are not kings now who
are ruling, but soldiers of the cross who are strangers and sojourners in a world which lies in
the sway of the evil one.

However, it is not only deceived people who are intent on establishing a big and mighty
kingdom on earth before the second coming of Christ – the devil also has similar plans. He
knows very well that Christ will return to the earth as King of kings, destroy His enemies and
found a worldwide kingdom of righteousness. At the present moment Satan uses all his power
in various efforts to forestall this kingdom by offering an alternative kingdom to humanity.
According to Revelation 6, the Antichrist will appear on the scene as a false prince of peace,
conclude a covenant with all the false religions, systematically destroy all his enemies, and rule
over a global kingdom of Satan.

According to the Bible these evil plans will indeed materialise, leading to a short but very
distinct dispensation of the Antichrist’s rule on earth which will run its course between the
church dispensation and the dawning of Christ’s kingdom. The true church is withholding the
revelation of the Antichrist. Paul says, “He who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of
the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the
breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thess. 2:7-8). After the
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rapture there will be a seven year-long rule of the Antichrist on earth, which will last until the
second coming of Christ when He will destroy this evil kingdom and establish His own kingdom
of righteousness.

The plans and expectations of the kingdom-now theologians are dispensationally completely
out of place. Through their actions they do not only erode the principles of the dispensation of
grace but they are actually preparing the way for the alternate kingdom of the Antichrist. The
ecumenical ties which they forge, the strong emphasis on signs and wonders, their interest in
extra-Biblical revelations by false prophets, as well as denying the uniqueness and deity of the
Lord Jesus, will also be used as building-blocks for the kingdom of the Antichrist. He will be such
a crafty deceiver that very few people will be able to see through his obscured stratagem. John
says that the whole world will follow him in amazement and also worship him as prince of
peace and messiah (Rev. 13:3-4).

When the Antichrist establishes his kingdom on earth he will also make concerted efforts to
discredit the saving grace of Christ by means of the law and also by adherence to kingdom
theology. He will encourage orthodox Jews to live according to the law, to rebuild the temple in
Jerusalem and to again put their trust in animal sacrifices. In doing so they will explicitly reject
the once for all sacrifice of Christ on the cross, thereby opening up the way towards accepting
another (false) messiah. The Antichrist will also use the third temple to declare himself in the
Holy of holies to be God and king (2 Thess. 2:4). Israel as well as the nations will be deceived to
conclude a covenant with him.

The Antichrist will build a mighty kingdom on earth, based upon false peace and unity. He will
only institute a military dictatorship in the middle of the tribulation period when revolt will
occur against his kingdom, leading to an attempt against his life. At that time he will declare
himself to be God. Israel and many of the Gentiles will only then realise that he is a false
messiah, and consequently reject him. These actions will give rise to the large-scale persecution
of Jews and Christians during a great tribulation as has never been on earth (Matt. 24:21).

Christ will return after the 3½ years of great tribulation, destroy the antichristian powers, bind
the devil and institute His thousand-year reign of peace. That will be the seventh and last
dispensation in God’s plan of salvation for humanity. At the end of that dispensation the final
judgement will occur and a new heaven and new earth will be created. Then, the narrow way
and the broad way will each reach its final destination – the one in the new Jerusalem and the
other one in the lake of fire.

We are still in the dispensation of grace and can, by faith in Christ, be transferred from the
broad way of sin to the narrow way of God’s righteousness. Did you come over from the
darkness of sin to His marvellous light? This dispensation is racing to its end and we have little
time left to settle our case with God. Soon, the Lord will come for His bridal congregation, after
which the Antichrist will extend his power over a deceived world. During that time it will be
much more difficult to become a Christian and to remain standing against the powers of
darkness. “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Isa. 55:6).

METHODS OF INTERPRETATION

The prevailing confusion among many Christians about biblical dispensations results from using
wrong methods of interpreting Scripture, which often do not recognise the true meaning of the
prophetic word. By so doing, they relegate many of the clear pronouncements about the future
to the status of mere symbols and abstract concepts with no literal meaning, so spiritualising
literal prophecies.
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The thousand year reign of peace that will, according to Revelation 20, be instituted after the
Second Coming of Christ is, despite the evidence that has been cited, still a subject of great
controversy. In terms of their divergent views, Christians are grouped in different doctrinal
schools. Those who interpret the book of Revelation in a literal, dispensational way, are called
millennialists. This term is derived from the Latin word for thousand which is mille. It refers to
Christians who believe that there will be a literal thousand year reign of peace on earth after the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ. A synonym for the term millennialist is chiliast, which is
derived from the Greek word for a thousand, chilios. People who do not believe in a literal
thousand year reign are called amillennialists or antichiliasts. They are also inclined to
change the meanings of many other biblical statements and concepts by spiritualising what is
clearly meant to be taken literally.

Because of these controversies a number of different principles of exegesis (interpretation) are

applied in regard to the book of Revelation. Some of them deviate so far from the basic meaning
of the text that it seriously compromises the divine inspiration of the book. The following are
the four most common ways of interpreting the book:

1. HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM (AD33-400)

Until about the end of the 4th century, this was virtually the only view of end-time events. It held
that a literal Antichrist would emerge in the end-time and that the church would go through the
tribulation period. This would end with Christ’s Second Coming, at which the just dead would be
raised and raptured to heaven with living believers. They would immediately return to earth
with Christ to rescue the repentant Jewish remnant who had accepted Him as their true
Messiah. He would then destroy Antichrist with his hordes and establish His kingdom of one
thousand years on earth. All but one of the church-fathers who wrote on prophecy held this
premillennial view, and in the 2nd century Justin Martyr wrote that to teach otherwise was
heretical!

2. AMILLENNIALISM (AD400 TO DATE)

This is the practice of the extensive spiritualisation of biblical statements. It is a form of
interpretation that was devised by the Alexandrian school of theology in the third and fourth
centuries and which regards the entire Bible as an allegory to be interpreted in a non-literal
sense. This interpretation of the Bible was later restricted largely to end-time prophecies by
Augustine, who interpreted Revelation as a chronicle of the spiritual conflict between God and
Satan, being fulfilled in the present church age. A liberal variation of this view in modern times
considers Revelation simply as a symbolic presentation of the concept of God’s ultimate victory.

Theologians who follow this approach do not believe in a literal Millennium; consequently they
are described as amillennialists. By spiritualising a biblical concept it is deprived of its face
value, after which another meaning is read into it. This method of interpretation is also called
replacement theology in terms of which Israel can be taken to mean the church (a claim made by
many churches), Jerusalem can become anyone’s home-town, Babylon can be applied to
America, baptism can be equated with salvation and the 144 000 saved Jews of the tribulation
can be applied to the millions of Christians of the entire church dispensation. Certain other
concepts, such as the rapture, are simply argued away without replacing them with anything
else.
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3. POSTMILLENNIALISM (MID AD1600’S TO DATE)

According to this school, the world will progressively become a better place through
Christianisation, thereby ushering in the Millennium of the church age. At the end of the “golden
age” of a Christianised world, Christ will return for the final judgement. There will, according to
the postmillennialist interpretation, be no further dispensation of the kingdom of God on earth
with Jerusalem as world capital.

4. MODERN, DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM

(EARLY AD1800’S TO DATE)
J.N. Darby (born 1800 in London) was an eminent British theologian who is credited for re-
establishing Dispensationalism in the church. In the book When the Trumpet Sounds (p. 127-8),
Prof. Floyd Elmore of Ohio, USA, says that John Darby had the greatest impact upon the study of
biblical prophecy in the last 150 years, and that he was a choice servant of God who was used to
impact the church’s understanding of biblical prophecy. He says that, “Darby is the
acknowledged father of systematised Dispensationalism and a key modern developer of the
pretribulational rapture.”

This approach is followed by conservative scholars who hold the view that everything described
from Revelation 4 to the end of the book are future events. The contents of Revelation 4-18
describe the last seven years preceding the Second Coming of Christ and particularly emphasise
the great tribulation, occurring in the last 3½ years before His coming. After the Second Coming
Satan will be bound and the millennial reign of Christ established on earth.

Because Christ returns before the Millennium, this view of prophecy is termed
“premillennialism”. We are not now in the Millennium, and Satan is, quite evidently, not yet
confined to a sealed pit – not even in a symbolic sense! Premillennialism honours the literal
meaning of Scripture, except when the context clearly shows that a particular concept must be
interpreted symbolically. An example of symbolism is the red dragon with seven heads, which
the Bible itself identifies as the Devil. However, when the Bible speaks about Israel, the great
tribulation, the Antichrist, the false prophet, the battle of Armageddon, the binding and
incarceration of Satan after the Second Coming, there is no justification whatsoever for
explaining away the meanings of these concepts through allegorising or spiritualising them. The
golden rule is: When the plain sense of the word makes common sense, then seek no other sense.

EVALUATION OF THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES

To the amillennialists and postmillennialists, the prophetic message of Revelation has lost its
literal meaning and relevance as a result of spiritualisation. The chronology of the book is not
recognised since the one thousand year reign of Revelation 20 is regarded as a symbolic
expression of the church age between the first and second comings of Christ. Hence, they say the
tribulation took place in the church age, either in the first century or during any other time.
They say that the devil, though bound, is not totally contained and is still able to move around
and do his evil business. Some amillennialists and postmillennialists maintain, quite
unrealistically, that the devil is completely bound and no longer a threat to be reckoned with!
On the extreme fringe there are those who believe that there is no devil and no hell – these
concepts should, according to them, also be spiritualised!

Furthermore, the amillennialists and postmillennialists do not believe in the physical and
spiritual restoration of the people of Israel according to Old Testament prophecies. In terms of
replacement theology, they regard the church as the new Israel, or the spiritual Israel. Many of
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the end-time prophecies are allegorised and in a doubtful way relegated to historical periods
when they are said to have been finally fulfilled. As far as they are concerned, the prophetic
message of Revelation has become largely inapplicable to our generation because of its alleged
historical fulfilment.

In the same vein, important signs of the times such as the institution of a cashless monetary
system, the ecumenical alliance of world religions and the emergence of the new world order of
the Antichrist are played down as biblically insignificant. The result of this attitude is often that
church members lose their ability to spiritually discern the fulfilment of end-time prophecies
and consequently abide by a secular assessment of contemporary affairs. Under these
circumstances the expectation of the soon coming Bridegroom and a heavenly vision of Christ as
“the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16) fades into the background. However, it must be said
that some amillennialists are exemplary Christians despite their particular view of prophecy.

Premillennialism places a strong emphasis upon the basic truths of the Scriptures and fosters a
clear concept of God’s divine plan for future events. Christians who hold this view interpret
current affairs in the world in the light of the prophetic word, and, therefore, have the spiritual
ability to see a biblical pattern in contemporary events. They avoid the typical amillennial pitfall
of complacency that arises from the self-imposed assumption that the devil is either partly or
completely bound, that Christians are taking over the world for Christ, that they will soon be
able to sit back and enjoy the benefits of the kingdom and that Christ’s coming for the final
judgement is only a far distant prospect. Instead, they view themselves as strangers and
pilgrims in a world that “lies under the sway of the wicked one.” (1 Jn. 5:19) They therefore
expect an intensified struggle between the powers of light and darkness.

Premillennialists are also aware of the solemn hour in which we live, and are convinced that the
dispensation of the church is rapidly running out. Under these circumstances, they make the
best use of their time to warn others to prepare themselves to meet the Lord. Greater
evangelistic zeal is thus encouraged as opportunities for giving effect to the Great Commission
will soon end. Furthermore, the prophetic word urges people to continuously conduct their lives
according to biblical standards of holiness, in preparation for the return of Jesus. They also long
for the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom, who will take them to their heavenly mansions
which He has prepared for them.

VIEWS OF THE CHURCH-FATHERS

To confirm that the Millennium is not merely symbolic, but a literal period of future history, it
may be helpful to establish what John taught about his visions when he was released from
Patmos and proceeded with his ministry in Asia Minor. Early church-fathers who were his
students clarify the matter and indicate that this subject was often discussed. The following are
some of the statements of church-fathers on the Millennium and related matters:

Papias, the bishop of Smyrna, was a student of John and learned first-hand about the author’s
own interpretation of the book of Revelation. The teaching of this church-father is very
important as he is the link between the millennialist view and the apostles. Papias taught that
after the resurrection of the dead there will be a reign of Christ on earth for a thousand years
when He will personally sit on the throne. The earth will experience a time of unprecedented
fertility and there will be great prosperity under Christ’s beneficent rule with His saints. Early in
the second century, Justin Martyr wrote: “A certain man among us, whose name is John, one of
the apostles of Jesus, prophesied in a revelation that he had that those who believe in our Lord
Jesus Christ will be in Jerusalem for a thousand years.”
 14

Another church-father, Polycarp, who was one of the youngest students of the apostle John, was
a very devoted Christian who also died as a martyr. On the authority of John he taught that the
earth will be very fertile during the Millennium and yield abundant crops. Another view of
significance is that of Irenaeus who was a student of Polycarp. He said that the reward of the
just would be that they will be resurrected from among the dead when the world is renewed
and made fertile. His view was that each of the six days of creation indicates a thousand year
period, and that after six thousand years of world history have expired it would be followed by
the seventh day, which would also be a thousand years.

This last-mentioned view was entertained by various church-fathers, among them Cyprian,
Barnabas and Lactantius. In this regard, the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopaedia says that the general
view of the church-fathers was that the Lord will appear at the end of the sixth millennium to
establish His kingdom on earth. The general view was that this kingdom, which correlates with
the Sabbath of Creation, will continue for one thousand years.

PERSISTENCE OF THE ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION

Despite the clear testimonies of the apostle John, the early church-fathers and the Bible’s own,
very obvious message, the allegorical interpretation of biblical prophecies has permeated
virtually the entire church. Theologians have deprived churches of the literal message of the
Bible by wrongly interpreting it. Hamilton, an amillennialist himself, admits this problem in his
book, The Basis of Millennial Faith: “Now we must frankly admit that a literal interpretation of
the Old Testament prophecies gives us just such a picture of an earthly reign of the Messiah as
the Premillennialists picture.” The critical question is not whether the Bible teaches such an
earthly kingdom – because it clearly does – but how the relevant prophecies should be
interpreted.

McDonald (Dictionary of the Christian Church) defines an allegory as follows: “The use of
language to convey a deeper and a different meaning from that which appears on the surface.”
An allegorical interpretation must be clearly distinguished from a symbolic interpretation. The
Bible often makes use of symbolic language – also in the prophecies. A symbol always has a
literal anti-type as it is used to explain something about a specific person or event. From the
way in which it is used, it is clear that a symbol means something else. Examples of symbols to
describe certain characteristics of Christ are the Lamb, the Lion, the light of the world, the bright
and morning star, the true vine, etc.

In cases of allegorical interpretation, the relevant Scripture has a clear and obvious meaning,
but the reader decides that he wishes to read something else into it, thereby assigning a
figurative meaning to the Scripture. The allegorical interpretation, therefore, does not subject
itself to the authority of the Bible by deriving its meaning from it, but approaches Scripture with
a preconceived idea by reading something else into the Bible.

Angus & Green (The Bible Handbook) also refer to this danger when they say: “There is an
unlimited scope for fancy, if once the principle be admitted, and the only basis of the exposition
is found in the mind of the expositor. The scheme can yield no interpretation, properly so called,
although possibly some valuable truths may be illustrated.”

Bernard Ramm (Protestant Biblical Interpretation) adds to this caution: “To state that the
principal meaning of the Bible is a second-sense meaning, and that the principal method of
interpretation is spiritualising, is to open the door to almost uncontrolled speculation and
imagination. For this reason we have insisted that the control in interpretation is the literal
method.”
 15

O.T. Allis, who also spiritualises the Bible, is keenly aware of the negative results that it may
yield when he says: “Whether the figurative or spiritual interpretation of a given passage is
justified or not, depends solely on whether it gives the true meaning. If it is used to empty words
of their plain and obvious meaning, to read out of them what is clearly intended by them, then
allegorising or spiritualising is a term of reproach which is well merited.”

One of the great proponents of allegorical interpretation was Origen (born AD 185). He was
strongly influenced by the Greek philosophy of Plato and tried to synthesise the Bible with
abstract philosophical thinking. He identified the following three levels of interpreting the Bible:
 The somatic or literal interpretation, which is sufficient for the simple-minded.
 The psychological or moral interpretation for more advanced people.
 The pneumatic or allegorical interpretation for those who have wisdom.

People with wisdom should find their way through all the symbols and ascend to the level of the
mysterious. This approach paved the way to various kinds of deception and metaphysical
speculation. In terms of this premise it is obvious why Origen did not believe in a literal
kingdom of Christ on earth. With this approach he became the founder of allegorical exegesis
and amillennial thinking. Like Augustine almost two centuries later, he regarded the church age
as the dispensation of the kingdom.

Augustine (AD 354 to 430) perpetuated the serious exegetical and amillennial errors of Origen
in his Confessiones and his book on the kingdom of God – The Civitate Dei. He also studied and
accepted neo-Platonist thought. Augustine has the doubtful honour of having been highly
regarded by prominent reformers such as Calvin and Luther, while also being venerated as the
most eminent Christian scholar by the Vatican. The latter celebrates a feast to his honour on 28 th
August every year!

The modern church is still profoundly influenced by the heathen (Platonist) philosophy of the
inter-testamental period and also by its similarly mistaken interpretational methods of
spiritualising and allegorising the Bible.

THE LITERAL METHOD OF INTERPRETATION

Fortunately, there is a growing group of evangelical scholars in modern times who are reverting
to sound principles of interpreting the inspired and inerrant Word of God. Dwight Pentecost
(Things to Come) gives the following definition of the literal method of interpretation:

“The literal method of interpretation is that method that gives to each word the same basic
meaning it would have in normal ordinary customary usage, whether employed in writing,
speaking or thinking. It is called the grammatical-historical method to emphasise the fact that
the meaning is to be determined by both grammatical and historical considerations.”

The strongest proof of the literal interpretation is the way in which the New Testament makes
use of the Old Testament. Good examples are the many prophecies about the birth, life, work
and death of Christ that were all literally fulfilled in the New Testament.

Despite this overwhelming evidence about Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Pharisees and
scribes decided to suppress the truth and lie to the people. Why did they do that? Hal Lindsey
says that any person who does not realise that his most important problem is an inward,
spiritual problem, prefers a political above a spiritual saviour.
 16

It is still the same today. Many churches openly disregard the Bible’s literal message and engage
in an ecumenical process of uniting church to society – inadvertently preparing for the world’s
false political ‘saviour’, the Antichrist. The spiritualisation of biblical prophecies is clearly a trick
by Satan to make people forget about the great spiritual Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ (Jn.
4:42), who will soon return to save the remnant of Israel and the nations (Mt. 24:30) and
establish His millennial reign on earth.

At Christ’s first coming most Jews, especially the hierarchy, ignored the many prophecies about
Him, so failed to recognise their true Messiah. Israel paid dearly for their neglect of prophecy:
“For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you,
surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the
ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the
time of your visitation” (Lk. 19:43-44). Christ’s prophecies have and will all come true – literally!

A similar situation prevails concerning His Second Coming. Literal prophecies of His coming are
either ignored or wrongly interpreted, thus depriving Christians of their proper future
expectation – often leading to some focusing attention on political and social ideals. Jesus
Himself said it will be as in the days of Noah and Lot. Those not truly born again will pay a very
heavy price in tribulation and divine wrath by being left behind to endure the Antichrist’s reign
of terror after Christ comes to take away His bride at the rapture.

To those who remain true to the Lord Jesus and expect His coming imminently, there is the real
hope of returning to this troubled world with Christ when he establishes His millennial reign on
earth after the tribulation period.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

There is a large body of prophetic information in the Bible which reveals major events in the
world before, during and after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. These signs of the times help
us understand the unfolding of God’s divine plan for humanity, so we can be better prepared for
future events.

The Lord expects us to heed these signs, as their message is just as obvious as the signs of
nature: “When you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, A shower is coming; and
so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be hot weather; and there is.
Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern
this time?” (Luke 12:54-56). The Israelis know that when clouds gather from the Mediterranean
Sea in the west, rain is coming. When a strong southerly wind blows across the plains of the hot
Negev desert, they know that it will be a very hot day.

The signs of the times refer to important things that happen in the world, which are indicators
of contemporary and future events. Those who fail to interpret the signs of the times are
branded as hypocrites – spiritually blinded people who are ignorant of what the Lord is
communicating to them through the very obvious fulfilling of biblical prophecies.

Although there will definitely be a surprise element in the time of the rapture, we nevertheless
have various signs indicating its nearness. Referring to certain signs which He mentioned in His
Prophetic Discourse, the Lord Jesus said: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and
lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). There are various signs
indicating the nearness of the end of this dispensation, among which the following are the most
important:
 17

1. THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL

The Lord said that, “in the latter days,” He would gather the children of Israel from among the
nations, wherever they have gone (Hos. 3:5; Ezek. 37:21). A very important aspect of their
restoration is the status of the city of Jerusalem. According to Luke 21:24, Jerusalem would be
trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The physical
recapturing of biblical Jerusalem (the Old City) occurred in 1967 in the Six Day War, which was
a prelude to its political restoration as Israel eternal and indivisible capital city in August 1980.
The latter event inaugurated the terminal generation of the present dispensation. According to
the Bible, there will be a great end-time struggle for the control of Jerusalem (Zech. 12:2-3;
14:2) because Jesus Christ will return to this city at His Second Coming (Zech. 14:4-5). His
enemies will await Him here, but the ensuing battle will lead to their utter destruction (Zech.
14:12-13).

2. THE RUSSO-ARAB INVASION OF ISRAEL

In Ezekiel 38 and 39, a Russo-Arab invasion of Israel is described. The prince of Russia is called
Gog and his country Magog. These are ancient names for modern Russia, as they refer to the
large area to the north of the Caucasian Mountains and the Black Sea. God says to the end-time
prince of Gog: “I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and lead you out, with all your
army… Persia, Ethiopia and Libya are with them… Gomer and all its troops [probably referring to
Germany]; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops [a reference to modern
Turkey]… Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about
you… In the latter years you will come into the land of those… gathered from many peoples on the
mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations… You will
come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I
will bring you against my land” (Ezek. 38:4-8,16). In the next chapter, The Lord describes the
destruction of Gog and his hordes during this invasion: “You shall fall upon the mountains of
Israel, you and all your troops, and the people who are with you” (Ezek. 39:4). In the light of this
prophecy, it is important to note the rising political tensions in the Middle East and Eastern
Europe, as it will lead to the big war predicted by Ezekiel, in which at least six countries will
participate. God’s intervention will lead to the defeat of the invading forces.

3. THE RESTORATION OF BABYLON

Revelation 18 refers to a metropolis with the name of Babylon. It is the same city that existed in
ancient times, but in the end-time it will be restored to its former glory. As the birthplace of the
Ancient World’s pagan religion, this city must again emerge as the seat of a false universal
religion. Babylon is situated on the banks of the Euphrates River in Iraq. In September 1987, the
first part of the restored city was inaugurated, but building projects were subsequently
abandoned because of the Gulf War. Included in the first phase of the reconstruction of the old
city is the southern palace of King Nebuchadnezzar. This part of the palace includes the famous
throne-room where the writing appeared on the wall during the last night of King Belshazzar’s
reign. Among the other reconstructed buildings is the gateway to the temple of Ishtar. Hotels
and tourist facilities have also been erected on the outskirts of the city.

It is no coincidence that two of the last six chapters of the Bible are devoted to Babylon. In
Revelation 17, mystical Babylon is described and identified as the mother of harlots. This is an
indication that all the false religions that originated from Babylon will be organised into a single
ecumenical body in the end-time. Their final abode will be the restored city of Babylon. The
 18

revived commercial city of Babylon is described in Revelation 18. Various authors have
indicated that Babylon will have to be restored before its final destruction, which will happen in
one hour with fire (Rev. 18:8).

Present developments in Iraq are leading up to this country’s rapid internationalisation. If the
emerging new world order is to succeed, it will have to succeed in establishing peace in Iraq.
This may well be the beginning of Babylon’s important end-time role.

4. THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE

The ancient Roman Empire also has to re-emerge in the end-time as a power-base for the
Antichrist. In the image of Daniel (Dan. 2:31-45), the Roman Empire is represented by the legs
and ten toes. In the night visions of Daniel, the vicious beast with ten horns on its head also
depict the Roman Empire, from which the Antichrist will come forth (Dan. 7:7-8,19-26). The
symbolism of the beast with the ten horns is also found in Revelation 13:1-2, which describes
the Antichrist. From these prophecies it is evident that the Roman Empire will arise again. It is
important to keep in mind that this was a Mediterranean empire, comprising countries from
Western Europe, Eastern Europe, The Middle East and North Africa. Countries from Western
and Eastern Europe have already been incorporated into the expanded European Union, and it
is significant that negotiations with Turkey will soon begin with a view to joining the Union.
Israel has also indicated interest for membership. Europe is already the major economic power
in the world, and is set to assume leadership functions in various other spheres of world affairs.

5. THE NEW WORLD ORDER

The Antichrist will be the head of a new world order which includes all nations. Revelation 13:7
says that he will gain political power over all the world: “He was given authority over every
tribe, tongue and nation.” As world messiah, he will also enjoy the religious worship of all
people: “And all the world marvelled and followed the beast… they worshipped the beast, saying,
Who is like the beast?” (Rev. 13:3-4). Furthermore, he will unite the world economically by
controlling all financial transactions in a future cashless economy: “And he causes all, both small
and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their
foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number
of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Rev. 13:16-18). His global empire
will, therefore, be characterised by political, religious and economic unity. His subjects will be
viewed as planetary citizens, rather than members of specific nations. Religious differences will
be superseded by members of all religious groups who worship him as their common messiah.

6. THE INTERFAITH MOVEMENT

The interfaith gospel of synthesising all religions is based on the concept of universalism, i.e.
that all religions worship the same God and can therefore join hands in unity. The Ecumenical
and Interfaith Movements are based on this idea and they are actively pursuing the objective of
establishing global religious organisations to unify humanity at the spiritual level. They
maintain that the achievement of a mystical brotherhood of members of all faiths holds the key
to global reconciliation and peace. As the religions of the world move ever closer to each other,
it is obvious that ecumenical Christianity has to make self-destructive compromises with other
 19

religions to achieve unity. Many theologians have adulterated the Christian faith to such an
extent that biblical truths have been distorted beyond recognition.

The Bible calls the end-time union of the false religions “Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother
of harlots and abominations of the earth” (Rev. 17:5). She is recognised and carried by the
Antichrist because of her usefulness to him. It is very obvious that the Interfaith Movement of
false religions is preparing the world for the coming false Christ, the Antichrist, who will rule the
world for seven years.

7. RELIGIOUS DECEPTION

Heretical teachings will have disastrous consequences in many nominal Christian churches. We
have been warned against this: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will
depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Thess. 4:1). In
the end-time, there will be a high popular demand for false teachings: “For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the
truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Blinded congregations will always find false
teachers who are willing to take the lead in wrong teachings. Peter says: “There shall be false
teachers among you, who [secretly] shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that
bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious
ways” (2 Pet. 2:1-2).

When the Lord Jesus was asked about the signs of His Second Coming, he mentioned religious
deception as the single most important sign: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will
come in My name, saying, I am the Christ [meaning ‘I am the Anointed of the Lord’] and will
deceive many… Then many false prophets will arise and deceive many… [they will] show great
signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matt. 24:4-5,11,24; cf. Matt. 7:21-
23).

8. MORAL DECLINE

Serious moral decline will occur in the end-time: “But know this, that in the last days perilous
times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without
self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away”
(2 Tim. 3:1-5). Many Christians will also be detrimentally influenced by this rising tide of
immorality: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12).
The Living Bible says: Sin will be rampant everywhere and will cool the love of many. Christians
must guard against the rising tide of immorality.

9. NATURAL DISASTERS

In the end-time there will be a great increase in natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, severe floods and droughts, excessive high and low temperatures with a clear
movement towards global warming, and the pollution of life-sustaining natural resources. The
tsunami in Southeast Asia on 26th December 2004 was one of the worst natural disasters in
recorded history. It was caused by a massive earthquake on the seabed. Natural disasters will
 20

greatly increase in the coming tribulation period and cause great panic among people: “And
there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations,
with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the
expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be
shaken” (Luke 21:25-26). Revelation 16:18-21 describes the most destructive earthquake in
human history, followed by the falling of hailstone of 50 kilogram. The Lord Jesus describes this
time as a “great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world” (Matt. 24:21).

10. FAMINES AND PESTILENCES

In His review of the signs of the times, the Lord Jesus said: “And there will be famines [and]
pestilences” (Matt. 24:7). They will be major causes of death in the great tribulation. Food will
become very scarce and expensive. Famine is the inevitable aftermath of war, because
thousands of economically active men are signed up for military service. Excessive military
expenses can also cripple the economies of countries, while the destruction of infrastructure
during wars inevitably contributes to food shortage, the displacement of people, and starvation.
Medical services are also hampered by wars and difficult economic times, leading to poor
healthcare and the inability to counter epidemics and pestilences. Certain diseases, such as HIV
Aids, thrive in immoral societies and also account for increasing death tolls.

11. WARS

Christ said: “And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom” (Matt. 24:6-7). In Revelation, John said: “And another horse, fiery red,
went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people
should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword” (Rev. 6:4). The four horsemen
of Revelation 6 represent ominous events that will occur in the coming tribulation period. The
white horse depicts the rise of the Antichrist, the red horse war, the black horse famine, and the
pale horse death. John says: “And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with
sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth” (Rev. 6:8). The staggering death
toll of a quarter of the earth’s population amounts to more than 1,5 billion deaths, which will far
exceed the death toll of 52 million in World War II. Three of the big end-time wars described in
the Bible are the Russo-Arab invasion of Israel (Ezek. 38-39), the Chinese invasion of various
countries (Rev. 9:13-19), and the big world war of Armageddon. The development and
accumulation of weapons of mass destruction is a sign that the world is heading for a time of
increased wars.

12. WORD EVANGELISM

One sign of the end-times which has a positive nature is that of word evangelism. Before the end
comes, the gospel must be preached to all nations. The Lord Jesus said: “And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will
come” (Matt. 24:14). All Christians should dedicate themselves to achieving this objective. In a
parable, Christ says: “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My
house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). While preaching the gospel, we should not be distracted by
the negative reaction of some people, as not all of them will repent. We should rather expect a
spiritual and moral polarisation. In Revelation 22:11 the Living Bible says: “And when that time
comes, all doing wrong will do it more and more; the vile will become more vile; good men will be
 21

better; those who are holy will continue on in greater holiness.” Let all Christians proclaim the
message of salvation, in season and out of season.

CONCLUSION

The signs of the times graphically illustrate the fact that the God of love, who wants to save all
people, is also the God of wrath who will severely judge unrepentant sinners. We should not
only emphasise certain attributes of God at the cost of others, as we may then end up with
“another Jesus” who is an invention of the human mind (2 Cor. 11:4), and consequently not true
to Scripture. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance
(2 Pet. 3:9). Paul also says that “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9).

But what about those who reject God’s offer of salvation? “How shall we escape if we neglect so
great a salvation?” (Heb. 2:3). Such people can expect retribution from God. Unfortunately, most
people do reject the gospel message. The Lord Jesus Himself said that there are few who are
saved: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will
not be able” (Luke 13:24). Why will they not be able to enter? Because of an unwillingness to
part with their sins. John says: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John. 3:19).

During the coming tribulation, when the wrath of God will be poured out upon the world, most
of the hardened sinners will become more wicked, to the extent of even cursing God because of
all the plagues: “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of
the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass,
stone, and wood… and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual
immorality or their thefts” (Rev. 9:20-21). For that reason, they leave a loving God no choice but
to judge them.

Our command is to heed the signs of the times by facing the fact that the greatest part of the
world population will become more evil, selfish, immoral, untrustworthy, violent and God-
rejecting in the end-time. We must, at all times, refrain from joining the licentious crowds of the
end-time. Paul says: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works
of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry
and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts” (Rom. 13:12-14).

The world is heading for its darkest hour, and also a great tribulation which is unprecedented in
its entire history (Matt. 24:21-22). But as in the times of Noah and Lot, the principle remains
that God’s wrath is never poured out over true believers. “Watch, therefore, and pray always that
you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of Man” (Luke. 21:36). We are confident that we will not be on planet earth during the
tribulation period.
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THE RAPTURE

PROMISE OF THE RAPTURE

Biblical teachings about the rapture, the end-time restoration of the nation of Israel and the
millennial kingdom have, through various phases of church history, been spiritualised and
brushed aside by theologians. Faith in these promises has, however, been revived time and
again to become a strong motivating power in the lives of believers.

We are living in a time which sees the fulfilment of many biblical prophecies. This is an
indication of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. When people accept the prophetic
word and study it, they achieve greater clarity regarding future events. They see the unfolding
of a world scene which is, on the one hand, very dark indeed and leads to awful judgements,
while on the other hand, a joyous hope blazes in the hearts of true believers.

This hope comes from the knowledge that they will escape the coming judgements if they are
truly born again. The promise of escape is the good news element in the prophecies. It is the
blessed hope of Christ’s return to which every believer should cling in these dark days (Tit.
2:13).

TWO PHASES

So as to correctly understand the Second Coming of Christ, we have to clearly discern its two
phases, i.e. the return of Christ for His saints (i.e. all born-again believers) and His coming with
His saints. During the first phase the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom will be unexpected,
like a thief in the night. He will meet His bride in the air and quickly take her away to heavenly
places (Jn. 14:2-3; 1 Thes. 4:16-17).

During the second phase, His appearance will be public and every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:7).
He will be accompanied by His bride, as well as a heavenly army, and will set foot upon the
Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4-5; Rev. 19:11-15).

The two phases of the Second Coming can also be discerned from the respective Greek terms
which are used in the original language. The first phase, in which the Lord Jesus Christ will
return privately to catch away His bride, is referred to as parousia. This term indicates His
physical presence. After His parousia He will never again be separated from His bride, the
church. At that event He will appear to all those who eagerly await Him for complete salvation
(Heb. 9:28). Thereafter, they will remain with Him forever.

The second phase of Christ’s coming is known as His apokalipse or faneros – that is His public
appearing or becoming visible. This time, He will not come secretly, as He did for His bride alone
at the parousia, but will be publicly revealed as King and Judge of the world. That is the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints (Zech. 14:5). Christ and His saints will be revealed to
the world in glory at the same time: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4).

It is quite obvious that Christians could not accompany the Lord Jesus and be revealed in their
glorified bodies unless they had already been united with Him at an earlier stage. The whole
creation is awaiting this revelation, because harmony and ideal conditions will prevail on earth
during the reign of Christ and His saints (Rom. 8:19). The many promises of abundance and
blessing in every sphere of life will then be fulfilled (Joel 3:18; Mic. 4:3-4; Amos 9:13-15).
 23

THE BRIDEGROOM COMES TO FETCH HIS BRIDE

During His parousia, which will of necessity precede the visible coming, the heavenly
Bridegroom comes only to fetch His bride. On this occasion He will not show Himself to the
millions of other people on earth at all.

In biblical times the Jewish bridegroom, after his betrothal, would depart for a lengthy period to
prepare an apartment in the house of his father for his bride and himself. Having done so, he
would then return to her home secretly at night to be reunited with her and take her with him
to his father’s house, where the marriage feast would be held. This is analogous to Jesus
preparing a place for us in the Father’s house and returning to take us there as promised: “In my
Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place
for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn. 14:2-3).

Christ’s coming at His parousia will be the fulfilment of that promise, also of the promise which
was made to His followers at the time of His ascension: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing
up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

After His resurrection, Jesus was seen only by believers. At His ascension He was separated
from them, and with the rapture He will be re-united with them. The rest of mankind will be left
on earth because, by their own neglect, they will not be among the born-again believers who
belong to Jesus and with whom He has a special appointment: “I tell you, in that night there shall
be two… in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be
grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left” (Lk. 17:34-35).

GLORIFICATION

The glorification of Christians will begin at the moment when the trumpet is sounded, the
deceased saints raised from the dead in incorruptible bodies, and the living saints transformed
in an instant to receive their glorified bodies: “Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:51-53).

When Christ raises the dead and changes the living at the rapture, both will be instantly clothed
with immortal bodies like His own, immediately prior to meeting Him in the air: “For our
[citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body” (Phil. 3:20-21).

CAUGHT UP

Immediately after the deceased believers have been raised and they, with the living believers,
have been clothed with glorified bodies, Christ will take them all up to heaven to be ever with
Him. That is a clear promise of God in His Word: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the
Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not [go
before those who] are asleep. 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
 24

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” (1 Thes. 4:14-17).

Note that the above-mentioned meeting will take place in the air and involves only born-again
Christians. The Lord Jesus does not set foot on the Mount of Olives and reveal Himself to the
world at this stage, but returns immediately with His bride to His Father’s house in heaven.

The word caught up, that is used by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (harpazo in Greek), clearly
means to be raptured or snatched away rapidly. This word is also used to describe the action by
which an eagle snatches and flies off rapidly with its prey.

There is, therefore, no truth in the allegation by some critics that the word rapture does not
appear in the Bible. The word harpazo can be translated as:
 Catch up,
 Rapture, or
 Snatch away swiftly.

In his internationally acclaimed Studies in the Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, K.S.
Wuest says:

“HARPAZO. This is a Greek word that has various meanings. It is not translated
by one uniform English word. The meanings are as follows: to seize; to carry off
by force; to claim for one’s self eagerly; to snatch out or away. It was used
proverbially in the sense of to rescue from the danger of destruction. It was used
also of divine power transferring a person marvellously and swiftly from one
place to another.

“The word is used in Mt. 11:12, 13:19; Jn. 6:15, 10:12,28,29; Acts 8:39, 23:10; 2
Cor. 12:2,4; 1 Thes. 4:17; Jude v. 23; Rev. 12:15. The procedure in Greek exegesis
when a word has a number of meanings, is to use only those meanings which are
in accord with the context. For instance, in the case of harpazo in its use in
connection with the wolf (Jn. 10:12), it would not do to interpret it in the sense
of rescuing from the danger of destruction. It would mean here to seize and
carry off by force, to claim for one’s self eagerly. Study these places where the
word occurs, using as many meanings as agree with the context. Pay special
attention to 1 Thessalonians 4:17, and see how much new truth you obtain
regarding the Rapture of the Church.”

The following are a few examples of Scripture verses in which the term harpazo is used. Please
note that the basic meaning of the term harpazo is of being removed swiftly and purposefully
from one place to another:
 “Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,
that the eunuch saw him no more” (Acts 8:39).
 “And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should
have been pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take
him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle” (Acts 23:10).
 “I knew a man in Christ [more than] fourteen years ago… such a one was caught up to
the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2).
 “We who are alive… shall be caught up… to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thes. 4:17).
 “And she brought forth a male Child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and
her Child was caught up unto God, and to His throne” (Rev. 12:5).
 25

THE FIRST RESURRECTION

A concept which is closely related to the rapture, is that of the first resurrection. At this event,
the Lord Jesus will come to raise only born-again believers; this is why Paul says that “the dead
in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thes. 4:16).

Nothing whatsoever is said here about the resurrection of the unbelieving, unjust dead. Since a
first resurrection also implies a second, and since we know that the just as well as the unjust will
be raised (Acts 24:15), it follows that the unjust dead will be raised at a later resurrection.

Revelation 20 says that at least a thousand years will separate the two resurrections. John refers
to all the saints who will be raised in the first resurrection to reign as kings with Christ during
the millennium: “…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the
dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed
and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:4-6).

Those who share in the first resurrection are declared blessed; therefore, to be declared part of
this resurrection signifies a very privileged status.

Various other Scripture references offer irrefutable evidence that born-again believers will be
resurrected first. Paul refers to a strictly chronological order of resurrections: “But now Christ is
risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who slept. For since by man came
death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are
Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father” (1 Cor. 15:20-24).

Between the resurrection of Christ as first fruits and the resurrection of the born-again just at
His coming (the first resurrection), the entire dispensation of the church, presently approaching
two millennia, will elapse. It is clear from Revelation 20 that the further one thousand years of
Christ’s reign will elapse between the resurrection of the just and the end of this present earth,
when the unjust dead will be raised (the second resurrection) to face the final judgement at the
great white throne.

The following are expressions which refer to the first resurrection only:
 The first resurrection (Rev. 20:6).
 The resurrection of the children of God (Lk. 20:36).
 The resurrection of those who died in Christ (1 Thes. 4: 16).
 The resurrection of the just (Lk. 14:13-14).
 A better resurrection (Heb. 11:35).
 The resurrection to life (Jn. 5:29).
 The resurrection from the dead through Jesus (Acts 4:2).

When the resurrection from the dead of either Christ or of Christians is referred to in Scripture,
the Greek expression ek nekroon is used. It means from among the dead and is only used when
other dead are not raised at the same time, but are left behind in their graves. This expression,
which is used 49 times in the New Testament – 34 of which refer to the resurrection of Christ
Himself – is not used even once when the second resurrection is referred to. When the latter, i.e.
the raising of the unjust dead, is referred to, toon nekroon, meaning of the dead, is used instead.

At the rapture, the just will be raised from among the unjust dead and, together with the living
just, who will be instantly changed, both will rise in glorified bodies to meet Christ in the air. The
 26

unjust (unsaved) dead will remain in their graves, since they did not “die in the Lord” (Rev.
14:13).

ESCAPE

In the light of the circumstances which will prevail on earth, the rapture will offer Christians an
escape from the threatening judgements. As the moment of the rapture nears, it will be a dark
time of massive spiritual deception. Evangelical Christians will be declared unchristian,
unloving and judgmental, and will be despised. They will be regarded as prophets of doom
because they proclaim the imminent judgements of God which will fall upon the world during
the great tribulation. They will also be regarded as disloyal to the Christian cause because of
their unwillingness to join the ecumenical movement and accept the unitary reforms of the New
Age Movement.

As the time for the revelation of the Antichrist approaches, true Christians will be subjected to
immense pressure, intimidation and threats. However, they should take courage in the light of
the promise that the truly born-again children of God will escape the coming tribulation period:
“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” (Lk. 21:36; According to Rev.
3: 10, we will be kept from the hour of tribulation).

Advocates of the false peace of the humanistically inspired and antichristian new world order
will, however, not escape the great tribulation: “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” (1 Thes. 5:3; emphasis added).

In the first of these two scriptures reference is made to a group that will escape the coming
judgements of God on earth, and in the second case a group that will be caught unawares and
will certainly not escape the sudden destruction. The first group put their trust in the Lord and
His Word, while the second group will trust in their own peace programmes to make the world
a better place.

A DRAMATIC RESCUE OPERATION

Apart from taking the bride away to enjoy the glory of heaven, the rapture also constitutes a
dramatic rescue operation in which true believers will be removed from the scene of imminent
divine judgement. Although the rapture is a unique occurrence, there are examples in the Bible
of times when God poured out His wrath, but provided an escape route for true believers since
they were not the objects of His wrath.

In the days of Noah, God announced His judgements upon a wicked and depraved generation:
“And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with
violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark...” (Gen.
6:13-14).

Shortly before the outpouring of God’s judgements eight believers escaped the disaster area by
entering the ark. God Himself closed the door behind them before He judged the wicked who
despised God’s way of escape (Gen. 7:11-23).

In the time of Lot another rescue operation took place. The night before Sodom and Gomorrah
were destroyed, Lot and his family received an urgent command to depart from the area
 27

marked out for judgement. The angels urged Lot to leave Sodom and helped him and his family
to do so before they destroyed it. Shortly after their departure, fire and brimstone rained down
on the ungodly (Gen. 19:13-25).

The Lord Jesus says that there is a clear correlation between these historical events and God’s
end-time dealing with believers and unbelievers: “And as it was in the days of Noah, 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 Noah entered into 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 built; 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”
(Lk. 17:26-30; also read Genesis chaps. 6, 7 & 19).

Because the depravity which characterised the time of both Noah and Lot is typical of the
spiritual, moral and social decline of the last days, the following correlation between the
historical and end-time conditions should be made:
 In the times of Noah and Lot anarchy prevailed as people in these lawless and
promiscuous societies did just as they pleased. Violence was the most common means
used to resolve conflicts. So will it be again...
 In the times of Noah and Lot moral depravity was widespread. People became so
corrupt that they were “wicked in every intent of their thoughts.” So will it be again...
 In the times of Noah and Lot people were excessively materialistic and adopted
permissive life-styles involving all sorts of licentiousness, including sodomy (derived
from the name Sodom). So will it be again...
 In the times of Noah and Lot people scoffed at the believers and chose to ignore the
prophetic warnings of forthcoming judgements. They regarded them as far-fetched
speculation and continued with their reckless lives. So will it be again...
 In the times of Noah and Lot God gave the degenerate sinners reasonable time to
repent of their evil ways. They refused to repent and thereby sealed their own fate.
They had only themselves to blame for their downfall and punishment. So will it be
again...
 In the times of Noah and Lot God offered a way of escape to the believers at the critical
moment before He turned in wrath to punish the wicked. The order of events was: First
the prophetic warnings about the impending judgements, then the safeguarding of the
believers who took heed of the appeal to repent, and ultimately the outpouring of
wrath upon the wicked. So will it be again...
 In the times of Noah and Lot there was no security for nominal believers whose hearts
were still devoted to the things of this world. Lot’s wife was a type of those believers
who only have an outward form of godliness, but are still spiritually dead. This false
pretence cost her, her life at the last moment. So will it be again...
 In the times of Noah and Lot an awful disaster struck this world soon after the
evacuation of the believers. Death and destruction occurred as never before in history.
So will it be again...
 In the times of Noah and Lot the wicked did not realise how many privileges and
blessings they enjoyed due to the presence of a few believers in their midst. God was
prepared to pardon a whole city if there were only ten believers in it. When these
believers, who shone like lights in a wicked and perverted generation, were taken out
of the way, complete spiritual darkness characterised the godless, and provoked the
anger of God. So will it be again...
 28

 In the times of Noah people scoffed at the builders of the ark, and in their ignorance
were unaware of their peril “until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt. 24:39).

The minds of those at enmity with God are darkened and they persist in pride and rebellion
until disaster and judgement overtakes them. If this describes your condition, will you not
rather come over to God’s side today and be reconciled to Him through His Son’s death on the
cross? He alone can make you worthy to escape the approaching tribulation, which is God’s
judgement on a sinful world. You can be with Jesus in the safety and joy of His Father’s house
when tribulation comes upon the world.

WITHHOLDERS

Noah and Lot had to remonstrate with the ungodly people of their time with persistent
warnings. Christian believers of the church era have an even greater responsibility to fulfil their
role as the salt of a corrupt earth and the light of a dark world. The church indwelt by the Holy
Spirit is opposing the iniquitous spirit of the Antichrist in advance of his coming: “And now you
know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness
is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then
the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and
destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the
working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thes. 2:6-9 NKJV).

“The great and the terrible day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31) will not come prior to the rapture and the
subsequent revelation of Antichrist. That awful period of judgement will be preceded by a great
“falling away” (2 Thes. 2:3). This Greek term (apostasia) literally means “to depart”. When the
truth departs, the lie prevails. When Christians depart at the rapture, spiritual darkness will
prevail on earth.

While Christians remain on earth they are expected to make a bold stand for the truth, thus
restraining the build-up of antichristian forces. After their departure at the rapture, the
Antichrist will be able to take over the world unopposed. A spirit of delusion will then prevail
and, as “the man of sin” (2 Thes. 2:3), the Antichrist will display to all the world a personal
example of an utterly amoral, godless life-style.

The Antichrist cannot be revealed until the one who restrains him has been taken out of the
way. This role is fulfilled by the church as the body of Christ indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Do not
attach any credibility to the theory that the rapture will occur in the middle of the tribulation
period of seven years. After 3½ years the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel,
desecrate the temple and declare himself to be God (Dan. 9:27, 11:36-37; Mt. 24:15-21; 2 Thes.
2:4). Then Israel will have to flee to the wilderness for survival (Mt. 24:16; Rev. 12:14). This
flight to the wilderness in the middle of the seven-year tribulation period is not to be confused
with the rapture. It is something quite different.

The unscriptural teaching of a mid-tribulation or a post-tribulation rapture leads to a warped

perspective and wrong priorities. Instead of awaiting the coming of Christ, people are awaiting
the Antichrist. In this way they compromise their commitment to Christ. Instead of striving for
sanctification in expectation of the imminent coming of the heavenly Bridegroom, they start
planning an earthly survival strategy for the tribulation period. Such activities are irrelevant as
they are motivated by a distorted prophetic vision of future events.
 29

The command to us is not to prepare for the coming of the Antichrist, but for the coming of Jesus
Christ! We should remain engaged in His work until He comes. If we are constantly occupied
with the work assigned to us by Christ, we will not be on earth when the Antichrist is revealed.

People who think that they can calculate the time of the rapture by waiting for the Antichrist to
come and then add another 3½ years until the Lord comes, are missing the point and also a very
important aspect of the prophecies.

THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

The rapture should never be viewed in isolation, but as a means to an end. It describes the way
in which all true believers will be swiftly removed from earth to heaven where they must
appear before the judgement seat of Christ (this is the subject of a separate booklet). To be
ready for the rapture, therefore, implies readiness to give account of one’s life and stewardship
before Christ’s judgement seat: “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that
everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10; see also Rom. 14:10,12).

After having received crowns as reward for faithful service, the glorified believers will gather
around the throne of God to worship Him for His great creation and worship the Lamb for His
righteousness and great work of redemption (Rev. 4 & 5). They will keenly anticipate their
return to share with Christ in judging the world (1 Cor. 6:2), and to reign with Him as kings
during the Millennium: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and
to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of
every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and
priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10; see also Rev. 19:11-15, Zech. 14:4-5).

CHRONOLOGY OF REVELATION

The rapture of the church to heaven before the coming tribulation period is also clearly evident
from the chronology of the events described in the book of Revelation. In these events, the true
church of Christ mysteriously vanishes from the earth before the start of the tribulation period,
only to re-appear when Christ comes back after the seven years. The believers of the tribulation
period do not constitute the church. The main events in the book of Revelation occur in the
following order:
 The glorified Christ after His ascension (chap. 1).
 The dispensation of the church on earth (chap. 2-3).
 The heavenly vision, including the glorified church after the rapture (chap. 4-5).
 The seven years of the tribulation period (chap. 6-18).
 The Second Coming of Christ, accompanied by His saints and the armies of heaven
(chap. 19).
 The millennial reign of Christ and His glorified saints (chap. 20:1-6).
 The final judgement (chap. 20:7-15).
 The new heaven and the new earth (chap. 21-22).

After describing the church on earth in Revelation 2-3, it is subsequently shown in its glorified
state in heaven in Revelation 4-5. Chapter 4 opens with the words, “After this” (Greek meta
tauta), which clearly indicates that the events which follow are in chronological order. This
expression often occurs in the book of Revelation, thereby confirming its general chronological
ordering of events.
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During the dispensation of the church (chap. 2-3) the following words are repeated seven times:
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 2:7,11,17,29;
3:6,13,22). The believers of the tribulation period, who are saved after the rapture, do not
represent the church. To them it is merely said: “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Rev.
13:9). In Revelation 19:7-14 we again read about the church as the wife of the Lamb, who will
return with Him to earth after the tribulation period.

GETTING READY

The next important event on the prophetic calendar is the rapture. Before the Antichrist can be
revealed and the tribulation begins, the meeting between the true church and the heavenly
Bridegroom has to take place. As members of the true church of Christ we have to be ready,
hence the many exhortations in the Bible to expect the Second Coming and to be watchful and
vigilant at all times.

It must be stressed that sanctification and the consequent spiritual readiness render believers
worthy to receive rewards at the judgement seat of Christ directly after the rapture. It is clear
from Scripture that the spiritually unworthy servants of the Lord who are nevertheless born-
again, will also appear before the judgement seat in heaven, but empty-handed and without
receiving any rewards (Lk. 19:20-26; 1 Cor. 3:8-15).

To appear before the Lord in a worthy state it is important to receive Him not only for salvation
but also for sanctification. He made provision for a complete work in our lives: “Christ also loved
the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water
by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or
any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27).

Everyone who has the hope of the return of Christ “purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (1 Jn.
3:3). The Christian endeavours, therefore, to be like Jesus and to abide in Him: “And now, little
children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed
before Him at His coming” (1 Jn. 2:28).

Paul says that the grace of God teaches us that: “…denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and
the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:12-13).

The Thessalonian church had a strong expectation of the Second Coming. Paul encourages this
attitude: “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing… Quench not the Spirit. Despise not
prophesyings… Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thes. 5:16-24).

Peter reminds us that all the material things around us are going to be dissolved, so we should
live serene, blameless, holy lives as we await the coming of Christ: “Seeing then that all these
things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in holy [conduct] and
godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God… Therefore, beloved, seeing
that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found by Him in peace, without spot, and
blameless” (2 Pet. 3:11-14).

You should be on the alert lest you be influenced by the world and your spiritual standard be
lowered, resulting in your being distracted from the work of the Lord. One of the signs of the
times is a spirit of backsliding and lukewarm commitment among believers. Many Christians,
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instead of being inspired to renewed holiness by the growing unrighteousness in the world, lose
their motivation and give up: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall [grow]
cold” (Mt. 24:12).

Amid the general falling away, our attitude and motivation should be in the diametrically
opposite direction: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he who is filthy, let him be filthy
still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And,
behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every one according as his work shall be”
(Rev. 22:11-12).

Guard against spiritual passivity. The devil encourages people to hide behind full programmes
and exhaustion as excuses to keep them from prayer. In the garden of Gethsemane the disciples
were unable, in a time of spiritual crisis, to watch and pray for even one hour with the Lord
Jesus. His command was: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt. 26:41).

Christ gave us a similar command for watchfulness and dedicated prayer regarding His sudden
coming: “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as
a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every
man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the
master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest
coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mk. 13:33-
37).

Remain in union with Christ, stay alert and keep looking for the “bright and morning star” (Rev.
22:16) that will soon appear above the dark horizon of this present evil world. In the twinkling
of an eye the battle on earth will be over and we will stand amazed at what the Lord has
prepared for us (1 Cor. 2:9). Our biggest joy will be at the sight of the Bridegroom “when He shall
come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all those who believe in that day” (2 Thes.
1:10). Make very sure that you will be among them!

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

The rapture definitely has a strong element of surprise to it as no one knows when it will occur.
But, there are certain signs which clearly point to the nearness of the rapture. As will be shown
in this section, many of the signs that were popularly regarded as referring to the end of the
church age, or ‘the end of the world’, really only apply to the tribulation period. Among these are
the enormous natural disasters, wars, famines and pestilences predicted in Luke 21:10-11.

An example of signs given to indicate the nearness of the Second Coming of Christ (His
appearing at the end of the tribulation, not the rapture) is the following: “And there shall be signs
in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear and [the expectation
of] those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then
shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things
begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Lk.
21:25-28).

The signs that point to the end of the church age prior to the tribulation period, relate to the
consummation of the present dispensation, the moral, spiritual and social deterioration, the
restoration of Israel, globalisation and the build-up to the Antichrist’s emergence and reign.
Although these signs are very evident, they cannot be fitted into a rigid time frame. They may
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unfold faster or slower, and there is always the possibility of more developments before the
time is finally ripe to lower the curtain on this dispensation.

Further down, two sets of signs are given which indicate the end of the church age. The first set
deals with the end of the existing old order, and the second set with the rise of a new world
order in anticipation of the coming of the Antichrist. He can only appear after the world stage
has been properly set.

We are now witnessing the decay and collapse of the existing world order. The signs of decay
cover a broad spectrum and include all walks of life:
 Economic decay is evident in many places with poverty, unemployment and rampant
inflation in some countries.
 Political decay is seen in the acceptance of humanistic constitutions, anarchy, chaos, and
violence.
 Social decay leads to disintegrating social structures, crime and the breakdown of
marriages and the family.
 Religious decay leads to spiritual confusion, turning to New Age philosophy, the occult
and amoral life-styles.
 From the ashes of the old order, the global structures of a new world order will arise.
They will constitute the framework for the global society, global economy, global
religion, and global government of the Antichrist:
 A unitary global economy will be set up in which 666-related PIN numbers are used for
financial transactions.
 Political unity in the form of a world government and a global peace-keeping force will
emerge.
 Social unity among the internationalised planetary citizens will give further expression
to the ideology of globalism.
 Religious unity will be based on the deceptive idea that all religions worship the same
God.

Another phenomenon which must occur toward the end of the church era is the progressive
return of Jews to Israel to become the largest single Jewish population in the world – a situation
that last prevailed in the first century. At the time of writing the 5,4 million Jews in Israel were
almost the same number as those in the USA. When the Israeli Jews are the largest single
concentration of Jews in the world, the Israeli government will be able to take decisions and
sign covenants, etc., on behalf of all Jews. They will then also be empowered to decide on behalf
of all Jews regarding the authenticity of any claimant to be the Messiah. Their true Messiah,
whom they rejected at His first coming, predicted that, tragically, they will accept the wrong
man (Jn. 5:43).

LAST DAYS OF THE CHURCH DISPENSATION

In the last days perilous times will come upon the world and many professing Christians will
only have “a form of godliness” (2 Tim. 3:1,5); “because iniquity will abound, the love of many
will grow cold” (Mt. 24:12). The Spirit says, “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1).
Dismantling the old order Build-up to a new world order
The old order is dismantled and boundaries removed. Establishment of a new world order of international unity.
Judeo-Christian teachings and morality are rejected. The promotion of multi-faith values in all countries.
Individuals freed from restraint become selfish and Multi-cultural, Babylonian societies emerge everywhere.
permissive.
 33

Moral depravity, violence and break-down of family Humanistic freedom within a new charter of human
life occurs. rights.
Criminal and abnormal lifestyles become the norm. Crime is contained by force without moral reformation.
Christian beliefs phased out to make way for occult Bible replaced by non-Christian religions and mysticism.
practices.
Excessive democratisation and human rights Nations lose their sovereignty under a world
promote anarchy. government.
Corruption and the abuse of power become general Military power is used to enforce the new world order.
trends.
Gender differences are denied in many areas of Gender equality enforced through radical feminism.
public life.
Nations lose their ethnic, cultural and political National identities become submerged in a world culture.
identities.
Israel is condemned and the hatred of Jews rapidly Enforcement of the new world order leads to Middle East
increases. war.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SCHEMATIC PRESENTATION OF

EVENTS AFTER THE RAPTURE:

Rapture The seven year long absence of the bride of Christ after the Second
rapture. Spiritual darkness will then prevail on earth. Coming

THE TRIBULATION OF SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE RAPTURE

FIRST 3½ YEARS LAST 3½ YEARS
Immediately after the rapture the Antichrist will be The Antichrist will change his image in the last 3½ years
revealed and the first 3½ years of his reign on earth to become a military dictator who will enslave humanity.
will commence.
The institution of a new world order according to the Strict economic control will be exercised through a
Plan of the New Age Movement. World unity will be cashless economy by computerised 666-related codes.
established.
Israel and an alliance of world religions will accept The temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist when he
the Antichrist as Messiah and the Jewish Temple will declares himself to be God in the Holy of holies.
be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
An international campaign will be waged against The summary execution of all people who refuse to
Messianic Jews and Christians who refuse to accept worship the Antichrist and to accept his number.
the Antichrist.
A deceptive world peace will be achieved, based on The multi-national forces of the Antichrist will surround
a pact between the Antichrist and the alliance of false Jerusalem, leading to the final world war of Armageddon
world religions. in Israel.
A deluded global community will idolise and worship Christ will descend to Mount of Olives to destroy
the Antichrist for his personal charisma, political skills Antichrist and his armies, rescue repentant Israel and
and miraculous powers. commence His reign.

AUTHORITATIVE BOOK ON THE RAPTURE

In 1995, an authoritative book on the pre-tribulation rapture (When the trumpet sounds, edited
by Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy) was published by Harvest House Publishers in Eugene,
Oregon. Contributions were made by 23 leading experts in this field. They include names such
as Prof. Paul Feinberg, Dr. Elliot Johnson, Dr. Tim LaHaye, Prof. Dwight Pentecost, Dr. Randall
Price, Prof. Robert Thomas, Prof. Charles Ryrie, and Prof. John Walvoord.

In the introduction, the editors say the following about the rapture as the blessed hope of the
church:
“The New Testament clearly teaches that each believer has a hope, a blessed hope,
which is a grand and glorious destiny. This hope is both personal and a Person.
First, it is given to each individual believer and, second, our hope is in the Person of
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the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible portrays this hope as pictured in ancient Jewish
marriage customs. In biblical times a betrothed maiden would eagerly await the
any-moment coming of her groom to take her to his father’s house in marriage
celebration.

“During this time of waiting and watching expectantly, the bride’s loyalty to the
groom was tested. In a similar way, the rapture provides for the church this same
sense of expectation and anticipation. The rapture expectation provides believers
with a similar daily motivation for a pure and godly life until He comes. Just as the
betrothed maiden eagerly waited because of her love for the groom, so also do we
await our Lord’s any-moment coming. Though you have not seen Him, you love
Him (1 Pet. 1:8). Such motives are not escapism but, rather, flow from the love and
devotion of a sincere believer to our Lord.

“Christ’s rapture of His bride holds a central place in the New Testament, and it
assumes the same in the thought and life of the Christian. The study and
implications of God’s Word are always important… The rapture is the central
future prophetic event for the Christian, and its study is therefore vital in the lives
of Christians…”

Thomas Ice (p. 23) says: “Another point to remember is that just as there was a transition in the
early church away from God dealing with Israel as a nation, so it appears that there will be a
transition at the end of the church age as God sets the stage to resume His unfinished plan with
Israel after the rapture. The church age clearly began on Pentecost, but about 40 years later in
the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, a specific prophecy relating to God’s plan for Israel was
historically fulfilled. This was the final fulfilment relating to the transition from Israel to the
church. During the last 100 years we have seen events occur which are setting the stage for the
players to be in place when the rapture brings the church age to an end and God resumes His
plan for Israel during the tribulation.”

AN END-TIME STRATEGY

Christians should have specific strategies, or plans of action, through which they give practical
expression to their general objectives to live holy lives, to do the work of the Lord, and to be
ready for His coming. The promise of the rapture is a very important motivating force in
determining our objectives and the strategies emanating from them. The main guiding
principles of this promise are the following:

GOOD NEWS
The rapture is the good news element in a dark scenario of end-time prophecies. Without this
promise Christians would be left only with the bad news about the coming of the Antichrist and
the tribulation period which they would have to face before Jesus comes. Their chances of
surviving all the apocalyptic disasters of the great tribulation and the battle of Armageddon
would be slim indeed. A situation like that can be equated to the Flood without the ark, or the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah without any provision for the escape of the believers from
the scene of God’s wrath.

Such a situation would be highly demoralising and contradict a clear biblical principle that true
believers are never the objects of God’s wrath. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to
obtain salvation…” (1 Thes. 5:9).
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People who are cynical about the promise of the rapture and do not heed the exhortation to be
prepared to escape the coming tribulation period reveal a very irresponsible attitude. What
would have been the consequence for Noah and family (and for the future survival of the entire
human race!) if Noah had argued as follows: “God is a God of love and I do not really believe that
He will send a flood to judge all people; therefore, I am not going to build an ark to escape this
so-called judgement.” Or what would have happened to Lot and his family had he taken the
following stand: “I think the prophesied judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah should be
interpreted symbolically. I do not have to escape for my life. Even if the disaster does occur I
believe that God will protect us from His wrath here in this place.” Similar arguments are often
heard today.

The coming judgements during the tribulation period are irrefutable biblical facts. Jesus said
there will be great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world (Mt. 24:21),
and that we should be ready to escape it. The rapture is part of the good news of the gospel of
our Lord Jesus. He came to this sin-drenched world to pay the price for the salvation of sinners.
He returned to heaven to prepare a place for us. He will come back to take us away to our
heavenly abode. If we are truly born again we will be worthy to escape the horrors of the
coming tribulation on earth by way of the rapture. We do not have to despair at the knowledge
of what is coming upon the world since there is a wonderful element of good news in the
prophetic word.

A CORRECT FUTURE EXPECTATION

To believe in the pre-tribulation rapture gives us the assurance that we have a truly biblical
future expectation. It does not in any way contradict other biblical truths. This end-time
perspective honours the Lord Jesus and recognises Him as the key to all prophecy in Scripture,
“for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). Christians should remain
focused on Him and wait for His sudden appearance – not for the Antichrist’s. Those who deny
Him will remain behind after the rapture. Having rejected the way of escape and salvation
offered by the true Christ, they will have to endure the Antichrist’s dictatorship and the terrible
judgements to follow. What they experience on earth will be a direct result of the seals broken
by the Lamb in heaven. Never deny Jesus Christ His central position in biblical prophecies. To
expect His imminent return, and to order your life accordingly, is a command which is intended
to be a strong, positive motivation to all Christians of all ages.

A MOTIVATION FOR STEADFASTNESS

The coming of the heavenly Bridegroom will occur during a time of religious compromise and
worldliness. There will be a great falling away from the truth of God’s Word. A relatively small
group of evangelical Christians will shine like lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation (Phil. 2:15). As in the times of Noah and Lot, the earth will be filled with violence,
materialism, and sexual perversion. Unfortunately, the spirit of unrighteousness and immorality
will also take its toll among Christians. They will relax their vigilance and make downward
adjustments to their spiritual standards: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many
will grow cold” (Mt. 24:12 NKJV). Some Christians will become backslidden or discouraged in the
work of the Lord.

Inactive Christians often compromise their dedication to the Lord and their responsibility to
serve Him faithfully. Their spiritual decline may manifest itself in various ways. The most
common are, either to abandon the need for sanctification, becoming worldly-minded, enjoying
worldly parties and eating and drinking to excess; or to become critical and dictatorial in their
relations with other Christians. The Lord Jesus warned against such sinful behaviour and
 36

challenged it by using the prospect of His sudden, unexpected return as a positive motivation to
remain steadfast to the end: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler
over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when
he comes, will find so doing… But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his
coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the
master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him…” (Mt. 24:45-50 NKJV).

CORRECTLY DETERMINING AND PRIORITISING WORKS

To expect the coming of the Lord Jesus before the tribulation period, guides your actions in the
right direction. You prepare for His coming and not for the coming of the Antichrist. The concept
of the rapture explicitly confronts you with your responsibility to give account of yourself
before the judgement seat of Christ immediately after being caught up to heavenly places (2 Cor.
5:10). The following crowns will be awarded to the faithful:
 The crown of rejoicing for soul-winners (1 Thes. 2:19).
 The incorruptible crown for a holy life (1 Cor. 9:24-25).
 The crown of life for Christian martyrs (Rev. 2:10).
 The crown of glory for faithful shepherds (1 Pet. 5:2-4).
 The crown of righteousness for those who loved the appearing of the Lord (2 Tim. 4:8).

The fact that our works will be judged after the rapture, and that only those with eternal value
will be rewarded, is of great significance in helping us to devote ourselves to objectives that are
higher than the material things of this perishable world. After conversion our lives should yield
the fruit of the Spirit and we should not waste time and resources on earthly things, pleasure or
valueless works: “…let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon… Now if any man build
upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man’s work shall be
made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire” (1 Cor. 3:10-13).

Will you be found a worthy servant or will you stand empty-handed before the judgement seat
of Christ on that day, saved as by fire? If you lose sight of the possibility of the Lord’s imminent
return you may lapse into complacency, spiritual inactivity, and even into sin: “But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night… You therefore, beloved, since you know these things
beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of
the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be
the glory both now and for ever” (2 Pet. 3:10, 17-18 NKJV).

The faithful and wise servant keeps himself busy with the work of the Lord, always realising
that the time to work for his Master is running out. The Lord Jesus Himself said: “I must work the
works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4). The
night of God’s judgements during the great tribulation is fast approaching – then, there will be
no religious freedom.

MOTIVATION FOR HOLINESS

One of the strongest motivations that the promise of the rapture instils into a Christian is that of
holiness. As members of the bridal church we should commit ourselves to the challenge of being
presented to the heavenly Bridegroom as chaste virgins. That implies the responsibility to be
vigilant by not allowing the wicked one to pervert or corrupt our minds and lives (2 Cor. 11:2-
3). Jesus Christ gave Himself to sanctify and cleanse the church that He might present it to
Himself holy and without spot or blemish (Eph. 5:25-27). We have a distinct responsibility to
use the means of grace at our disposal to walk in the ways of the Lord and to become holy in all
our conduct (1 Pet. 1:15). “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
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ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord”
(2 Cor. 7:1).

“If we abide in Christ, we will have confidence when He appears and not be ashamed before Him”
(1 Jn. 2:28).

HOPE DURING TRIALS AND AFFLICTIONS

Under the dark shadow of trials and afflictions, when our prospects on earth look bleak, the
belief in Christ’s coming for us at the rapture is a light at the end of the tunnel. Through many
sorrows and suffering, millions of Christians have clung desperately to the promise of
resurrection and union with the Lord at the rapture. It gave them strength to endure, counting
earthly things and even their own lives as of no account so that they might win eternity with
Christ. So, take courage, lift up your head, and expect the coming of the Lord, knowing your
future is safe and sure in His hands.

A SENSE OF DESTINY
Like Abraham we should see ourselves as strangers and sojourners in a world that “lies under
the sway of the wicked one” (1 Jn. 5:18). Since our future is not here, we need a vision of the city
with foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). In our pilgrimage through this
world, we need a strong sense of destiny. When the Lord comes for us at the rapture, He will
take us to our eternal home in the new Jerusalem (1 Cor. 2:9; Jn. 14:2; Rev. 21:2).

We should not identify ourselves with this world and become one with its materialism,
pleasure-seeking and moral and spiritual depravity. This would not mean we are poorly
motivated and a people without a mission. To the contrary! We are happy to proclaim the
praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. The unbelievers
around us are in spiritual darkness, and we are “in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation” among whom we should “shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).

While serving the Lord as faithful witnesses, we should always keep our eye on Him as “the
bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16) that shines above the dark horizon of a troubled and
hostile world. The morning star tells us the night is far spent and the day is at hand. Before Jesus
appears as the Sun of Righteousness, when every eye shall see Him, Christians will have a
thrilling meeting with Him in the air!

THE GREAT SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RAPTURE

In the light of all the biblical facts about the rapture it is clear that this is an extremely important
teaching to all believers. There are at least 12 different aspects of the rapture that need to be
properly understood and taken account of:

IT IS A DIRECT INTERVENTION BY GOD

The supernatural nature of the rapture, in which millions of Christians will be caught up in the
air, will be so clearly an intervention by God that no scientific explanation will ever account for
this astounding phenomenon. “The Lord Himself” will remove the saints from planet earth
(1 Thes. 4:16).
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IT IS A MEETING WITH THE LORD JESUS

When the Lord Jesus descends from heaven with the sounding of the trumpet of God, those who
died in Christ will be raised from the dead, while the living believers will be changed in the
twinkling of an eye. Together they will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:16-
17). The unsaved people on earth will not see Him on this occasion.

IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST RESURRECTION

The rapture is directly related to the first resurrection when all believers will receive glorified
resurrection bodies. Those who have died in Christ will be raised first – then the living believers
will be miraculously changed while they pass from mortality to immortality without dying
(1 Cor. 15:52).

IT SEPARATES TRUE AND NOMINAL BELIEVERS

Apart from the division that the rapture will effect between the saved and unsaved people in the
world, it will also separate born-again believers from the nominal Christians within the
professing church (Mt. 25:1-13), many of whom have only a form of godliness (2 Tim. 3:5)

IT MARKS THE END OF THE CHURCH AGE

It is important to consider the rapture in its dispensational context – i.e. at the end of the church
age and just before the beginning of the tribulation period, which will be a distinct dispensation
with its own characteristics (2 Thes. 2).

IT MAKES WAY FOR THE REVELATION OF THE ANTICHRIST

The rapture is directly related to the revelation of the Antichrist. The true church of Christ,
indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is withholding the Antichrist, who can only be revealed after the
church has been taken out of the way (2 Thes. 2:6-10).

IT IS AN ESCAPE FROM DIVINE WRATH

The rapture also constitutes a dramatic rescue operation in which true believers will be
removed from the scene of impending divine judgements upon earth, since they are not the
objects of God’s wrath (1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9; Lk. 21:36).

IT IS A MOTIVATION FOR STEADFASTNESS

There will be a great end-time falling away from the truth of God’s Word. Christians having the
hope of Christ’s coming, purify themselves as He is pure (1 Jn. 3:3), and resist any tendency to
grow cold in their love for Him (Mt. 24:12).

IT IS A SUMMONS TO THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

The certainty of the rapture confronts us with the solemn prospect of appearing before Christ at
His judgement seat to give account of our lives (Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10).
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IT IS A JOURNEY TO THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB

After appearing before the judgement seat, believers forming the bride will be united to the
heavenly Bridegroom never to be separated from Him again (Rev. 19:7-8; Ps. 45:9).

IT IS A JOURNEY TO OUR ETERNAL HOME

The Lord Jesus promised that He would return to take the saints away to their heavenly abode
in His Father’s house with the many mansions (Jn. 14:2-3). “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor
have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”
(1 Cor. 2:9 NKJV). What a wonderful future to look forward to!

IT WILL PROMOTE US TO BE CO-RULERS WITH CHRIST

After the rapture and the tribulation period, the glorified saints will return with Christ and reign
with Him as kings on earth (Lk. 19:17-19; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 5:10).

THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE

AND A PERSPECTIVE ON TRUMPETS
There are quite a number of biblical promises on the rapture of true believers, before the start
of the seven year-long tribulation period when the Antichrist will rule over the world. Some of
these promises are implicitly evident from certain scriptures while, in other cases, it is explicitly
stated as a fact that believers will escape the coming tribulation. We cannot afford any doubt on
this important matter as it will detrimentally influence our spiritual expectation as well as the
quality of our relationship with the Lord.

The Lord Jesus calls people hypocrites who do not consider biblical prophecies by interpreting
the signs of the times in the light of the prophetic word (Luke 12:54-56; cf. 1 Thess. 5:20). Such
believers are prophetically in the dark and do not have a clear expectation of the future;
consequently, they are not well prepared as to what the future holds. The foolish virgins paid a
high penalty for their insufficient preparations to meet the bridegroom. They pretended to be
ready but they were not (Matt. 25:1-13). With reference to this situation we are warned to be
vigilant and take all the necessary steps to be ready for the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom.

The concept of a pretribulation rapture is clearly instilled in us by the Bible. It is completely in

agreement with God’s actions throughout the centuries, so we can have no excuse to be ignorant
on this important promise. The following facts should be heeded in this regard:

THE BASIC PROMISE

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and
with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall
always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16-18). The
verb “caught up” means to be “suddenly snatched away”. In this case the bride will be caught up
from the earth to meet the Lord in the air. It is a wonderful promise that we may look forward to
being united with the heavenly Bridegroom, and for this reason Paul describes it as our “blessed
hope” (Titus 2:13).
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In His Olivet Discourse the Lord Jesus also clearly indicated that informed Christians who
understand biblical prophecies and devote themselves to watching and praying will definitely
escape the coming tribulation in its entirety: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be
counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
Man” (Luke 21:36). Escaping the tribulation means to be outside of it. Christians will be
removed by the Lord Himself from the disaster area of divine judgements. In view of this fact
Paul says that we should wait for the Son of God from heaven “who delivers us from the wrath to
come” (1 Thess. 1:10).

DISTINCTION BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH

The Lord expects us to know the Bible, and that includes the prophetic word that shines like a
light in a dark place (2 Pet. 1:19). This knowledge will enable us to discern between the
prophetic future of Israel and that of the church. People who have this knowledge will be
mindful of the fact that, from a dispensational point of view, Daniel’s 70th year-week – i.e. the
tribulation of seven years – forms part of Israel’s divine history and is therefore not part of the
church dispensation. Daniel did not even refer to the church dispensation which fits in between
the 69th and 70th year-weeks. When this fact is not considered, one is inclined to add the
tribulation period (or at least a substantial part of it) to the church dispensation, thereby
promoting an unbiblical future expectation. Consequently, one offers people an Antichrist
expectation instead of a Christ expectation, and this idea influences many Christians to make
unnecessary preparations for survival during the coming tribulation period. Some of them even
prepare places of refuge away from the large cities, because they do not believe in the rapture
before the outpouring of divine wrath.

A further problem which arises if we schedule the rapture somewhere in the 70 th week of Daniel
is that of date-fixing. All the events of the tribulation occur strictly within a time frame of seven
years, which makes a form of date-fixing possible. People who engage in this practice effectively
tell us that we should wait for the Antichrist to be revealed, after which we can start with a
countdown to the rapture. It may, for instance, be 3½ years after the beginning of the
tribulation, in the middle of the year-week, when some people expect the rapture. In such cases
they completely ignore the surprise element of the heavenly Bridegroom’s coming.

THE ELDERS IN HEAVEN

A further argument in favour of a pretribulation rapture is the fact that the book of Revelation
has been written in a dispensational and chronological way. First, the church dispensation is
described in Revelation 2 and 3, followed by the glorified church after the rapture in Revelation
4 and 5, represented in heaven by the 24 elders. The seven year-long tribulation is described in
Revelation 6 through 19, which will be ended by the visible coming of Christ. Revelation 20
describes Christ’s thousand year reign of peace, and Revelation 21 and 22 elaborate on the new
heaven and earth which will be created after the final judgement.

At present we are in Revelation 3, in the seventh and last church period shortly before the end
of the church dispensation. The spiritually lukewarm, apostate and materialistic church of
Laodicea is presently dominant in the world. Shortly, the true church will be called to heaven
with the sound of a trumpet. It is clearly only the true disciples of the Lord Jesus who received
the promise that He would come to take them away after He has prepared a place for them in
heaven (John 14:2-3). The elders around the throne will sing to the Lamb: “You were slain and
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have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and
have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10).

There are literally thousands of tongues [languages], tribes and nations in the world, and saints
from among all of them will gather around the throne in heaven when the seals are opened, the
trumpets are sounded and the seven last plagues are poured out upon the wicked. When the
first seal is opened the Antichrist will be revealed as a false prince of peace. There is no
possibility that the true church of Christ can be surrendered to the Antichrist and subjected to
God’s judgements, since we have not been appointed to divine wrath (1 Thess. 5:9).

The coming day of the Lord, therefore, proclaims a completely different destiny to believers and
unbelievers respectively. To the apostates and unbelievers on earth it will be a time of divine
judgements because they do not belong to the Lord Jesus and therefore do not share in His
salvation. But to the disciples of Christ the day of the Lord will be a time of glorification and
unspeakable joy. Paul says, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have
loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).

“That day” refers to the day of the Lord. When the Antichrist will gain control over the whole
world through great deception, the children of the Lord will appear before the judgement seat of
Christ in heaven, receive rewards of grace in the form of crowns, and then judge the world in
righteousness together with Christ (1 Cor. 6:2). They will be present when God’s judgements are
poured out upon the wicked multitudes and confirm the righteousness of His judgements.

DIVINE WRATH

The entire seven years of the tribulation will be a time of divine wrath upon the sinners.
Initially, spiritual intimidation and deception by the Antichrist will be the order of the day (cf.
2 Thess. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:3-4), followed by a time of great tribulation, natural disasters and wars.
The Antichrist will have dominion over the world for the entire seven years. Never in history
did God judge believers together with unbelievers, and consistent with this principle they will
be removed from planet earth before the revelation of the Antichrist.

During the time of Noah and Lot there was also an escape for believers before the outpouring of
divine wrath. At that early stage it was already unthinkable that God would judge believers
together with unbelievers. Abraham asked God: “Would You also destroy the righteous with the
wicked?” (Gen. 18:23). The Lord said that He would not do it, and reconfirmed that He would not
destroy the pagan cities if there would be only ten righteous persons in them. But there were
not even ten, and subsequently God first sent the believers away to a place of safety before the
wicked were struck by His judgements. The angel said that God’s judgements would be held
back until Lot and his family had left (Gen. 19:22).

Before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the Lord also allowed true Christians the
opportunity to first flee from the city, thereby escaping God’s wrath upon a spiritually hardened
Jewish people (Luke 21:20-24). Historic sources indicate that the Christians all fled from
Jerusalem to Pella, a city east of the River Jordan, before Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed
in 70 AD by Roman forces under the command of Titus.

This escape occurred during the first generation of the Christian dispensation. In the last
generation of this dispensation, before the tribulation and the revelation of the Antichrist, there
will also be a literal and worldwide escape of Christians: “Watch therefore, and pray always that
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you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

TRIBULATION BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH

The tribulation and persecution which Christians experienced throughout the centuries was
because of their faith and it was perpetrated by a hostile world which lies under the sway of the
Evil One. We are not judged or afflicted by God. We should, at all times, be able to clearly discern
between tribulation because of our faith, and tribulation as God’s punishment upon the wicked.
The gates of Hades will never overcome and obliterate the church of Christ (Matt. 16:18), but
after the rapture the son of perdition (the Antichrist) will have great powers over all people,
including those who are saved after the rapture: “And it was granted to him to make war with the
saints and to overcome them. And he was given authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation”
(Rev. 13:7). The tribulation saints will suffer dreadfully under his rule (Rev. 6:9-11).

Although the Antichrist will initially act as a [false] prince of peace, his dictatorship will span the
entire seven years of the tribulation. During his reign of terror God’s judgements will be poured
out upon the earth, and for that reason all Christians have to be evacuated before the start of the
seven year tribulation. This will be an escape, similar to what Noah and Lot experienced before
times of divine judgement. The promise of escape is a blessed hope to us in a world which is
increasingly becoming darker.

THE WITHHOLDER OF THE ANTICHRIST

Those who wait for the coming of the Antichrist before the rapture do not take account of the
fact that he can in no way be revealed until the withholder has been taken out of the way. Paul
says to the Thessalonians: “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now
restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His
coming” (2 Thess. 2:7-8).

During the time of Paul the antichristian spirit of deception was already working and it
continued doing its subversive work throughout the centuries to this very day. Its evil mission is
to corrupt individuals, societies and their institutions, including churches, and luring them away
from the kingdom of heaven by alienating them from God, His Son and the true doctrine of the
Bible. That is the reason why sincere Christians were always called upon, under the guidance of
the Holy Spirit, to shine like lights in a dark, sinful and depraved world. The mysterious working
of the spirit of error is intent on preparing the world for the end-time appearance of and
takeover by the Antichrist. But the revelation and worldwide coup of the Antichrist cannot
occur before his withholder – that is the church of Christ as the temple of the Holy Spirit – has
been taken out of the way by means of the rapture. Only then the hour of complete darkness will
set in and the false messiah will easily gain control over the world as political and religious
leader, being accepted, followed and worshipped by all people.

No coexistence is possible between the church of Christ and the Antichrist as a fully-fledged
world leader. The church will first be removed from the scene to allow the Antichrist to be
revealed and take full control over a depraved world. Under the influence of the man of sin free
reign will be given to the sinful inclinations and evil intentions of the deceived multitudes who
will openly worship the son of perdition. He will grant them unrestricted freedom of choice to
fill the measure of their guilt to its brim, thereby causing an unprecedented and worldwide
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moral and spiritual collapse reminiscent of the days of Noah and Lot. That will be a prelude to a
dramatic intervention by God in human affairs through the second coming of Jesus Christ,
leading to His judgements upon the wicked and the sudden destruction of their satanic leaders.
These judgements will reach their climax during the battle of Armageddon at the end of the
seven year tribulation. The Antichrist and the false prophet will be destroyed as there cannot be
a coexistence of Christ and the Antichrist on earth (Rev. 19:19-21). The devil will also be
removed from the scene and bound in a bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1-3).

We are on the threshold of the revelation of the kingdom of darkness and its wicked king. Seven
years later it will be followed by the public revelation of God’s kingdom and His King of
righteousness, leading to the destruction of evil forces and the glorious establishment of Christ’s
millennial reign. This series of apocalyptic events will suddenly start when the withholder
against the revelation of the Antichrist has been taken out of the way.

THE LAST TRUMPET

One of the reasons why some people expect the rapture in the middle or close to the end of the
tribulation period is because they cannot discern between the various trumpets in the Bible.
They argue that the last trumpet which will, according to 1 Corinthians 15:52, be sounded at the
resurrection and rapture of the saints, is also the seventh and last one of the trumpets which
will announce God’s judgements in Revelation 8 to 11. According to them, this is the last
trumpet which will be sounded. However, there are many trumpets which are mentioned in the
Bible, and in most cases they are not related to one another. Every trumpet should be
interpreted within its own prophetic context and chronological cycle.

In Israel’s programme of seven major feasts which are, as described in Leviticus 23, celebrated
annually, a trumpet is sounded on the first day of the seventh month on their religious calendar
to announce the final gathering of the harvest. In this month, Tishri, the last three of the seven
major feasts are celebrated, i.e. the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of
Tabernacles. In the prophetic application of these three feasts the Feast of Trumpets will be
fulfilled at the rapture when the harvest of the kingdom of heaven will be gathered throughout
the world. The Day of Atonement will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ when Israel as a
people will be reconciled with Him, while the Feast of Tabernacles will be the joyous feast when
the Messiah’s earthly kingdom will be instituted with Jerusalem as capital. The saved Israel and
the glorified church will play a prominent role in this kingdom.

With regard to the outward form and spiritual significance of these feasts the Feast of Trumpets
on 1 Tishri has, through the years, been considerably extended in Israel. It coincides with the
New Year celebrations on their civil calendar in which Tishri is the first month. This feast is
celebrated on the first two days of Tishri as 1 Tishri, depending on when the first sliver of the
new moon appears, may start a day later among certain Jewish communities outside Israel.
Since it is impossible to determine beforehand the exact day or hour when this feast should
commence, its celebration was stretched over two days.

During Elul, the sixth month on the religious calendar, rabbis blow the ram’s-horn (shofar)
every day in their synagogues as a call to repentance to the nation in preparation of the coming
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) when their dedication to the Lord must again be completely
restored. “Elul” means “search” and has the spiritual significance that people have to search
their hearts and lives for hidden and unconfessed sins. On 2 Tishri the trumpet is sounded a few
times throughout the day, followed by a final sounding at the setting of the sun when the day
ends. Should the people at that stage not yet have heeded the call to repentance they will enter
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the seven awful days between 3 and 9 Tishri when they will have a further opportunity to repent
and break with their sins. These seven days will prophetically be fulfilled during the year-week
of the tribulation, which will be the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7). It will be a particularly
dark time in Israel’s history, which is symbolically indicated by the dark moon associated with
the few days following the Feast of Trumpets.

On the Day of Atonement which will be celebrated on 10th Tishri after the 70th year-week of
Daniel the Messiah will set His feet on the Mount of Olives, and then the entire remnant of Israel
will be reconciled with Him on one day (Zech. 12:10). On the Feast of Tabernacles directly after
His coming the Messianic kingdom will be established in Israel.

Within the context of Israel’s Harvest Festival the concept of a last trumpet, therefore, has a
completely different meaning than the last trumpet in the programme of God’s judgements
during the tribulation period. In a prophetic sense the harvest of the Lord will be gathered at the
blowing of the last trumpet on 2 Tishri. That is exactly what will happen at the rapture. We have
all reason to attach prophetic significance to the Feast of Trumpets since the previous four
feasts were all fulfilled at their appointed time – that is Passover during the crucifixion of Jesus,
the Feast of the Unleavened Bread during His burial, the Feast of First Fruits during His
resurrection, and Pentecost during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We obviously do not know
during which year’s program of feasts the three feasts of the harvest season will be fulfilled, but
we do know that they will definitely be fulfilled.

There is also another reference to the sounding of a trumpet during the catching away of the
church. In traditional Jewish marriage ceremonies a trumpet is sounded, together with a shout,
when the bridegroom comes for his bride at night time. We are waiting for this moment when
the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with
the trumpet of God. Then we will depart with Him in the twinkling of an eye to the heavenly
wedding hall. After the Jewish bride was taken away she stayed secluded in the bridal room for
seven days where nobody else but the Bridegroom saw her. These seven days of seclusion
prophetically refer to the year-week of the tribulation period when the bride of Christ will be
away from the earth. During the time of her absence the Lord’s judgements will be poured out
upon an apostate world.

After the Harvest Festival which will be fulfilled at the rapture, three series of seven judgements
each will be poured out upon the unsaved world – these are the seven seals, the seven trumpets
and the seven last plagues. The sounding of the trumpet at the rapture has no association with
the seven trumpets which announce God’s judgements in the tribulation. The trumpet which
calls the church of Christ to heaven should not be confused with the outpouring of God’s wrath
upon the wicked. The church is not called to heaven during any of these seven trumpets.

When we have the correct prophetic perspective we expect the heavenly Bridegroom and not
the deceptive “angel of light” bridegroom who will be sent by Satan to unite all the false
religions and “marry” them to the Antichrist. When we are waiting on the true Bridegroom we
have the obligation to be blameless in holiness. The Lord expects a pure heart that is filled with
the Holy Spirit, and nothing less is acceptable to Him. Are there still things in your life that
grieve the Holy Spirit and disturb the relationship between you and the Lord Jesus? Confess and
forsake these sins, walk daily in the Spirit and let the light of the Lord’s presence illuminate your
life. Only then will you be safe from deception.

We should not wait to the last moment before we discover that we still do not live victoriously
and are not yet filled with the Spirit. “Let us lay aside very weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1-2). He is exalted far above our dark circumstances
 45

and is forever mighty to save, to sanctify His disciples, and to keep us standing against all the
attacks of the enemy. He will soon come for us if we are ready! It is precisely the promise that
He will soon come to take His bride to be with Him, which is foundational to our expectation
that He will come before the tribulation and take us to our eternal home.

THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

(REVELATION 4 AND 5)

The 24 elders of Revelation 4 and 5 are the glorified church. They all have crowns on their
heads, which is an indication that they received rewards from the Lord:

“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting,
clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads” (Rev. 4:4).

In their Bible Knowledge Commentary, p. 943, Profs. Walvoord and Zuck say the following about
these crowns: “The crowns were similar to those given victors in Greek games (stephanos), in
contrast with the crown of a sovereign ruler (diadema, ‘diadem’). The crowns seem to indicate
that the elders had been judged and rewarded.”

Peter says that “the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God” (1 Pet. 4:17). That
refers to the judging of the believers’ works. Jesus said: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My
reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his works” (Rev. 22:12). When the Lord
comes, He will reward His servants and judge the wicked:

“Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should
reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great,
and should destroy those who destroy the earth” (Rev. 11:18).

The golden crowns that will be awarded to the glorified church are earned through grace by
virtue of what the Lamb has enabled people to do; that is why they are laid down before His
throne:

“The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives
forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: You are worthy, O Lord, to
receive glory and honour and power” (Rev. 4:10-11).

Only He is worthy to receive the glory for what has been achieved by His faithful witnesses on
earth. It is through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit that they could work for the Lord and
be found faithful in what He had commissioned them to do. Even so, it still calls for commitment,
self-discipline, obedience, and perseverance from their side. But the means of grace to do this
work, all come from the Lord.

Although the judgement seat of Christ is not explicitly discussed in Revelation, the evaluation
and rewarding of works is accepted as a given. It is also very obvious that this judgement will
occur just after the rapture. To the martyrs in the church of Smyrna Jesus says: “Be faithful until
death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). There is clearly a specific crown that will
be given to them. To His faithful witnesses in apostate Thyatira, He says: “Hold fast what you
have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power
over the nations” (Rev. 2:25-26). At His Second Coming He will reward them. To the faithful ones
in the dead Sardis church He promises: “He who overcomes shall be clothed with white garments”
(Rev. 3:5). To His beloved servants in Philadelphia who kept on serving Him despite their great
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poverty, He says: “Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your
crown” (Rev. 3:11). They must remain worthy right to the end if they wished to be rewarded.

Regarding this spirit of perseverance to the end, John wrote to the congregations even before he
was exiled to Patmos: “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have
confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 Jn. 2:28). By then, it was already
obvious that serious problems and spiritual backsliding had occurred in many of the Christian
congregations. The second generation Christians were, in most cases, not up to standard. Even
some of the older ones also faltered. Not all were overcomers.

THE APPOINTMENT

All Christians have a definite appointment to appear before the judgement seat of Christ –
whether they were good servants or not. Some of them will receive rewards, while others will
stand empty-handed. The fact is that the servants of the Lord will have to give account of
themselves. Paul said to the church in Corinth:

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things
done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).

The word bad can also be rendered worthless. Many of the works of Christians will, on that day,
prove to be worthless as they have no eternal value. The Lord Jesus says to every congregation:
“I know your works…” He will reward everyone according to their works, whether they be good
or worthless.

Paul gives the same message to the Christians in Rome:

“…we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ… So then each of us shall give account of
himself to God” (Rom. 14:10, 12).

To the Corinthians, Paul explains in much more detail how God will test the works of believers
by the fire of His judgement. From the context it is clear that the works of faith that were done
after repentance are to be tested, but that the works of some believers will nevertheless be
found to be carnal and therefore rejected. Paul also clearly indicates that as co-workers of God
we have a definite task to perform in the kingdom of God. But we must beware how we do it –
not in the wisdom of the flesh but in the power of the Holy Spirit:

“…each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are God’s fellow
workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given
to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each
one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will
be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which
he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss;
but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:8-16).

A few important points are quite evident from this passage:

 The foundation of repentance, which is the beginning of the new life in Christ, must first
be laid in our lives before we can work for the Lord.
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 After repentance we are commanded to work for the Lord by being His witnesses and
thereby make our lights shine in the world. We must be fellow workers with Him in the
extension of His kingdom.
 We cannot assume that all we do for the Lord is done under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit and therefore acceptable to Him, since we may also do worthless works that
emanate from the carnal human nature (1 Cor. 3:1-3). These works are the wood, hay
and straw that have no value for eternity and will be burned up.
 To those who do unacceptable works in the power of the flesh, the question is asked:
“Do you not know that… the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16). They should
dedicate their lives to the control of the Holy Spirit and start serving the Lord in His
power. That is the normal Christian life.

In a parable in Luke 19:11-27, the Lord Jesus also referred to the day when His servants will
have to give account of their lives. He says that to each of them money was given, which refers
to a God-given gift to work in His kingdom, i.e. the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. The
command to the servants: "Do business till I come" (Lk. 19:13) means: "Manage the affairs of My
kingdom till I come." When He returns as King He will first summon His servants to see what they
have earned through labour. To the one who made ten-fold profit He will say: “Well done, good
servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities” (Lk. 19:17).
Another one gets authority over five cities, while the one who buried the money given to him
will appear before the Lord empty-handed and be strongly reprimanded because of his
uncommitted life.

THE BASIS OF JUDGEMENT

The Lord has an appointment at His judgement seat with all those who belong to Him. It is
obvious that they will not be judged on the basis of the presence or absence of faith in their
lives. They are all saved through grace by faith, and that is a gift of God. Because they are all
believers the basis of judgement is something else, and that is the works of faith. These are the
works that must emanate from a living faith. James says:

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James. 2:26).

Paul states very clearly in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by faith, without works. No one can
earn his salvation by working for it. Salvation is a gracious gift of God. But when a person has
been saved and become a believer, it is expected of him to lead a life of devotion and good
works. In the text following the one on salvation through faith without works, Paul says: “For we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that
we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). We are clearly called to a life of good works.

We must bear fruit that befits repentance. If no fruit is forthcoming in our lives, it is a clear
indication that we do not have genuine faith. Every branch that bears fruit is pruned, that it may
bear more fruit. Our lives must be purified and sanctified that we may bear more fruit. Every
branch that does not bear fruit is taken away and burnt. Such a person had a false repentance
like the seeds that fell on the rocks or between the thorns (Mt. 13:3-23). Such a person must
make a new start with his spiritual life.

From this background knowledge it should be evident that the Lord will not reward us for what
we are doing for Him but only for what He is doing through us. We should be used by Him. What
we do, must be in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must not rely on our own ideas but
acknowledge and consult God in all our ways. When we want to talk to other people we must
first study our Bible and get a word from God, to be able to say: “Thus says the Lord.”
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We must also live holy lives, otherwise the Lord won’t use us. He does not use carnal and
worldly-minded fellow-workers. If they do not return to their first love He removes their
lampstand from them, as He even does from an entire congregation that deviates from truly
loving and serving Him. He will then find someone else to serve Him.

CROWNS

The Lord knows the works of His children and He will reward them for these works when He
comes again. Shortly after we receive our resurrection bodies during the first resurrection and
the rapture, we will be awarded crowns for faithful service at the judgement seat of Christ. We
should, therefore, endeavour to do works that are pleasing and acceptable to the Lord, for which
alone He will give rewards. The earthly lives of people who did these works will prove not to
have been in vain as they produced works with eternal value under the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord will say to them: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Mt. 25:21).

The following crowns are promised to the overcomers:

1. THE IMPERISHABLE CROWN FOR A HOLY LIFE

Holiness basically concerns two matters – sanctification and separation for service. When a
Christian dedicates himself in a full surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit, he can expect the
following two reactions: Firstly, he will be convicted of sin and carnality in his life, which must
be confessed and forsaken. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of holiness and He will not take full
control of an impure and unclean temple. Paul says: “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of
the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).

Secondly, he must make himself available to the service of the Lord. Paul witnessed the
strenuous training programmes of the athletes in Greece, as well as the fact that they abstained
from harmful habits. He remarked: “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all
things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Cor.
9:25). Do you exert yourself to obtain the imperishable crown for a holy and dedicated life? Paul
certainly did. He said: “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection” (1 Cor. 9:27).

However, to many people the ideal of a holy and dedicated life remains an elusive ideal. They
should keep in mind that there is a distinct difference between justification and sanctification. In
justification, one is saved by grace through faith, without any works of self-justification. In
sanctification, the saved person becomes a fellow-worker of God (1 Cor. 3:9). A life and works of
holiness are realised by combining the power and guidance of God's Holy Spirit with the efforts
of the believer.

First, the Lord should touch your life, cleanse it with the blood of the Lamb and fill it with His
Holy Spirit. That is imputed holiness, something which God alone can do for you. But you must
be willing to humble and deny yourself, take up your cross and surrender your whole life and all
your possessions to Christ (Ps. 139:23-24; Lk. 9:23). God will then sanctify you completely,
which is a second work of grace after salvation (1 Thes. 5:23).

After this experience, you should act in the power of the Holy Spirit, according to your new
convictions of God's will, and abandon everything that is wrong and carnal, while disciplining
your body and making it serviceable to the Lord (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Cor. 9:27). Holiness and dedicated
service cannot be achieved in an armchair. After surrendering your whole life to Christ and
trusting Him to fill you with His Spirit, you must rise and do what your hand finds to do. Then,
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you will never stand before Him empty-handed when you are summoned to appear before His
judgement seat.

2. THE CROWN FOR SOUL-WINNERS

The great commission that Christ gave to His disciples is that of world evangelism. When He
appeared to His disciples in the upper-room after His resurrection, He said: “Peace to you! As the
Father has sent Me, I also send you” (Jn. 20:21). Later, He repeated this commission to them: “Go
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15). It was not to be an easy
assignment to proclaim the message of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus in a hostile world, and
this is why the power of the Holy Spirit was promised to them: “But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

For those who lead other people to Christ, the crown of rejoicing is promised. In his letter to the
Thessalonians, Paul says: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in
the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thes. 2:19). Likewise, all other people
who also lead lost souls to Christ, will receive the crown of rejoicing.

3. THE CROWN OF GLORY FOR FAITHFUL PASTORS

The spiritual care and building-up of the congregation is a very important aspect of Christian
service that was commanded by Christ Himself. In Revelation, He refers to the seven churches
and their pastors in a very extraordinary way:

“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands:
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are
the seven churches” (Rev. 1:20).

A preacher must be like a brightly shining star in the Lord’s right hand. A star (meaning a
planet) has no light in itself, but it reflects the sunlight onto the earth at night. Likewise, a
preacher must be a reflection of the light of the Sun of Righteousness in a dark world. He is not
the light, but he testifies about the Light. Furthermore, the preacher is likened to an angel. “And
of the angels He says: Who makes His angels [serving] spirits and His ministers a flame of fire”
(Heb. 1:7). The preacher is a messenger who is sent to the congregation with a message from
God. He must serve the congregation with the Word of God which is the bread of life, and also
with the various gifts of grace with which the congregation is to be built up spiritually.

Peter says that the preacher is a pastor who should lead the flock. He should not do it with
murmuring, or as being compelled to do it, or with a view to self-enrichment. He must not be a
hard master, but one who sets a good example and who guards the interests of the
congregation. If he discharges all these duties in an honest, dedicated and exemplary way, he
will receive the crown of glory form the Chief Shepherd:

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but
willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but
being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of
glory that does not fade away” (1 Pet. 5:2-4).

It is obvious why a preacher will receive a heavier judgement than other people if he does not
do his work as the Lord expects of His servants. The Lord will also claim the blood of lost sheep
at his hands. On the other hand, he will be richly rewarded if he is a faithful pastor.
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One of the reasons for the great falling-away of the last days is that faithful and able pastors who
rightly divide the word of truth, are very scarce. The majority will, for the sake of popularity and
also under the influence of colleagues who are false prophets, follow the way of compromise by
proclaiming an easy but false gospel message. They will perpetuate the myth of declaring people
saved who are not born-again. Long ago, Paul warned against them:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own
desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will
turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

Make sure that you are fed with the pure milk of the Word of God in your congregation, and that
you and your pastor have confidence to appear before the judgement seat of Christ.

4. THE CROWN OF LIFE FOR CHRISTIAN MARTYRS

To everyone who lays down his life for the sake of his faith, the crown of life is promised. The
Lord Jesus said to the martyrs: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev.
2:10). Through the ages there were always faithful servants of the Lord who were prepared, at
the cost of their own safety, their work, their families and even their own lives, to hold the flame
of faith aloft in a hostile world. They realised the full implications of the words of Christ when
He said: “Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Lk. 10:3). He also said: “In the world you
will have tribulation” (Jn. 16:33). During the past almost 2000 years, Christians were indeed, in
many countries, persecuted, driven away, scoffed at, intimidated, incarcerated in convict
settlements and torture camps, while millions were killed for their faith. The Lord will reward
them with the crown of life for the price they paid to be His witnesses among cruel and
revengeful people.

To a smaller or greater degree, Christians were persecuted throughout the past twenty
centuries. It started in Jerusalem shortly after the establishing of the early church, it was
perpetuated by the Roman Empire until the beginning the fourth century, practised by the
Roman Catholic Church and the governments under its influence for more than a millennium,
viciously pursued by communist regimes in the 20th century, and presently also practised in
various Islamic countries.

Included in the category of martyrs are those who suffered trials, testing, afflictions and
temptation other than being persecuted by fellow men:

“Blessed in the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive
the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (Jas. 1:12 NIV).

Trials of this nature are varied and may be related to poverty and bereavement, physical
disabilities, the caring for disabled, sick or poor ones, etc. Such people will be rewarded by the
Lord with the crown of life if they remain faithful.

5. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIS APPEARING

To love the coming of the Lord, calls for the pursuing of things with eternal value. You must lay
up treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in
and steal. If you say that you love the appearing of the Lord Jesus, you clearly imply that He is
your King, that you are involved with the establishing and extension of His kingdom on earth,
and that you are looking forward to the day when He will be revealed as King. In the meantime
you are a stranger on earth, as your eternal home is not here. Paul fought the good fight of faith
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in proclaiming God’s kingdom in a heathen world. Shortly before he was executed for his faith,
he again expressed his strong expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up
for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).

When the wonderful day of His soon expected appearing dawns all believers will receive
glorified bodies, and, as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, we will reign with Christ:

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may conform to His glorious body” (Phil. 3:20-
21).

When the children of God have received their glorified bodies and crowns, they will be seated
around the throne of the Lamb to judge the world in righteousness with Him. Then the seven
seals of the scroll with God’s judgements will be broken in heaven and the Antichrist will
suddenly appear as a false prince of peace on earth. With all these awesome future events in
mind, the elders in heaven wait in suspense for the first seal to be opened by the Lamb…

THE ANTICHRIST

RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST

The Antichrist is a key figure in the kingdom of darkness which is engaged in a full-scale war
against the kingdom of light. The arena in which this war is waged is in the lives of people who
have been created in the image of God. The weapons used range from the direct use of occult
powers in spiritually influencing people, to the indirect deceiving of millions who practise false,
man-made religions. Every effort is made to corrupt or destroy true Christianity.

Satan’s final objective in this struggle is to gain control over all people and to establish the
Antichrist as king and universal messiah on earth. From God’s point of view this great conflict
will lead to the final defeat of Satan and his followers, and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom
of righteousness on earth. The power of darkness will be broken and all its supporters
condemned to an eternal hell.

This war has continued unabated through the ages. It started when Lucifer and the fallen angels
were cast out of heaven. When God created humans, Lucifer saw in it an opportunity to destroy
God’s handiwork. He deceived Adam and Eve into disobeying God and thereby to rebel against
Him. At that moment Adam and Eve died spiritually and also, ultimately, brought physical death
upon themselves and their descendants, who became a fallen race of spiritually dead men and
women with a natural propensity to sin.

With the opportunities that humanity’s depraved nature offered to the kingdom of darkness,
large-scale cultural and spiritual degeneration followed. During the thousands of years until the
coming of Christ all the heathen nations on earth were spiritually blinded by Satan into
worshipping idols. For extended periods, apostasy also prevailed in Israel as the chosen people
of God. There were times when it seemed as if the entire nation of Israel would succumb and be
destroyed in the fierce battle that raged against them. Even the prophet Elijah at one stage
despaired and almost abandoned the struggle against the enemies of God:
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“Lord, they have killed Thy prophets and digged down Thine altars; and I am left alone, and they
seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand
men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal” (Rom. 11:3-4).

With the coming of Christ the command was given to evangelise the entire world. The great
commission resulted in an intensification of the battle, as people from all nations were to be
delivered from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. God’s plan is,
ultimately, to bring the world under the rule of His King, His Christ, i.e. to have a Christian world.
The gospel having been proclaimed to all nations, Jesus Christ will physically return to establish
His literal kingdom on earth, ruling from David’s throne in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Christians are
waging a spiritual battle against a spiritual enemy. Christ is with us spiritually in this battle,
empowering us by His Holy Spirit.

Right from the outset Satan actively resisted God’s plan for world evangelism. His plan was, and
still is, to create a rival antichristian world. At present he pursues his objectives by way of
spiritual deception, but physical manifestations are soon to follow. As an alternative to Christ’s
bodily return to earth to establish His kingdom, Satan promises to humanity a world empire
under the leadership of a world messiah called ‘the Christ’. His counterfeit christ will be the
Antichrist who will be the head of a satanic new world order.

During the entire church dispensation, the followers of Jesus Christ have been actively opposed
by the satanic spirit of antichrist. In this struggle, the kingdom of darkness mobilises as many
people as possible to persecute and try to destroy Christianity. Tyrants like Nero, Stalin, Hitler,
and many others, may rightly also be called antichrists. But they are only forerunners of the
end-time Antichrist: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall
come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 Jn. 2:18).

REVELATION OF THE ANTICHRIST

The Scripture below (from NKJV which is closer to the Greek here) gives details of the revelation
of the Antichrist:

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes
first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all
that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself
that he is God… And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is
taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with
the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless
one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all
unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth,
that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should
believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness” (2 Thes. 2:3-12 NKJV).

In this section, Paul gives two indications of things that must happen first before the Antichrist
can be revealed. In verse 3 he says that the falling away must first occur. The root meaning of
the Greek word apostasia, which is here translated as falling away, is depart. When the truth
departs, then great apostasy sets in, as implied in this text. However, the reference here is not to
the departure of truth as an abstract moral virtue, but to the departure at the rapture of
Christians who stand for God’s truth against error.
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In an authoritative book by eminent evangelical theologians on eschatology (When the trumpet

sounds, edited by Thomas Ice and Dr. Tim Demy) the word apostasia is rendered rapture. In
Chapter 14, Prof. H.W. House indicates that in seven of the earliest Bible translations this word
was rendered as departing first and not as falling away. These translations are Wycliffe (1384),
Tyndale (1526), Coverdale (1535), Cranmer (1539), Breeches (1576), Beza (1538), and the
Geneva Bible (1608). In a footnote on 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the Amplified Bible quite aptly says:
“A possible rendering of apostasia is ‘departure [of the church]’.”

A great falling away will at any rate occur in the last days (2 Tim. 3:1-5), particularly after the
sudden departure of true Christians, and great spiritual darkness will prevail on earth. The
Antichrist will then be revealed as the unmistakable, evil man of sin and the son of perdition. He
will lead a world-wide rebellion against biblical norms by establishing and strongly encouraging
a culture of sin and violence.

A further reference to the important event that must take place before the Antichrist is revealed
is in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (NKJV): “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be
revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now
restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed…”
The one who restrains is the Holy Spirit indwelling the church. At the rapture the true church of
Christ, as the temple of the Holy Spirit on earth (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:21,22), will suddenly be
caught up to heaven. Great spiritual darkness will then descend upon the world, giving the
Antichrist the ideal opportunity to reveal himself and make his bid for power unopposed.

After the rapture of the church and the revelation of the Antichrist, there will be a fresh
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Israel (Zech. 12:10). That will be the final fulfilment of Joel
2:28, in which an outpouring of God’s Spirit is promised just prior to the apocalyptic events
ushering in the day of the Lord (Joel 2:27-32). During the tribulation period, many people on
earth will be saved (Rev. 7:1-17).

All these facts indisputably point to the rapture taking place before the revelation of the
Antichrist and the beginning of the tribulation period. He who restrains must be taken out of the
way before the Antichrist can be revealed. An element of surprise is associated with the rapture
because it is impossible to calculate when it will happen. We must always be ready for this great
event. Anticipation of the sudden coming of the heavenly Bridegroom at an unknown day and
hour was intended to be a strong motivation to all believers throughout the centuries to live
holy lives.

For this reason, Christians have a Christ-expectation and not an Antichrist-expectation. We are
waiting for the Lord Jesus and not for the appearing of the man of sin. In the meantime we have
to warn all people against the rise of antichristian ideologies and be the salt of a corrupt earth.
But we are not destined for the Antichrist’s cruel dictatorship in the tribulation period if we are
true believers. That is why we should not occupy ourselves with survival strategies for the
coming great tribulation, but do the work of Jesus Christ in anticipation of His sudden coming.

A further important statement about the Antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2 is that he is an end-

time figure and not a figure of past history. He appears on the world scene shortly before the
Second Coming of the Lord Jesus, and will be alive on earth when Christ sets foot on the Mount
of Olives. On that day, the Antichrist will be destroyed: “And then the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His
coming” (2 Thes. 2:8 NKJV).

Those who hold historicist views about the prophecies related to the Antichrist are out of touch
with what the Bible says about this subject. To brand Nero, Hitler or certain of the popes as the
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Antichrist, only ends up in contradictions and confusion. How can any of these tyrants be
destroyed at Christ’s Second Coming if they are already dead? They may be called antichrists in
the sense that they paved the way for the end-time Antichrist, but they were not the Antichrist!
The final fulfilment of the prophecies about the Antichrist are still future because he will clearly
act within an eschatological context during the seven years of tribulation prior to the public
appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is also important to note that the Antichrist will be a living person and not an impersonal
system. He is called the man of sin, the son of perdition, and also the self-declared God and the
lawless one. The Bible says that he will be cast into the lake of fire alive on the day when Jesus
comes (Rev. 19:20). That he will have a unique system of government as well as an ideology in
terms of which he will rule, is certain. But as the head of this system he will be a living person
who will form a two-man government with the false prophet to subject all people to Satan’s
authority.

THE FOUR HORSEMEN

According to Revelation 6:1-8, the Antichrist will be revealed in a highly deceptive way as an
angel of light in an effort to first mislead people, and later to extend his merciless dictatorship
over them. In the first stage of his rule he will appear to the world as a global peacemaker who
brings hope and new opportunities of economic survival to a conflict-ridden and poverty-
stricken world (the rider on the white horse). In a show of clever diplomacy he will deceive the
people into accepting a new world order under a one world government which will operate in
close association with an alliance of religions in order to accomplish international unity.

When his peace initiatives and political and religious unification reforms collapse after 3½
years, the Antichrist will show his true colours and turn to coercion to enforce his authority
over the world, becoming a cruel military dictator (the rider on the red horse). The next logical
action will be stringent economical control and food rationing during the severe wars and
famine (the rider on the black horse). After these calamities, the only activity left for the
Antichrist is his ride as the angel of death to reap as many souls as possible to join him in
perdition (the rider on the pale horse). What started as a peace movement will end in utter
tragedy.

In His prophetic discourse, Jesus Christ described a similar sequence of events that will occur
during the coming tribulation period (Mt. 24:4-9):
 “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am
Christ; and shall deceive many” (the white horse);
 “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:… For nation shall rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom” (the red horse);
 “…and there shall be famines, and pestilences” (the black horse);
 “Then they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you” (the pale horse).

IDENTITY OF THE ANTICHRIST

In Revelation 13, more details are given about the identity and character of this evil world
leader. He is described as “a beast… having seven heads” and his co-ruler, the false prophet, as
“another beast”:
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The Antichrist: “And I 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 [Satan] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one
of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world
wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and
they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was
given unto him to continue forty and two months… And it was given unto him to make war with
the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues and
nations…” (Rev. 13:1-7).

The false prophet: “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth… And he exerciseth all
the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and those who dwell therein to
worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he
maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that
dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the
beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image of the beast, which
had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he hath power to give life unto the image of the beast,
that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the
image of the beast should be killed. 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 [666]” (Rev. 13:11-18).

In Revelation 17, another intimate ally of the Antichrist is mentioned, from whom we may learn
more about the beast. That is the harlot woman who represents all the false, antichristian
religions of all times: “…and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of
blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns… And upon her forehead was a name written,
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE
EARTH” (Rev. 17:3-5).

This woman is the mother of the apostates, and as such, a spiritual parent organisation (an
alliance or ecumenical body) of all the false religions. She was closely associated with the
previous world empires and will also enjoy official recognition in the future kingdom of the
beast. In Revelation 17 we are given more information about her and the beast on which she is
riding: “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which
the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five have fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet
come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not,
even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition” (Rev. 17:9-11).

The first conclusion that we must come to about this Scripture is that it is not referring to the
seven mountains of Rome, and therefore the prophecy is not about the Roman Catholic Church
per se. It says that the seven mountains are seven kings (or kingdoms) that succeed one another
chronologically. We know that it does not refer to Roman emperors, as between Nero and
Constantine alone there were ten antichristian caesars in power. In this passage God gives us a
broad perspective on seven consecutive world empires as the major strongholds of heathen
religions through the centuries. In Genesis, Isaiah and Daniel mention is made of these empires.
They are:
1. The ancient Babylonian Empire established by Nimrod.
2. The Assyrian Empire that took the ten tribes of Israel captive in the 8th century BC.
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3. The neo-Babylonian Empire that conquered the kingdom of Judah in the 6th Century
BC and took many of its subjects captive to Babylon.
4. The Medo-Persian Empire.
5. The Greek Empire.
6. The Roman Empire.
7. The restored Roman Empire of the tribulation period.

When Revelation was written in 95 AD five of these empires had fallen – the ancient Babylonian
to the Greek – the Roman was currently ruling, while the end-time empire of the beast
(Antichrist) was still future. (This is precisely what Revelation 17:10 says, i.e. “five are fallen,
and one is, and the other is not yet come.”) This last empire is symbolised by the head with ten
horns. The allusion in verse 11 to the beast being “the eighth” and “of the seven” kingdoms
indicates that his will be both the 7th and the 8th. The 7th is an empire like the Roman when he
rules in alliance with other kings during the first 3½ years (v. 12); while the 8 th is when, as sole
military dictator, he rules over the whole world during the final 3½ years (Rev. 13:3-4).

A common characteristic of the first six empires is that all of them were extremely hostile
towards the kingdom of God on earth. Their occult practices, pantheism, immorality, the
deification of their leaders, humanism, and rebellion against God, will culminate in the seventh
empire of the Antichrist and descend to even greater depths of spiritual darkness and deception.
The unanimity among them has its roots in mystery Babylon, the immoral mother of all the false
religions. She exerted a tremendous influence on the previous world empires, and was
responsible for their wicked nature. “The woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns
over the kings of the earth” (Rev. 17:18).

The same evil alliance between a world government and a false world religion will be
characteristic of the reign of the beast. It will form part of the age-old struggle between the
kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. For this reason, the beast and his end-time kingdom
must not be viewed and interpreted in isolation but as the grand culmination and final
manifestation of their evil predecessors.

The Antichrist is so closely identified with the previous world empires that he is depicted with
the body of a leopard, the paws of a bear, the mouth of a lion and with ten horns on his head
(Rev. 13:2). These symbols correspond with those in Daniel 7 where the Babylonian Empire is
represented as a lion, the Medo-Persian Empire as a bear, the Greek Empire as a leopard and the
Roman Empire as a ferocious beast with ten horns on its head:
 The Antichrist will follow the tradition of the Babylonians who deified their kings. He
will declare himself above all that is called God and even challenge the authority of the
God of heaven. He will cause an image of himself to be erected in the temple and force
all the citizens of his global empire to worship the image. Those who refuse will be
executed. He will also make relentless attacks on the Jewish people after they have
revoked their covenant with him, and try to annihilate them all.
 As in the Medo-Persian Empire, he will trample upon all the nations, make an end to
their independence and incorporate them into his own empire. He will establish a
merciless government and rule over his kingdom with the irrevocable and
unchangeable laws of the Medes and the Persians. He will also order the destruction of
the Jewish people.
 The Greek Empire was depicted by Daniel as a leopard with four wings. It operated
highly mobile armies characterised by skilful military manoeuvres that enabled them
to carry out their attacks with speed and efficiency. The Antichrist will revive these
tactics in his well-disciplined armies. He will be able to deploy rapid-reaction strike-
forces practically overnight in any part of the world. An anti-Jewish policy also ruled
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supreme in the Syrian province of this empire. The Greek dictator, Antiochus
Epiphanes, was a fanatical hater of the Jews and as such also a type of the Antichrist.
 The fourth beast with its ten horns and teeth of iron had a terrible appearance. This is
symbolic of the inflexibility, ruthlessness and cruelty by which the Roman Empire
made its authority and sovereignty felt. During the invasion of Israel and the siege of
the city of Jerusalem, hundreds of thousands of Jews were gruesomely murdered,
crucified on trees and sold as slaves, while many of the survivors were taken as
captives of war to other parts of the empire. An even more devastating war of
annihilation will be waged against Israel by the Antichrist during the great tribulation.

It is evident that the empire of the Antichrist will not only be a revival of the Roman Empire, but
of all the great world empires. It will have particularly strong Babylonian features. For this
reason it is wrong to regard Western Europe as the revived Roman Empire and to allege that the
Antichrist must come from Rome. His origin will be from a country that formed part of all the
previous world empires, viz. the land of the king of the north (Dan. 11:36-45). This land lies to
the north-east of Israel and was, during various times in history, referred to as Babylonia,
Assyria, and Syria. It is presently known as Syria and Iraq, but its heartland is in Iraq. That is
also where the ancient city of Babylon is situated, which is now being rebuilt. The book of Daniel
is of great help in determining the Antichrist’s country of origin:
 He is initially depicted as one out of ten (Dan. 7:7-8), being one of the ten countries of
the old Roman Empire. The Syrian province, which included the present Iraq, was part
of this empire.
 In a following scenario his country of origin is indicated as one out of four, being the four
provinces of the divided Greek Empire (Dan. 8:8-9). Syria (including the present Iraq)
was one of these provinces.
 He is finally identified as one out of two, i.e. the countries of the king of the north (Syria)
and the king of the south (Egypt) in the divided Greek Empire after Alexander the Great
(Dan. 11). The historical battle between these two kingdoms is described in Daniel 11:1-
35, while the end-time king of the north, the Antichrist, is described in Daniel 11:36-45.
It can thus be concluded that he will originate from Syria or Iraq.

In Isaiah there is another important prophecy on the revival of the ancient Assyrian Empire in
the end-time. It is discussed within the context of the day of the Lord (Is. 10: 20) and the
Antichrist is described as the king of Assyria: “Therefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord
hath performed His whole work upon Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the
stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my
hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the
people, and have robbed their treasures, and have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man” (Is.
10:12-13).

The Antichrist will, without compunction, remove the boundaries between the nations to
internationalise them. He will also appropriate their treasures and gain control over the world
economy. The blind and deceived political leaders of that time will give their full co-operation to
him: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet;
but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their
power and strength unto the beast” (Rev. 17:12-13).

Israel, as well as all the nations of the world, will only be delivered from the dictatorship of the
end-time king of Assyria at the Second Coming of Christ. He alone can break the power of the
Antichrist (Is. 10:23-25; Mic. 5:4-6).
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POWER BASES OF THE ANTICHRIST

During the first 3½ years of the tribulation period the Antichrist will reign as prince of peace
and pursue world unity. Then he will make his big move to gain absolute power. The Antichrist’s
change of image and strategy in the middle of the tribulation will be very dramatic and
terrifying and he will endeavour to force all people into Satanism. After he has received a deadly
wound and comes to life again, the devil will no longer operate through him in the guise of a
prince of peace and an angel of light.

He will now reveal his true nature as a power-hungry dictator who will give full expression to
his propensity for blasphemy, sadism and brutal murder. He will establish a dictatorship that
will be power-based on politics, religion and the control of economic resources. On each of these
spheres, totalitarian control will be exercised with the main objective of reducing all people to
absolute slavery. They will be denied political rights, religious liberties or economic freedom
outside the unitary structures of the new world order. The three power bases of the Antichrist
are:

POLITICAL POWER
In the political sphere he will be the sole ruler of the world during the last 3½ years, and base
his power on military strength. No alliance will be able to match him because “power was given
him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Rev. 13:7). There will not be a single nation
with a sovereign government, as they will all be subjected to the decrees of the Antichrist’s
military regime. Political disloyalty will not be tolerated and rulers who do not subject
themselves to his authority will be deposed: “I have brought down those who sat on thrones” (Is.
10:13; Amplified Bible).

The Antichrist will be a modern Nebuchadnezzar who will manipulate the global citizens of his
empire at will. The brutality of historical world dictators such as Nimrod, Alexander the Great,
Nero, Hitler, and Stalin will be repeated in his reign in a surpassing way. His military campaigns
will not only be directed at earthly targets, as the greatest military deployment in the history of
mankind will occur in Israel against a heavenly army (Rev. 19:19). That will give rise to the
battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:14,16).

RELIGIOUS POWER
After the false peace has expired and as the last 3½ years of the great tribulation unfold it will,
spiritually, be the darkest time in world history. The satanic triumvirate of the dragon (Satan),
the beast (Antichrist), and the false prophet will then assume dictatorial powers on earth. They
will make concerted efforts to crush the power of the Triune God, the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit, by destroying all people who worship the God of heaven. The Antichrist, assisted by
the false prophet will, on behalf of the devil, claim the position and title of God for himself: “…the
falling away (the departing) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who
opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sits as God
in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thes. 2:3-4 NKJV).

SEVEN-YEAR REIGN OF THE ANTICHRIST

RAPTURE SECOND COMING
FALSE PEACE (3½ YEARS) GREAT TRIBULATION (3½ YEARS)
The Antichrist is revealed as prince of peace. He The Antichrist desecrates the temple, abolishes the
bases his global leadership position on political, sacrificial service and declares himself to be God.
religious, and economic structures. Israel revokes its covenant with him.
The new world order with its universal government and The alliance of world religions (the false world church)
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world peace force is instituted, and it greatly empowers is destroyed and replaced by the forced worship of the
the alliance of world religions. Antichrist as the god of this world.
The Antichrist concludes a covenant with Israel as their Jews and tribulation saints who refuse to worship the
Messiah. All other religions accept and worship him as Antichrist as God will be severely persecuted by being
the universal messiah. hunted down, convicted and executed.
The third temple is erected in Jerusalem next to the The Antichrist becomes sole ruler and military dictator.
Islamic mosque. The lie is proclaimed that all religions He controls a cashless world economy by means of
on earth worship the same God. computerised 666- related codes and PIN’s.
Babylon is rebuilt in Iraq as the New Age capital and a An unprecedented death-toll is caused by wars,
symbol of world unity. A temporary economic recovery pestilences, and natural disasters. International armies
and a false peace prevails on earth. mass in Israel for the battle of Armageddon.
Daniel also warned against this evil, end-time god-man who will arrogantly exalt himself and
claim to be God: “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and
magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods…
Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers… But in His [place] shall he honour the God of forces”
(Dan. 11:36-38).

The Antichrist will exalt himself to the position of God. But his fraud will be evident because he
will recognise a power still higher than himself – that is Satan who is also called the God of
forces. He teaches his followers to wage war and capture fortresses and strongholds, and thus to
achieve their political and religious objectives by force.

Revelation 13:3-4 clearly confirms the rise to religious power of the Antichrist, and shows that
all the deceived people in the world will worship him. Through the mediation of the false
prophet, who will do great signs and wonders to deceive the masses, an image of the beast will
be erected in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, and it will be compulsory to worship the image
(Rev. 13:15).

Such a totalitarian form of religious slavery will necessitate the disbanding and destruction of
the alliance of false religions that will be formed during the first part of the tribulation period
under the auspices of the Antichrist as universal messiah (Rev. 17:16). Only then will it be
possible to force all people to worship the beast as God.

ECONOMIC POWER
Besides the political and religious macrostructures, a cashless world economy under the control
of the Antichrist will be instituted. With the use of 666-related codes and PIN numbers, he will
control a computerised system of funds transfer from a central part of the world (Rev. 13:16-
18).

From this scripture it is obvious that 666-related codes or PIN’s will be allocated to all people,
without which no one will be able to buy or sell. Cash will be withdrawn from circulation. The
system of electronic funds transfer will only be accessible to people who have “the mark, or the
name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Rev. 13:17).

The condition for obtaining this number is that an oath of allegiance will have to be made to the
universal messiah and his world government. Only then will a 666-related personal identity
number (PIN) be issued. However, a transaction of this nature will involve the selling of one’s
soul to Satan for temporary economic gain. By signing the oath of allegiance, the Antichrist will
be recognised as the sole political, religious and economic head of the new world order.

Many theologians allege that there will be no spiritual dangers involved in a cashless monetary
system and the acceptance of the Antichrist’s number. They spiritualise this prophecy by saying
that the Antichrist will only adversely affect a person’s ability to work (the hand) and his way of
thinking (number in the forehead). Even though the Antichrist may issue a literal number or
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code system for funds transfer it will, according to them, be quite harmless. In this way they are
joining Satan’s propaganda campaign in which people will be deceived and brainwashed into
accepting the coming antichristian new world order.

Those taken up to heaven at the rapture will escape the tribulation and the Antichrist’s number
will never be imposed on them. If you are among those who are left behind, you will have to
repent and give your allegiance to the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. This will mean that you will
have to utterly reject the false messiah, his world government, his alliance of false religions, his
demand for personal worship, and his number for electronic funds transfer, irrespective of the
severe consequences that you will have to face.

Those who declare their allegiance to the Antichrist by accepting his number, will be enfolded
by the darkness of eternal condemnation: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the
Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day
nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name”
(Rev. 14:9-11).

Those who gain the victory over the satanic conspiracy by not bowing the knee to the Antichrist,
will be rewarded by an honourable place in the presence of God in heaven: “And I saw as it were
a sea of glass mingled with fire: and those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his
image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass…” (Rev.
15:2).

CHARACTER OF THE ANTICHRIST

The Bible mentions a number of key aspects of the Antichrist’s wicked, perverted, and distorted
character:
 He will be lawless. After “he who restrains” (the Holy Spirit indwelling the church) has
been taken out of the way, complete spiritual darkness will set in, followed by the
revelation of the lawless one (2 Thes. 2:8), a name implying utter rejection of God’s right
to rule over all people.
 He will be without integrity. Through political fraud he will gain a position of leadership,
and by the use of clever diplomacy and political manipulation he will soon become the
undisputed world leader (Dan. 9:27).
 He will be the big briber. Double standards, bribery and corruption will be the order of
the day in his wicked regime. Special favours will be granted to his accomplices: “…he
shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain” (Dan. 11:39).
 He will be a satanic reformer. “And he shall… think to change times and laws” (Dan. 7:25).
He will nullify various traditions and repeal laws that impede the freedom of people. He
will possibly also abrogate the institution of marriage and even change the days of the
week. In the political sphere, he will remove the boundaries among the nations and
institute a unified Babylonian world order of planetary citizens (Is. 10:13; Rev. 13:3).
 He will be the man of sin and the son of perdition [the son of ruin, loss and pernicious
ways] (2 Thes. 2:3). Disobedience, arrogance, rebellion, moral depravity and utter
selfishness are manifestations of the spirit of sin, and will pave the way for the
revelation of the man of sin. There will be no limits to the conceit and evil intentions of
this dictator’s perverted character. His close companion, the false prophet, will deceive
the nations into accepting sinful and occult practices.
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 He will be the self-declared god of this world (2 Thes. 2:4). After being honoured as
world messiah for 3½ years he will proceed to the most extreme form of rebellion
against God by declaring himself to actually be God and to demand the worship of all
people.
 Pride and self-exaltation will motivate him to claim the position of God as ruler of the
universe (Dan. 11:36).
 He will be a blasphemer of the true God and of the saints (Rev. 13:5-6; Dan. 7:25).
 He will be the greatest hater and persecutor of Jews of all time. Although he will be
accepted as Messiah by the Jews during the first 3½ years of the tribulation, he will
order the killing of all Jews after they have revoked their covenant with him (Mt. 24:15-
22).
 He will be a notorious occult practitioner who will use the great powers given to him by
Satan (Rev. 13:2). His coming will be “according to the working of Satan, with all power,
signs and lying wonders” (2 Thes. 2:9 NKJV).
 He will be the great deceiver of mankind. His coming will be “with all unrighteous
deception among those who perish” (2 Thes. 2:10 NKJV). Blaspheming God will be
encouraged: “And men… blasphemed the name of God … and… repented not to give Him
glory” (Rev. 16:9).
 He will be a man of violence and a murderer. “But tidings out of the east and out of the
north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and
utterly to make away many” (Dan. 11:44).
 He will be a psychopath with a schizoid personality: a man with many facets as he is also
seen as a beast with many heads. At times he will be exceedingly friendly and charming
when he deceives people – to the extent that no one will believe that there is anything
evil in him. But there will also be times when the dark side of his character gets the
upper hand and induces him to commit the most unimaginable cruelties. During the first
half of the tribulation period the innocent, angel of light aspect of his personality will be
dominant, while in the second 3½ years his dark and vicious aspect will be openly
manifest. Because of his lack of moral principles he will be completely unpredictable.
 Emanating from the example of the Antichrist as a violent person and a man of sin, a
culture of violence and sin will be established world-wide.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE ANTICHRIST

The underlying philosophical principle upon which the Antichrist will base his global system of
religious, political and economic governance is monism – everything is one. It is obvious from
the prophecies that the Antichrist will be heading a new world order based on the concept of
unity. During the first half of his reign unity will be promoted by nice sounding slogans of peace,
globalism and reconciliation among all groups, religions and cultures. But in the second half,
unity will be enforced by military power.

The following ideologies of unity will form the basis of the Antichrist’s global empire:

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY
The political ideology of the Antichrist will be that of globalism, or world unity. It will entail an
entirely new world order of internationalism. Nations will have to surrender vital aspects of
their sovereignty to become provinces, or regions, in the global empire of the Antichrist. Only a
limited degree of local autonomy will be retained by them. Most of their functions will be to
implement the policies and decisions of the world government.
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The need for international unity and harmony, as well as finding solutions to world problems
and regional conflicts which are beyond the capacity of individual countries to solve, will be the
motivation for the establishment of a world government. In a combined effort the beast and
false prophet will join with the harlot woman (alliance of false world religions) and the ten
kings or kingdoms (rulers/provinces of the revived Roman Empire) to achieve their purpose of
uniting the world, thus forming a neo-Babylonian world empire. According to Revelation 17:11
this will constitute the 7th head of the beast. Shortly after his revelation, the Antichrist will
distinguish himself as a diplomat of exceptional stature. He will, almost overnight, reach
agreements for the ending of conflicts that afflicted the world for many years. As a result of his
astounding success he will be praised and supported everywhere, and quickly rise to a position
of world-leadership. He will ride the wave of popular opinion and command the respect of all
governments and communities because of his success and the amazing way in which he
achieved unity, peace, and reconciliation among all nations: “…all the world wondered after the
beast... and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Rev. 13:3,7).

The Antichrist’s new world order based on a false peace and the socialistic grouping together of
all people into a single class of planetary citizens will only last for 3½ years. Opposition will
develop against his rule, especially when he declares himself to be God in the rebuilt temple in
Jerusalem and demands the worship of all people (2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:15). An assassination
attempt will then be made on him but, in a display of satanic powers, he will be healed and
recover completely from his wound (Rev. 13:3,12).

Dramatic changes will occur after this event, as the Antichrist will abruptly change his
appearance from international prince of peace to military dictator. From that moment onwards
his ideology of world unity will be enforced with military power. The kings who ruled with him
previously will, possibly under coercion, surrender all their power to him in order for him to
become the sole ruler of the world: “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength
unto the beast” (Rev. 17:13). That will mark the end of the 7th world empire ruled by the evil
alliance of Antichrist, the false prophet, the harlot woman (alliance of false religions) and the ten
kings or kingdoms. It will be followed by the openly satanic 8th world empire of the Antichrist.
He will rule by military decree and honour the god of forces (Dan. 11:38).

The last 3½ years of the 7-year tribulation period is referred to as the great tribulation. The
world will then be ruled by a satanic triumvirate: the dragon (Satan), the beast (the Antichrist)
and the second beast (the false prophet). On the outward, physical level, it will appear to be a
two-man government consisting of the Antichrist and the false prophet. However, from the
spirit world Satan will be the main power behind this government. He will take the decisions
and delegate his power to the Antichrist: “…and the dragon gave him [the beast] his power, and
his seat, and great authority” (Rev. 13:2).

The Antichrist will begin his new world order (7th empire) in the guise of an angel of light, with
nice-sounding slogans and promises of unity and peace. It will end as an openly luciferic world
order (8th empire) marked by oppression, death and the compulsory worship of the beast and
Satan: “And they [the inhabitants of the earth] worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the
beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war
with him?” (Rev. 13:4). The Antichrist will wage his final war against the true Christ (Rev. 19:19-
20).

RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY
Universal religious unity, i.e. the inherent unity of all faiths on earth, will be the religious
ideology of the Antichrist. The starting point for this ideology is theistic universalism: all the
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faiths worship the same god in different ways and by using different names. Despite the
differences that meet the eye, all religions allegedly originated from the same source of cosmic
wisdom. The logical conclusion from this surmise is that the various religions are awaiting the
same universal messiah, even though they use different names for him.

That is indeed the ideology that paves the way for the coming of the Antichrist. He will have
many facets: he will be the Christ to the Christians, the Messiah to the Jews, the Imam Mahdi to
the Muslims, Krishna to the Hindus, and the Maitreya Buddha to the Buddhists. He will unite
these religions into a close alliance under his supreme leadership. They will link hands to form
the ecumenical body referred to as “the mother of harlots” in Revelation 17:5. She will be
recognised, carried, supported, and used by the beast.

The Babylonian inter-faith body (the harlot woman) will be the bride of the Antichrist, as an
imitation of the church which is the bride of the true Christ. He will give her a position of power,
including the right to persecute and even execute the tribulation saints who refuse to worship
the beast (Rev. 17:6). He will greatly use her in his campaign to establish world unity. All her
followers will be made conscious of their common unity, and that belief will be the foundation of
an international mystical brotherhood of all people. Once this ideology has been established, the
realisation of social, political and economic unity will be achieved.

In keeping with his character as a treacherous person, the marriage of the Antichrist with his
bride (the false religions) will not last very long. After 3½ years he will declare himself to be
God and demand the worship of all people. By then, the different religions, their churches,
temples, synagogues and mosques will become redundant and be destroyed. The Antichrist will
offer his bride the option of either accepting his claim of enhanced status from universal
messiah to being God and worshipping him as such, or be executed if she refuses. The world
alliance of religions and their association with the Antichrist will then be terminated: “And the
ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her
desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (Rev. 17:16).

The final religious objective of the Antichrist will be for both Satan and himself to be
worshipped as God (Rev. 13: 4,8). Thus, Satanism will be the only official world religion during
the great tribulation (the second 3½ years).

The first phase of the Antichrist’s religious ideology is currently being implemented in
preparation for his coming. It will move through the following stages to its final objective:
 Religious equality. All religions are of equal standing and none is better nor more
important than any other. The playing-field is equalised, and they are all encouraged to
join ecumenical bodies such as the World Conference on Religion and Peace, the
Parliament for the World’s Religions, and the United Religions Initiative. They can all
collaborate on moral and ethical issues.
 Religious unity. All religions worship the same God, and should therefore also give
religious expression to their common ecumenical ties. Because of this premise they
will despise and ostracise evangelical believers who bluntly refuse to join the
ecumenical movement.
 An intimate alliance of world religions. When the Antichrist appears as the common
messiah of all faiths, he will unite this body as his bride on condition that they all
recognise and worship him. Great power and honour will be bestowed upon them, and
they will function as a corporate body. They will use their power and influence to
persecute evangelical Christians and Jews who refuse to join hands with them in
worshipping the beast.
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 Compulsory worship of Satan and the Antichrist. This body of false religions will, to
their horror and disillusionment, be rejected and sentenced to death by their universal
messiah unless they are prepared to renounce their religions and worship the beast
and Satan as God. If they do so, and also accept the number and name of the beast, their
end will be in the lake of fire where they will share the eternal punishment of the
Antichrist, the false prophet and Satan (Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:10).

The Antichrist will order the execution of all tribulation saints who refuse to accept and worship
him (Rev. 6:9-11; 13:7,15; 20:4). During the last 3½ years of his reign in the great tribulation, he
will increasingly and continuously blaspheme the true Christ and the true God while using all
his power to destroy those who confess God’s Name: “And there was given unto him a mouth
speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (Rev. 13:5-6).

The Antichrist’s last desperate bid to save his satanic empire from collapse will be centred on
Jerusalem, where he will deploy the greatest show of military might ever seen, to fight against
Christ on His return to the Mount of Olives.

ECONOMIC IDEOLOGY
The economic ideology of the Antichrist will be aimed at the centralised monetary control of the
world. This control will be exercised by using a system of electronic funds transfer. All people
will be allocated 666-related PIN numbers, without which they cannot buy or sell (Rev. 13:16-
18). Through monetary control the Antichrist will achieve the following:
 He will enslave people and monitor all their movements.
 He will blackmail people into worshipping him as God before they can be allocated a
number that will allow them to be economically active.
 He will redistribute the wealth of the world and in this way rob most nations of their
assets.
 The inevitable result of his evil economic ideology will be unemployment, hunger,
deprivation, war and unspeakable suffering for millions of people.

THE FATE OF THE ANTICHRIST

From the onset of the tribulation period, the Antichrist will know that he has only very limited
time to establish Satan’s kingdom on earth, as the true Christ promised to return and judge the
Antichrist. However, he will not accept the inevitability of biblical prophecies but do everything
in his power to oppose and thwart them. The tremendous personal attacks on Jesus at the time
of His first coming, as well as the fierce efforts to eradicate the early Christian church, will be
repeated during and prior to His Second Coming. The annihilation of Christianity will be high on
the agenda of the Antichrist.

The seven yearlong tribulation period has a fixed time span of which the two halves of 3½ years
each are expressed in terms of years, months and days. No one knows when the rapture will
occur or when the year-week of the tribulation will begin, but once it has started, apocalyptic
events will follow one another in quick succession.

The promises about the Second Coming of Christ will infuriate the Antichrist and he will do
everything possible to eradicate Christianity from the face of the earth. He will also try to
destroy Israel as God’s chosen people in order that the promises of the true Messiah’s reign of
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peace and the restoration of the throne of David in Jerusalem (Acts 15:16-17), remain
unfulfilled. However, the Lord will protect a remnant of Israel in the wilderness for 3½ years
(Rev. 12:14) to meet Him at the Mount of Olives when He comes.

The Antichrist will commit himself to an evil plan by trying to prevent the promised meeting
between the remnant of Israel and the true Messiah. His main military camp will be on the plain
between the mountains of Judea and the Mediterranean Sea (Dan. 11:45). From this camp he
will deploy forces in the valley of Jehoshaphat in Jerusalem: “For, behold, in those days, and in
that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all
nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will [enter into judgement]
with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the
nations, and parted My land” (Joel 3:1-2).

The remaining Jews will go up to the Mount of Olives in anticipation of the coming of the
Messiah. While doing so, they will be surrounded by the armies of the false messiah and
threatened with extermination. Great chaos and consternation will prevail in Jerusalem: “For I
will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses
rifled…” (Zech. 14:2).

At the height of this war of Armageddon, Jesus Christ will descend with His heavenly hosts and
set foot on the Mount of Olives: “And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives,
which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof
toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley… And ye shall flee to
the valley of the mountains… In that day, the light shall not be clear… but at the evening it shall be
light” (Zech. 14:4-7).

When Christ returns, He will save the remnant of His people who will take refuge in the valley of
the Mount of Olives. Darkness will prevail when God’s judgements are poured out upon His
enemies who will be unable to pursue Israel any longer, but will be consumed by divine
judgements: “And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have
fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and
their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongues shall consume away in their
mouths. And… a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them” (Zech. 14:12-13).

The main objective of the Antichrist in the siege of Jerusalem will not be the destruction of the
remnant of Israel, but to fight against the Messiah of Israel and try to conquer Him. That will be
his final, ill-fated effort to save his satanic empire from annihilation. What a futile exercise that
will prove to be – to fight the One who has all power in heaven and on earth! That will be the
last public appearance of the Antichrist, the false prophet and their evil accomplices on earth.
Their demise will be swift and final: “And I saw the beast [Antichrist], and the kings of the earth,
and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him [Christ] that sat on the horse, and
against His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that
worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And
the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out
of His mouth: and all the [birds] were filled with their flesh” (Rev. 19:19-21).

COMPARISON BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE ANTICHRIST

CHRIST ANTICHRIST
He descended from heaven and appeared as Man, but He will ascend out of the bottomless pit and emerge as
He is of a heavenly origin (Jn. 3: 13; 6:38). man from the sea of nations (Rev. 17:8 and 13:1).
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He is the Son of God who has come to reveal His He is the son of perdition, the lawless one, who reveals
heavenly Father and His righteousness to the world the evil character of his father, the devil, to the world
(Jn. 14:9). (2 Thes. 2:3).
He is the true God and eternal life (1 Jn. 5:20). He will declare himself to be God (2 Thes. 2:4).
He is without sin (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15). He is the man of sin (2 Thes. 2:3-10).
He came in the Name of His Father (Jn. 5:43). He will come in his own name (Jn. 5:43).
He came to glorify the Father (Jn. 17:4). He will glorify himself and blaspheme God (Rev. 13:4-
6).
He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and He will form a triumvirate with the dragon and the false
came to reveal the Father (Jn. 1:18, 14:9; 1 Jn. 5:7). prophet and represent Satan on earth (Rev. 13:4,11-
12).
He is the Saviour of the world and came to redeem us He will make people slaves to sin and of his satanic
from the power of Satan (1 Jn. 4: 14; Heb. 2:14-15). empire of darkness, and control their lives (Rev.
13:7,15-18).
He came to the world as a humble Servant to offer His He will be exalted in his own eyes and be a dictator
life as a ransom for our sins (Mk. 10:45). who will ruin people’s lives (Dan. 11:36; 2 Thes. 2:4).
He came to save sinners and give them abundant life He will come to scatter people abroad and to destroy
(1 Tim. 1:15; Jn. 10:10-11). them (Dan. 11:44).
He came to establish God’s righteousness on earth He will promote wickedness and unrighteousness on
(Mt. 6:33; Acts 17:31). earth (2 Thes. 2:3,9-12).
He came to establish and fulfil the law (Mt. 5:17-18). He will change times and laws (Dan. 7:25).
He brings true peace to men’s hearts (Jn. 14:27; Lk. He will create a false peace on earth (1 Thes. 5:3).
1:79).
He came to unmask Satan as adversary and to destroy He will worship the God of forces [Satan] with
his works (Col. 2:15; 1 Jn. 3:8). everything he has (Dan. 11:38).
He condemns greed and the excessive accumulation He will gather vast riches and use it to bribe people in
of material wealth (Lk. 12:15). his kingdom (Dan. 11:39,43).
He came to proclaim the truth about God, sin, He will deceive humanity into believing lies that will
salvation, heaven, and hell to people (Mt. 22:16; Jn. lead to their eternal ruin (Mt. 24:4-5; 2 Thes. 2:9; cf. Jn.
1:17; 8:31-32). 8:44).
He only associates with the true church that confesses He associates with the false religions whose members
His name as Saviour and rejects idols (Jn. 14:6; 2 Cor. are prepared to accept him as their messiah (Rev.
6:14). 17:3-6).
His bride, the true church, will be glorified and be with His bride, the false world church, the Mother of Harlots,
Him forever in the new Jerusalem (2 Cor. 11:2; 1 Thes. will be destroyed by fire after 3½ years (Rev. 17:16).
4:17).
He convicts people through the Spirit of truth who He convicts people through the spirit of deceit to
leads them into all truth (Jn. 16:13). mislead them (2 Thes. 2:9; 1 Jn. 4:3).
He will come from heaven in a cloud with glory and He will emerge from the desert and might be seen on
every eye will see Him! (Rev. 1:7). television (Mt. 24:26).
His kingdom will endure forever (Rev. 11:15). His kingdom will be short-lived (Rev. 17:9-12).
He will conquer the Antichrist and achieve the final He will be cast into the lake of fire forever when Jesus
victory (Rev. 19:19-21). Christ comes (Rev. 19:20; 20:10).
His followers will all inherit an eternal and imperishable His followers will share his eternal fate with him in hell,
kingdom of everlasting joy (Col. 1: 13-14; 2 Pet. 1:11). with wailing and gnashing of teeth (Rev. 14:9-11).

THE FALSE PROPHET

(REVELATION 13)

The false prophet will play a big part in the government of the Antichrist. It will seemingly be a
two-man government in which the Antichrist will act and rule in close association with the false
prophet. In actual fact, it will be a three-man government since the devil – as the unseen
spiritual power behind it – will have absolute control over this government. It will thus be a
satanic triumvirate, which will be an imitation of the Triune God. In this conspiracy against
God's kingdom the dragon (i.e. the devil) is the anti-type of God, the beast (i.e. the Antichrist) the
anti-type of Christ, and the false prophet is the anti-type of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says the
following about the revelation of the false prophet:
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“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke
like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the
earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He
performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight
of men” (Rev. 13:11-13).

The false prophet will be another beast in the same kingdom from which the first beast comes.
He will just be another one of the same type as the first one. He will look like a lamb but speak
like a dragon. He will have an innocent appearance like a religious leader who has only one
objective and that is to unite the world and lead humanity into an era of peace and harmony. But
when he speaks it will be evident that he is, to an extreme degree, possessed with the
supernatural power and spirit of deception that comes from the dragon, the devil.

The false prophet will be totally intolerant of the kingdom of God and of true Christians and
speak blasphemous things against them. He will glorify the Antichrist at the expense of Christ
and astonish the world with his signs and wonders. Through his cunning he will cause deceit to
prosper. The minds of people will be blinded by the god of this world (Satan); consequently they
will be unable to discern between good and evil but will believe a lie (2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Thes. 2:9-12).
The false prophet will take full advantage of this climate of deception to induce people to
worship the beast.

SUPPORTING ROLE OF THE FALSE PROPHET

According to Revelation 13, the false prophet will be the right-hand man of the Antichrist. Satan
knows that two are better than one. The false prophet will praise and magnify the beast, causing
multitudes of people to accept, follow and worship him.

The mass media, such as radio, television, the press, and Internet, will be utilised to their full
potential by the false prophet, who will be the chief propagandist and public relations
mastermind for the Antichrist. He will spare no effort to influence and deceive people. All
human brainpower and knowledge, including the educational systems and the entertainment
world, will be mobilised in the service of the Antichrist. False religions, including compromising,
ecumenical Christianity, will be used as an important weapon in his hand. The false prophet will
definitely not forbid religion, but instead use it as a powerful tool to deceive the masses. The
only message that will be forbidden to proclaim is that of a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ.

Religions that do not lead people to a life-changing encounter with the Lord Jesus, but instead
proclaim false messiahs and idols, or who preach politics and human rights, as well as those
who place a heavy emphasis on signs and wonders, will suit the false prophet perfectly. Signs
that are performed by false prophets will greatly increase and be used as a tool for mass
deception.

We must remember that Satan has tremendous supernatural powers, which he has always used
to oppose God. The miracles that Moses performed in Egypt were in many cases repeated by the
Egyptian magicians. The devil often uses false prophets with occult powers to deceive naive
people. In Deuteronomy 13:1-3 we read the following warning in this regard:

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying: Let us go after other
gods – which you have not known – and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that
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prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Take care that signs and wonders don't replace the Word of God! Also beware of the so-called
signs and wonders conferences and spectaculars.

Satan is increasingly going to concentrate on signs and wonders and will use every available
demon in his kingdom to this end. Because the Antichrist will get the credit for the greatest
signs, wonders and manifestations of power, the whole world will marvel and follow him,
saying: “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:4).

IMITATOR AND ADVERSARY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The evil spirit of Satan will possess both the Antichrist and the false prophet. The false prophet
will imitate and oppose the work of the Holy Spirit in the following ten ways:
 As the Holy Spirit introduces us to Jesus and teaches us to worship Him, the false
prophet will introduce the Antichrist to humanity and teach them to worship him.
 The Holy Spirit calls and purifies a bride for Christ, which is the only true church.
Through deception and apostasy the false prophet calls together a spiritually unchaste
bride (the Mother of Harlots) for the Antichrist, which will include all the false
religions.
 The Spirit of God is the Spirit of holiness who convicts us of sin. The false prophet has a
wicked spirit through which people are seduced to commit sin.
 The Holy Spirit proclaims the pure words of God to us so that we may be drawn to Him
with cords of love. From the mouth of the false prophet an unclean spirit will come,
speaking unclean words that will seduce the nations to enter into a covenant with
Satan.
 The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth who guides us into all truth. The false prophet will
lie to the people of the world and trick them in order to make them captives of the
spirit of error.
 The Holy Spirit gives us faith in God and His Son. The false prophet will mislead people
to believe in Lucifer (Satan) and in the Antichrist.
 The Holy Spirit comforts us, and also encourages and empowers Christians to act
righteously. The false prophet will frighten and oppress people, and also incite and
empower them to act unrighteously.
 The Holy Spirit gives divine gifts to people to enable them to better serve the Lord. The
false prophet will give demonic gifts to people to enable them to perform signs and
wonders to deceive others.
 The Holy Spirit teaches us to worship God and to become partakers of His eternal life.
The false prophet will force people to worship the image of the beast, thereby
condemning themselves to eternal death.
 The Holy Spirit seals everyone who belongs to Christ as a child of God. The false
prophet will induce people to be sealed with the mark of the Antichrist, thereby selling
their souls to the devil.

IDEOLOGICAL BRAINWASHING BY THE FALSE PROPHET

The false prophet will undertake the ideological and religious brainwashing of humanity on
behalf of the Antichrist. He will either emerge from the global alliance of false religions, or come
from outside and gain full control over them within a short space of time. The religions of the
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world will then be exploited to make their followers subservient to the Antichrist and also to
worship him. Revelation 13:14-18 clearly states that the false prophet will deceive the world
into worshipping the beast and receiving his mark and number on their right hands and
foreheads. This means that the world will be united in the political, religious and economic
spheres under the leadership of the Antichrist.

The way of thinking that will be fundamental to the world empire of the Antichrist is monism,
which means everything is one. This unitary ideal has two perspectives, i.e. the horizontal,
human dimension and the vertical, cosmic dimension:

A UNITED WORLD
In the horizontal perspective of monism, unity must first be established in the world by building
bridges and eradicating boundaries in all spheres of life. Social unity must be realised with a
view to establishing an integrated society of planetary citizens who are non-sexist, non-racial,
multi-religious, and multi-cultural. A process of internationalisation must also occur politically
and economically which will lead to the founding of a world government and a global monetary
system. The ecumenical movement must promote religious unity in the world. These building-
blocks of the new world order are regarded as critically important for the achieving of harmony
and peace, and consequently also for the emergence of the long-expected Utopia on earth.

The Antichrist needs a unitary ideology and reforms of this nature if he is to appear on the scene
as a political world leader, a universal religious messiah, and head of a world economy. The
more nationalistic and religious divisions there are, the less his chances are of establishing a
united, international order under his control. However, the New Age Movement, the new world
order, the ecumenical movement, and the globalisation of industry, business and finance, are
working hard to promote a spirit of globalism and mutual acceptance for him. They will pursue
these aims with much greater dedication after the false prophet has appeared.

COSMIC UNITY
The second perspective of monism is that of cosmic unity. For the further development of man
to higher levels of divinity, contact must be made with spiritual entities and forces in the
cosmos. People must be taught how to contact spirit-guides and masters of wisdom in cosmic
spheres. The objective is that all people should be assisted by higher beings to realise their full
potential, and to make progress on the evolutionary ladder from the level of homo sapiens to
that of homo universalis (the universal man), also referred to as homo novus (the new man). The
entire human family must also be collectively assisted to make the transition to the age of
Aquarius. Apart from spiritism and other techniques, transcendental meditation (TM) is
regarded as one of the most effective methods of achieving an alternative state of consciousness
and of becoming one with the cosmic world.

The false prophet will be highly exalted in the hierarchy of cosmic masters of wisdom. He will
occupy the second place after the Antichrist, and be able to perform amazing signs and wonders.
He will even make fire come down from heaven and, according to Revelation 13:14, this sign
will deceive the nations into worshipping the Antichrist.

The false prophet will apply the ideology of "everything is one" to its fullest extent. This means
that there is no counter-reality of a devil and a hell, that all religions are one, and that there is
only one universal messiah – the Antichrist. Lucifer (Satan) will, therefore, be worshipped as an
angel of light in the place of God. The only negative element in this ideology of unity will be
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those people who refuse to unconditionally accept and implement this ideology. They will
mainly be the evangelical Christians.

It is obvious that a Christian world-view is diametrically opposed to the monistic philosophy of

the Antichrist. The Bible does not teach us monism – everything is one, but dualism – everything
is two. There are two major and irreconcilable realities that confront a person, i.e. the kingdom
of God and the kingdom of Satan. They are totally polarised and implacably opposed:
The kingdom of God The kingdom of Satan
God Satan
Christ Antichrist
Holy Spirit False prophet
True religion False religions
Narrow way Broad way
Light Darkness
Heaven Hell
Truth Lie
Salvation Damnation
The way of thinking, or spiritual and ideological orientation, of these two kingdoms is
contrasted in the list below. It helps us to identify and resist the clever brainwashing which is
employed by the enemy of our souls to condition us to think and argue in terms of the principles
of his kingdom.
Christian world-view Antichristian world-view
An antithetic way of analytical thinking in which A synthetic way of thinking which ignores differences and
discernment is needed to be able to categorise integrates all things into a larger whole. This philosophy
things and to think in opposites. is called holism or monism.
Continued divergence to a point of eternal Sustained convergence until all things in the cosmos
separation between light and darkness. become integrated and unified. Differences and
Reconciliation and unity between these two conflicting interests among various groups of people are
opposites will never be possible. ascribed to ignorance.
The cosmic domain of spirits and demons is The development of a cosmic consciousness by way of
prohibited. No experimentation with occult powers transcending the boundary with the supernatural,
and extrasensory perception is allowed as these mystical world is recommended as it shapes your mind
evil powers always blind a person to the truth. to ignore conflict and think in unitary terms.
Monotheism. The Triune God is a transcendent Pantheism. God is mystical and impersonal. There is an
God. He must be perceived and worshipped element of divinity in the entire creation, which means
independent from His creation. God works within that everything is god – also plants and animals. Since
human beings through His Holy Spirit, but remains all people are inherently divine, they must deepen the
a distinct Being who should be reverently level of their consciousness and discover the god within
approached in prayer and worship. themselves.
Man is a unique creation of God. He is distinct from, Man is part of the natural creation. It is claimed that he
though physically part of, the natural world and was emerged from a unilinear line of biological evolution and
commanded by God to subdue it and rule over all thus descended from more primitive primates. He must
living creatures. He is responsible to improve and be at one with nature, not unduly disturb it and maintain
protect his environment by skilfully managing all a mystical bond with it. It is a religious mission to
natural resources. conserve nature.
Every person has only one earthly life cycle in a Every person (and even animals) have various life cycles
physical body. It is appointed for him to die once, in which they evolve to higher forms of life. By way of
after which the judgement follows and eternity reincarnation they often return to a new life cycle on
dawns in a glorified, immortal body. earth to evolve to higher forms of life.
Humanity must realise that it is divided into two The unity of the human family must also be reflected in
groups, i.e. the saved ones who are destined for the religious sphere. All faiths must accept the fact that
heaven and the unsaved ones who are destined for they worship the same God. One religion must therefore
hell. Those who are in spiritual darkness are invited not be regarded as better than any of the other.
to come over to the kingdom of God by being Structures must be created to promote this religious
spiritually born again. unity.
Because there are, religiously speaking, two Because the different religions emerged from the same
opposing kingdoms, each of them promising a source of cosmic wisdom, they all wait for the same
messiah to redeem the world – the true Christ and cosmic Christ who will finally unite them. In anticipation
the Antichrist. a Clear choice must be made of this great event they must all join hands now and
between the two of them. demonstrate their inherent unity.
Humanity is morally corrupt and spiritually dead Humans are inherently good and only act badly as a
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because of the Fall. All people are born in sin and result of adverse external influences. There is no devil or
therefore have a natural propensity to sin. If they hell in the universe; consequently, nobody needs to be
are not born again and spiritually renewed, they will regarded as a lost sinner with distorted values and a bad
end up in the lake of fire. character.
Through repentance and prayer the remission of Through a process of quiet, mystical meditation and the
your sins can be obtained from Jesus Christ, and opening of the receptive faculties of your right-brain you
the love and peace of God will flow into your heart can develop a deeper state of consciousness. You will
by the work of the Holy Spirit. There is no substitute then become one with the Christ within you and
for prayer and it never becomes a mystical experience a mystical peace and tranquillity which
experience with cosmic powers. emanates from the deeper self.
When Christians join together in corporate prayer, When large numbers of people meditate at the same
the Holy Spirit works in a powerful way to convict time, cosmic energy will be released to promote peace
people of sin and to save their souls. They entreat and unity in communities by saving mankind from all its
God in prayer to work in other people's lives by divisions, hatred and prejudices. In this way, humanity
saving them and fulfilling their needs. becomes its own saviour.
Reconciliation between man and God occurs at the Reconciliation between people, ideologies and faiths is
Cross and is based upon the atoning death of effected by compromise, unity and the eradication of
Jesus. Reconciliation between people is based boundaries. Groups must relinquish their exclusivity and
upon the honouring of other's rights, negotiated become open and accommodating in order to promote
settlements and the respecting of boundaries. convergence towards cosmic unity.

RELIGIOUS BABYLON
(REVELATION 17)

In Revelation 17 and 18 respectively, John mentions two Babylons that will rise to prominence
shortly before the advent of Christ. The one is mystical Babylon, referring to an evil ideology, or
false system of religious worship, and the other one a commercial city with all kinds of worldly
pleasure and immoral practices in it. Both these chapters in Revelation are based upon the
supposition that there will be a reconstructed Babylon as an end-time manifestation of the
ancient Babylonian empire, and also as a fitting centre of operations for the Babylonian world
religion.

The one Babylon is called: “Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the
abominations of the earth” (Rev. 17:5) and the other one: “Babylon, that mighty city!” (Rev.
18:10). Because the city of Babylon is the place of origin of the pagan religions, the apostate end-
time world religion with its unbiblical unification of all religions, is aptly described as mystery
Babylon. It is opposed to biblical Christianity and is already in the process of establishing an
ecumenical body, or parent organisation, called the mother of harlots in Revelation 17:5. This
woman rides on the back of the beast, and will be recognised, supported and used by him. The
angel said the following to John about this spiritually defiled woman:

“Come, I will show you the judgement of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the
kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with
the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a
woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and
ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious
stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her
fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE
MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman, drunk
with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…

“The seven heads [of the beast] are seven mountains on which the woman sits. [They are] also
seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must
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continue a short time… And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot,
make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire… And the woman whom you saw
is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (Rev. 17:1-6, 16, 18).

The identity of the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns has already been discussed in
the messages on Revelation 13. It is the Antichrist who will be the ruler of the seventh, apostate
world empire. Of these empires, five had fallen before the time of John, i.e. the Babylonian
Empire of Nimrod, the Assyrian Empire, the restored Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzar,
the Medo-Persion Empire, and the Greek Empire. The sixth one, the Roman Empire, was then in
power while the seventh and last one, that of the Antichrist, was still future.

The woman sits on all seven of these empires and has spiritual dominion over them. The seven
mountains on which she sits must not be applied to Rome nor the woman narrowly identified as
the church of Rome. She symbolises all the false religions of all times. She cannot be related only
to Rome as there were more than seven apostate caesars who persecuted the Christians. From
Nero to Diocletian alone there were ten. The woman reigns over the kings of the earth,
deceiving them and their followers against worshipping the true God. She represents the
spiritual power of deception that Satan has on earth. It is in this sense that the whole world,
with the exception of a small minority of true Christians, according to 1 John 5:19 lies in the
sway of the Wicked One.

It is helpful to keep in mind the significance of the word 'harlot'. It indicates an immoral woman
who does not keep herself pure for marriage to one man, but commits loveless fornication or
adultery with many men. Or she could be a married woman who is unfaithful to her husband
and commits adultery with many men. True religion is to be faithful to the one true God. To set
up religions which worship gods other than the true God is spiritual adultery and such false
religions are therefore harlots spiritually. The worst kind of spiritual harlotry is to profess
Christianity which should worship the true God and Him alone, while forming alliances with
heretical 'Christian' churches and with false religions who do not worship the true God nor
accept Christ as the one mediator between God and mankind. An alliance of adulterated
Christian and false religions therefore merits the title THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS.

REVIVAL OF THE ANCIENT BABYLONIAN RELIGION

The origin of the false world religion of the end-time can, according to Revelation 17, be traced
back to Babylon. The ancient Babylonian Empire which was founded by Nimrod, functioned in
close association with the pagan religion of that time. The marriage between politics and
religion was so intimate that this empire was controlled by a priest-king. He made use of occult
powers and astrology to reign. The king was also the personification of the sun-god who was
regarded as the giver of light and life. From this superstition the cult of the sun-pillars arose,
from which the later obelisks and peace-poles of modern times developed. In Revelation 17 and
18, a description is given of a neo-Babylonian government, religion and economy that will be
established before the Second Coming of Christ. That is the ultimate goal of the New Age
Movement, of which the roots go back to the ancient Babylonian Empire of Nimrod. It is nothing
new.

The end-time emergence of the New Age Movement is linked to the Russian-born Madame
Helena Blavatsky who founded the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875. She received her
revelations and commands directly from a spiritual master with whom she had telepathic
contact. She offered herself as a medium to higher (demonic) powers that worked through her.
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As a result of these revelations, she published the book Isis Unveiled in 1877, and the six volume
The Secret Doctrine in 1888. In these volumes she expounds the secret doctrine that, according
to her master, forms the foundation of all religious, philosophical and knowledge systems. In the
introduction to Volume 1 of The Secret Doctrine she says:

“The teaching in these volumes belong neither to the Hindu, the Zoroastrian, the Chaldean, nor
the Egyptian religion, nor to Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, nor Christianity exclusively. The Secret
Doctrine is the essence of all these. Sprung from it in their origins, the various religious schemes
are now made to merge back into their original element, out of which every mystery and dogma
has grown, developed, and become materialised.

The New Age objective is, quite clearly, to unite all religions, including an adulterated version of
Christianity, in an alliance of world religions. In association with demonic doctrines such as
evolution, reincarnation, metaphysics, parapsychology, astrology, pantheism and Marxism, all
faiths and philosophies must revert to their common Luciferic origin. In this way, unity can be
achieved in the world and all people’s lives be ordered according to the same evil principles.

It is of the utmost importance to consider the role of the false religions in the end-time as they
will be officially recognised by the Antichrist and be endued with great power and authority in
his empire. They will be associated with one another in an ecumenical alliance and gradually
narrow the differences between them until they form a corporate group who will accept the
Antichrist as their common messiah. To the deceived Christians he will be the Christ, to the Jews
the Messiah, to the Muslims the Imam Mahdi, to the Hindus Krishna, and to the Buddhists the
Maitreya Buddha.

After the revelation of the Antichrist the whole world will be religiously united, with the
exception of the 144 000 Jewish evangelists and the true Christians of that time. The united
world religions will institute a vicious and bloody persecution of Christians who refuse to join
their ranks or to worship the beast. The blood of the martyrs of Jesus will be on the hands of this
woman who will be the mother of the harlots. On a much greater scale than previously, she will
perpetuate the persecution of God’s children on earth with a view to obliterating true
Christianity.

RELIGIOUS UNIFICATION OF THE WORLD

There are various ecumenical bodies in the growing interfaith movement. Their objective is to
first equalise and merge all factions within every religion, after which religious equality will be
promoted in a multireligious dispensation. Once this stage of merging has been reached, the
final objective of religious unity will be pursued under the pretext that all religions worship the
same God. When this idea has been firmly established it will be opportune for the appearance of
the universal messiah of all faiths, and also for the global false prophet.

One of the biggest interfaith bodies is the Parliament for World Religions. In August 1993, 7000
delegates of 250 different faiths met in Chicago for the biggest and most representative
interfaith meeting in the history of mankind. At this meeting were not only ecumenical
Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, and the followers
of more than 200 other religions, but also shamans – i.e. magicians and witches. A declaration of
global ethics was approved and published. Various other regional meetings were subsequently
held to promote interfaith collaboration. The next general meeting of the Parliament for World
Religions was held in Cape Town from 1 to 8 December 1999. In 2000, the United Religions
Initiative was launched.
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The United Nations, as well as many individual governments, support the initiative for the
establishment of an alliance of world religions. They see the promotion of a religious world
brotherhood as an important prerequisite for the successful introduction of the new world
order. That is the reason why the United Nations in the early 1970’s founded the World
Conference on Religion and Peace, an ecumenical body intended to promote peace and unity on
earth. This is a category 2 non-governmental organisation. In South Africa, it functions under
the guidance of two theologians of the University of South Africa to bring the various religions
closer to one another for the sake of peace and unity. The traditional African religions also
feature strongly in their public lectures.

One of Satan's major tools which he uses to adulterate Christian doctrine, infiltrate and unify
Christian churches with a view to associating them with the non-Christian religions, is the
World Council of Churches (WCC). This body was formed in 1948 in Amsterdam in the
Netherlands, and its credo is One church for one world. Right from the outset it was obvious that
the WCC did not only have Christian unity in mind, but rather a world-wide alliance of religions.
The following actions and decisions are proof of this statement:

In 1961 the WCC had its third session in New Dehli in India. The theme of the conference was:
Jesus Christ, the light of the world. This was not a reference to the biblical Christ, but to the
cosmic Christ of all faiths. In terms of this perception, Hindus and Buddhists are viewed as
anonymous Christians on the basis of the general grace. It is argued that God has reconciled all
men to Himself through Jesus Christ. According to the WCC, some people who do not know that
they have been reconciled to God are nevertheless on their way to heaven!

At its 1968 conference in Uppsala, Sweden, the vision of the WCC extended beyond the
unification of the church since their ultimate goal was formulated as a united humanity in a new
international order. People from all religions were to be merged into a new world order. To
actively promote this idea the WCC instituted the Programme of Dialogue with People of other
Living Faiths. Since its institution in 1970 the term ‘believer’ was a substitute for 'Christian', and
the members of the non-Christian religions were henceforth addressed as ‘fellow believers’,
based on the premise that we all worship the same God. In 1973, the Bangkok conference of this
WCC body was opened by the president of the World Buddhist Society. In her prayer she called
on the gods of all religions to save mankind.

The 1975 Nairobi conference of the WCC expressed itself in favour of the more intimate
unification of humanity. One of the closed sessions on spirituality was attended by Protestant,
Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Pentecostal Christians, as well as Hindus, Buddhists and an
atheist. Their agenda was obviously humanistic and multireligious!

At the 1983 conference in Vancouver, Canada, a totem pole was erected in honour of all the
tribal spirits of the Red Indians. At the conference it was recommended that the different
religions should take hands to promote peace on earth.

The 1991 conference at Canberra in Australia resolved that an active process of reconciliation
should thence be set in motion by the Christian religion. Justice and peace should be pursued in
all walks of life. It was emphasised that this should be an interfaith action as it is beyond the
capacity of a single religion to bring about peace in our troubled world. A Korean theologian
stated that all missionary work is redundant and should be discontinued as God is present in all
cultures and in all religions. Missionaries do not have to introduce Him where He already is. The
WCC maintains that God does not only reveal Himself to the world through the Christian
religion, but through all the religions. Equality and unity must be pursued by them. One religion
should not elevate itself above the others nor denigrate any of them, as they are all equal.
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These ideas are very popular in the new South Africa and are advancing with giant strides in the
theological faculties of virtually all universities. Various text books for courses in multireligious
education have already been produced – here and overseas. In this and other ways, religious
Babylon is grooming herself for her exalted position in the coming antichristian new world
order.

The Roman Catholic Church is, in its own right, also actively involved with the promotion of
interfaith ties. They give strong recognition to Islam as a monotheistic religion, which allegedly
worships the same God as Christianity and Judaism. The leaders of a number of world religions
have in the past been invited by the Pope to venues in Italy where they prayed for world peace.
The reason why the Roman Catholic Church is not an official member of the World Council of
Churches is evidently because the Vatican regards itself as the ‘mother’ and ‘home’ of all
Christian churches and expects all the 'separated brethren', as she calls them, to return to her.
Despite this stand, they are collaborating with the WCC on committee level, with the result that
degenerate Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, and the non-Christian religions are almost daily
moving closer to the objective of a general alliance of religions.

A MASTER PLAN FOR A TAKE-OVER

The New Age Movement continues with plans to promote global religious unity. The leaders of
certain New Age organisations have worked out a thirteen-point Plan to institute the new world
order. It constitutes a revival of the old Babylonian religion and world government that
interacted very closely. In this list you will clearly recognise the woman on the back of the beast.
The New Age Movement is the vanguard of the ecumenical movement, and they openly declare
their objective of uniting religion and politics in the new world order. The 13 points in the
strategy of the powers of darkness are:
1. The principal aim of the Plan is to establish a one world religion and a one world
political and social order. Their key concept is that everything is one (monism). This
unity must be established in all spheres of life.
2. The New Age world religion must constitute a revival of the religion of ancient Babylon
in which mystery cults, sorcery, occultism and immorality flourished.
3. The Plan will be fully implemented when the New Age Messiah (the Antichrist) with
his number 666, reveals himself as head of the world religion and the coming world
government of the new world order.
4. Spirit guides (demons) will prepare people for the coming of the cosmic Messiah, by
acclaiming him as the world teacher.
5. Peace, love and unity are to be used as buzzwords for the new world order and the
new world religion.
6. New Age teachings must attain scientific credIbility and be vigorously propagated in
every sphere of life, in the public and private sectors, around the globe.
7. Jesus must be portrayed as a prophet and a master of wisdom who is one of the
disciples of the cosmic Christ. It must be denied that he is unique and that he should be
worshipped as a God who is above humanity.
8. Christianity and all other religions must be integrated into the inclusive world religion
of the New Age.
9. Fundamental Christian principles that stand in the way of this reform movement (e.g.
the atonement for sins on the cross and that Christ is the only Way, Truth and Life),
must be discredited and abandoned.
10. Children must be spiritually influenced and indoctrinated in schools in order to
promote the New Age dogma.
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11. Flattery will be employed to entice people into believing that man is inherently divine.
They should be told that we are all gods.
12. Science and the New Age world religion must become one. The mystic (cosmic)
dimension of man and nature must be researched.
13. Christians who resist the Plan must be reoriented or dealt with in other ways. If
necessary, they will be exterminated and the world purified of their influence.

From this strategy for a take-over it is evident that the new world religion will not function in
isolation, but in close association with the Antichrist’s political system and world government.
He will be the political and religious leader of the world. The great harlot on the back of the
beast will have a clear political agenda to induce her followers to accept the world government
and the number of the Antichrist. She will also have a religious agenda to deceive her billions of
supporters into accepting him as world messiah, and into worshipping him.

THE END OF THE ANTICHRIST’S MARRIAGE WITH RELIGIOUS BABYLON

The Antichrist’s marriage with the false world religion is contracted in imitation of the
relationship between Christ and His bride, which is the true and unadulterated Christian church
composed of those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. The long influence of the
false religions over the reigning political powers from Nimrod's time until the advent of the
Antichrist will culminate in an unprecedented 'marriage' of the one-world politico-economic
power (the Antichrist) with the one-world religious Babylon (the great harlot) but it will not be
a long and happy marriage. Religious Babylon will enjoy great privileges and prestige in the
Antichrist's empire but after 3½ years the alliance of politico-economic powers under the
Antichrist will turn on the great harlot and destroy her, as she will have out-lived her purpose.
John describes her execution as follows:

“And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and
naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire” (Rev. 17:16).

In the middle of the tribulation, religious Babylon, the harlot-bride, will be abolished and her
places of worship closed, destroyed, or used for other purposes. The same fate awaits the
orthodox Jewish faith. Daniel says: “…in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice
and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate” (Dan. 9:27). The
harlot-bride of the Antichrist will thus only be married to him for 3½ years when his role as
world messiah and deceiving angel of light will expire. After that, he will be revealed in his true
character as a cruel dictator, murderer and self-deified god. His harlot-bride will then be
confronted with the frightening choice of either worshipping him as god or be publicly
humiliated by being abolished. Most of the deceived and spiritually blinded religious people of
that time will accept the Antichrist's ultimatum and bend the knee to the end-time Baal as the
god of this world.

The harlot-bride of the Antichrist can, right from the outset, count the days of her brief period of
glory – 1260 days from her marriage until the dark day of her public execution or degradation
to slavery. What a terrible price she has to pay to find favour in the eyes of the beast! She has to
sear her conscience, turn her back upon the living God and His Son, Jesus Christ, be prepared to
be terribly abused, and on top of it all conclude a covenant with death – all that for the
proverbial bowl of lentil soup! That is the way of death which was also trodden by Esau and
Judas Iscariot.
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The mother organisation of the apostate religious peoples of the world is rapidly taking shape.
From the viewpoint of traditional Christianity, this process passes through the following seven
phases:
1. Unity in the whole Christian world, including between Protestants and Catholics.
2. Religious equality among all religions in constitutions, government structures, and
educational systems.
3. The forming of interfaith alliances among all religions.
4. Propagation of the idea of the universal God who is worshipped by all faiths.
5. Propaganda for the coming of the universal messiah of all faiths.
6. The appearing of the world messiah and his united worship by people of all religions.
7. The forced worship of the Antichrist as God, 3½ years after his appearing.

When phase 6 has been reached at the beginning of the tribulation period, the harlot-bride will
enjoy the peak of her popularity and public support as she rides on the back of the beast. In
phase 7, her sudden downfall and destruction will occur when all people in the global empire of
the beast will be commanded to worship him as God.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

(REVELATION 19)

On the last day of the great tribulation, during the battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ will
appear on a white horse, followed by the heavenly armies of angels and all His saints, to engage
in a short but decisive battle with His enemies:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on
His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was
clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in
heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth
goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He himself will rule them with a
rod of iron. He Himself treads the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He
has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that
fly in the midst of heaven: Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may
eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those
who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.

And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war
against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with
him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received
the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake
of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the
mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Rev. 19:11-21).

The Second Coming of Jesus, which is described in Revelation 19, will be like lightning that will
be seen from everywhere. But physically He will return to the city of Jerusalem. Just after His
ascension two angels said to the Apostles on the Mount of Olives: “Men of Galilee, why do you
stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so
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come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Zechariah describes His coming
as follows:

“And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And
the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the
mountain shall move towards the north and half of it towards the south. Then you shall flee
through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you
fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, and
all the saints with You” (Zech. 14:4-5).

The Lord Jesus will come with His saints, who were raptured before the tribulation period to be
united with Him forever. They will share in His glorious revelation to the world. Paul said:
“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Col. 3:4) Jude
writes: "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgement on all”
(Jude v. 14-15).

RECONCILED TO THE MESSIAH

During this momentous event, when tremendous earthquakes spread over the whole world and
the Mount of Olives is split in two, a very dramatic reconciliation will occur between the
remnant of Israel and their once-rejected Messiah, Jesus. The Jews who fled to the wilderness in
the middle of the tribulation period will return to the Mount of Olives to meet the true Messiah.
They will do so despite the great danger posed by the deployment of massive antichristian
forces in and around Jerusalem as well as in other places in the Middle East. According to the
prophecies in Daniel 12 they will know that 3½ years will elapse from the day on which the
false messiah declares himself to be God in the temple, until the day on which the true Messiah
will make His appearance. “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the
abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days”
(Dan. 12:11). Just prior to the Day of Atonement which will end this period, the remaining Jews
will go to the Mount of Olives unarmed and trusting in God's intervention alone.

Despite their anxiety due to the great war of Armageddon raging they will approach Jerusalem.
At a certain stage they will despair, fearing that their hope is gone and that they will all be killed.
At that critical moment the Messiah will come, and as His feet touch the Mount of Olives it will
split in two and the darkness of God’s judgements will engulf the enemy forces. The Jews will
take refuge from the pursuing forces of the Antichrist in the east to west valley formed by the
splitting in two of the mountain.

On that day the Jews will be most surprised to see that their Messiah has marks in His hands, as
described by Zechariah. When they see the marks of the nails in the hands of Jesus, they will ask
Him: “What are these wounds in your hands?” Then He will answer: “Those with which I was
wounded in the house of My friends” (Zech. 13:6). It will be a heart-stirring moment when Israel
shows great remorse because of their sins, and particularly the fact that their fathers rejected
Him during His first coming. “They will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve
for Him as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zech. 12:10).

Referring to the reconciliation to the remnant of Israel the Lord says: “I will remove the iniquity
of that land in one day” (Zech. 3:9). In Zechariah 13:1 it is described as follows: “In that day a
fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for
uncleanness.”
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Jesus will accept and comfort the fugitive, tested and mourning remnant of His people by saying:
“This is My people!” They will respond to this by saying: “The Lord is my God!” (Zech. 13:9).
“And it will be said in that day: Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. For on this
mountain the hand of the Lord will rest” (Is. 25:9-10). “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is
written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob”
(Rom. 11:26).

THE JUDGEMENT OF THE NATIONS

When the Lord Jesus puts His feet on the Mount of Olives the darkness of God’s judgements will
descend upon the earth. It will also be a physical darkness as it was during the crucifixion of
Jesus when it became dark for three hours in the middle of the day:

“It shall come to pass in that day that there will be no light… But at evening time it shall happen
that it will be light” (Zech. 14:6-7).

The Lord will strike His enemies with the sword that proceeds from His mouth. He will need
only to speak a word in order to bring about their destruction. In the darkness, the forces of the
Antichrist will not be able to continue their pursuit of the people of Israel and will also be
unable to launch an attack on Christ and His armies. Instead, they will start killing one another:

“For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem… Then the Lord will go forth and fight
against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the
Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east… And this shall be the plague with which the
Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they
stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their
mouths. It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the Lord will be among them.
Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbour, and raise his hand against his neighbour’s hand”
(Zech. 14:2-4, 12-13).

Considering the current bitter hatred of the Arab nations and the increasing hostility of many
other nations against Israel, it is not difficult to understand that they will be mobilised for
military action by evil spirits which will incite them in their hard and wicked hearts to surround
and attack Israel (just as the Arab nations have done more than once since 1948) and also fight
against Jesus and His heavenly army. John says that these unclean spirits “are spirits of demons,
performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and the whole world, to gather them to the
battle of that great day of God Almighty… And they gathered them together to the place called in
Hebrew, Armageddon” (Rev. 16:14, 16).

It will be a dark and tragic day for the apostate nations and their armies since, according to
Hebrews 10:31, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

“Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land
desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations
will not give their light; and the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause
its light to shine. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the
arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a mortal more
rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir” (Is. 13:9-12).
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“The day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds
and thick darkness… For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it?” (Joel
2:1-2, 11).

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter
into judgement with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have
scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land” (Joel 3:1-2).

DESTRUCTION OF THE ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET

The last great target of the Antichrist will be the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and His heavenly
armies on the day of His Second Coming. The Antichrist will realise that the coming of Jesus will
bring an end to his kingdom, which is why he will use all means at his disposal to oppose and
fight the true Messiah. But that will be a totally futile exercise as Jesus is the King of kings who
has all power in heaven and on earth. Through this confrontation the Antichrist will expedite his
own downfall as well as that of all his followers. It will not be a long and drawn-out battle but a
sudden destruction of the enemy forces. The book of Daniel says that this mighty king who
conducted a reign of terror on earth “shall come to his end, and no one will help him” (Dan.
11:45).

In Revelation 19:20 it is clearly stated that the Antichrist and the false prophet will both be
captured on the day of the Second Coming of Jesus and cast alive into the lake of fire. The place
where this confrontation and judgement will occur is most significant from a biblical
perspective. According to Joel 3 it will be in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which is most likely the
Kidron Valley between the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount. Jehoshaphat means The Lord
judges.

The Brook Kidron was in biblical times the eastern boundary of Jerusalem. Its name means the
black brook because of the dirty wastewater that flowed in it. It was an unsightly area that was
also used as a graveyard for the poor. Idols were often destroyed and burned here. Of the God-
fearing king Josiah it is said:

“And he brought out the wooden image from the house of the Lord, to the Brook Kidron outside
Jerusalem, burned it at the Brook Kidron and ground it to ashes, and threw its ashes on the graves
of the common people… And he defiled Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no
man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech” (2 Kings 23:6, 10).

The Hinnom Valley is overlooked by Mount Zion on the west side of the Old City. The Kidron
Valley joins the Hinnom Valley south of the Old City, from where it is referred to as the Fire
Valley. The Valley of Hinnom (ge Hinnom) is the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. The Tophet was
here, where the apostate Israelites sacrificed their children to the idol Molech. Waste from the
city was also dumped here and set on fire. Because of the burning waste, and also because of the
piles of wood for the sacrifice of children to Molech, the Valley of Hinnom became a symbol of
hell. In the Talmud, a Jewish book of religious traditions, it is said that one of the gates of hell is
in the Hinnom Valley at a place where smoke ascended from the ground between two palm
trees.

Because of these views the name of this valley was in New Testament times changed from ge
Hinnom to gehenna, which means hell fire (Mt. 5: 22). God said that the name of this valley will
be changed to the Valley of Slaughter:
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“Therefore behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when it will no more be called Tophet, or the
Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter, for they will bury in Tophet until there is
no room. The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of heaven and for the beasts of the
earth. And no one will frighten them away” (Jer. 7:32-33).

This valley became synonymous with a place of death, perdition, being consumed by worms,
and burning; that is why the name for hell (gehenna) is derived from it. Isaiah also refers to the
awful fate of the people who rebelled against God:

“And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all
flesh” (Is. 66:24).

The valleys of Kidron and Hinnom will, on the day of the Second Coming of Jesus, be filled with
enemy forces as this region will be the place of encounter between a heavenly army and the
armies of the Antichrist. It is significant that the two great end-time idols, the Antichrist and the
false prophet, will also be judged and condemned to the lake of fire here. When they move up to
the Mount of Olives in a vain effort to confront the One who has all power in heaven and on
earth, they will find themselves in the Valley of Judgement where their final doom will be sealed.

THE BINDING OF SATAN

After the enemies of God have been defeated and the Antichrist, the false prophet and their
followers have been judged, the devil will be imprisoned and kept securely in custody for a
thousand years, after which he will instigate his last rebellion:

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great
chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan,
and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a
seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be
fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Rev. 20:1-3 KJV).

The description of the binding of the devil is an extension of the scenario of Revelation 19 and is
therefore a direct result of the return of Jesus. It follows immediately after the final judgement
of the Antichrist and the false prophet, and is therefore not an event that can be extracted from
this context and applied to the present dispensation of the church.

At the cross, victory was indeed gained over the devil. His doom was sealed there but its
execution was deferred. We can accept this fact in faith and lead a life of victory over the enemy.
But that does not mean that Satan was removed from the scene after Calvary and imprisoned
somewhere. On the contrary! Peter says that the devil still goes around like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he can devour (1 Pet. 5:8). This warning is given to Christians so that they may
remain sober, watchful and clad in the whole armour of God. We can live in the victory of
Calvary if we consistently stay near to our Saviour and resist the Evil One in the power of the
Holy Spirit:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7 KJV).

The peace of God that we, as saved ones, experience, does not suggest that we are already in the
millennial age (the thousand years of peace when Christ will reign on earth). The present battle
with the devil and his evil powers can in no way be reconciled with a situation in which he is
bound, shut up and sealed so that he cannot mislead the nations, as described in Revelation 20.
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We do not yet find ourselves in a position where peace reigns. Instead, we are involved in a
spiritual battle that extends right through the dispensation of the church and will take on
unprecedented proportions in the coming tribulation period (Jn. 16:33). Satan will incite the
nations to take military action, attack Israel and even confront the Messiah and His heavenly
armies.

It is only on Christ's return that the power of the satanic triumvirate will be destroyed. Two of
them, the beast and the false prophet, will be confined to the lake of fire. The dragon (Satan) will
be sealed up in a bottomless pit and given over to chains of darkness, where he is to remain for a
literal one thousand years.

THE THRONE OF GLORY

The Lord Jesus describes the judgement of the nations when, on His return, He will sit on His
throne of glory:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the
throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one
from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats” (Mt. 25:31-32).

This judgement of the nations by Christ will be accompanied by an international re-

arrangement. The nations will, among others, be given their position or forfeit it on the grounds
of their past relationship with Israel. The nations will not, as in the Babylonian world order of
the Antichrist, any longer eradicate national boundaries and play down their ethnic identity.
When the terror of the Lord comes upon them at Armageddon “every man will turn to his own
people, and everyone will flee to his land” (Is. 13:14).

THE WEDDING FEAST OF THE LAMB

During His secret coming before the tribulation, Jesus will be united with His bride. She will
immediately be caught up to be with the Lord. Now, seven years later, the public revelation of
Jesus and His bride will take place. The glorious occasion of the marriage feast of the Lamb will
be the venue for many guests. They will include the remnant of Israel who will very recently
have accepted Jesus as their Messiah. John heard the heavenly company exclaim:

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His
wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright,
for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, Write: Blessed are those
who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! And he said to me: These are the true sayings
of God” (Rev. 19:7-9).

The splendour of this occasion is described as followed in the psalms:

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom…
All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of ivory palaces, by which they
have made You glad. Kings’ daughters are among Your honourable women; at Your right hand
stands the queen in gold from Ophir… The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her
clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colours… With
gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; they shall enter the King’s palace” (Ps. 45:6-15).

With His Second Coming, the bride will share in the crowning moment of the great triumph of
Christ when He returns to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords to crush the power of all
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His enemies, and establish a government of righteousness in which His servants will reign with
Him.

THE END OF THE ROAD

After the false prophet has induced millions of people, through spiritual deception, to become
followers of the Antichrist, those who stubbornly refuse to bend the knee to the Antichrist will
be summarily executed. Biblical Christianity is absolutely exclusive and cannot associate or
merge with any other religion. That is the main reason why the false religions are, and always
have been, resentful and vindictive towards Christianity. In the tribulation period, under the
guidance of the false prophet, they will get the right and the power to give full expression to
their age-old campaign of hatred against evangelical Christianity.

In collaboration with the false prophet, the Antichrist will eradicate all spiritual opposition.
Revelation 13:7 says: “It was granted him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.”
After this, unclean spirits that do signs and wonders will proceed from the dragon (Satan), the
Antichrist and the false prophet to deceive the kings of the earth into mobilising their armies for
a great war against Israel (Rev. 16:13-14). Although they will also be intent on destroying the
remnant of Israel, their main target will be the coming Messiah – the Holy One of Israel. This
futile exercise will be aimed at dethroning Jesus Christ and destroying the remnants of
Christianity and Israel.

When Jesus comes from heaven, descending to place His feet on the Mount of Olives, there will
not be an extended battle or any conversation with the rulers of Satan. They will immediately be
captured alive and cast into the lake of fire:

“Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his
presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who
worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone”
(Rev. 19:20).

A thousand years later, the devil will join the Antichrist and the false prophet in the lake of fire,
"and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Rev. 20:10).

Religious deception is wilful rebellion against the God of heaven, who is the absolute and
timeless Truth. All false prophets and their deceived victims are heading for eternal damnation
in the lake of fire. Many of these false prophets are performing antichristian signs and wonders
within Christian churches under the influence of deceiving spirits. Being not firmly anchored in
the truth, they have “departed from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of
demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). Before the great white throne, they will in vain glory in their false
ministries which were operated in the Name of Jesus, but not in Spirit and in truth. On the final
day the Lord Jesus will declare to them: “I never knew you; depart from Me…” (Mt. 7:23).

The culmination of religious lies and deception will be allegiance to the false prophet and the
Antichrist. When will the false prophets realise that they have been in error? It will be too late to
repent when they appear before the great white throne on judgement day.
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THE MILLENNIUM

DISPENSATIONS IN THE BIBLE

The Bible clearly teaches a future, one thousand year reign of Christ from the restored throne of
David in Jerusalem. This coming dispensation is referred to as the Millennium. It will be the
sixth dispensation in the divine history of humanity, to be followed by eternity in the completely
new heaven and new earth, which will be created after the Millennium.

The divine history of humanity is ordered within the framework of seven dispensations. It
commences with the creation of Adam and Eve in Eden and culminates in the new heaven and
new earth where an eternal, perfect existence will prevail. The seven dispensations are:
1. The dispensation of innocence in Eden.
2. The dispensation of the conscience after the Fall.
3. The dispensation of human government after the Flood.
4. The dispensation of the law in the Old Testament.
5. The dispensation of grace in the church age.
6. The dispensation of the Antichrist’s reign.
7. The dispensation of Christ’s millennial kingdom.

The beginning and end of a dispensation are always marked by dramatic events associated with
the unfolding of a new aspect of God’s plan for the ages. They are also accompanied by
intensified demonic activities as Satan then tries everything in his power to disrupt God’s plan.
(See page 6-7 for a more detailed discussion of the various dispensations – Ed.)

PROPHECIES ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM

In Revelation 20 there are various references to the one thousand-year reign of Christ when
Satan will be bound: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,
which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless
pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the
thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw
thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them
that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in
their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived
not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is
he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall
be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. And when the thousand
years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison…” (Rev. 20:1-7).

When the Lord Jesus comes back to earth it will be as “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev.
19:16). He will set up His one-world government with Jerusalem as capital: “And the seventh
angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are
become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev.
11:15).

In a major end-time prophecy Daniel likened Christ’s Second Coming to the effect of a great
stone smiting the kingdoms of the world, pulverising them to chaff carried on the wind, then
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becoming a great mountain filling the whole earth, replacing them with His kingdom (Dan. 2:34-
35; 44-45), so “the Lord shall be King over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9). This is similar to the
prophecy about the Lord Jesus reigning as King, which was given to Mary before His birth: “And,
behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He
shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the
throne of His father David” (Lk. 1:31-32).

The throne of David is not in heaven but on earth. Jesus does not now reign in a literal sense
from the throne of David as this throne has, since the Babylonian captivity, been temporarily in
suspension. Christ will restore this throne at His Second Coming and then reign from it: “After
this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down. I will rebuild its
ruins, and I will set it up, so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who
are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things” (Acts 15:16-17 NKJV).

The elders in heaven (representing redeemed Jews and Gentiles) are aware they will return
with Christ and reign with Him in His earthly kingdom, since they explicitly sing: “Thou… wast
slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and
nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev.
5:9-10; cf. 2 Tim. 2:12).

It is therefore clearly evident that the events of Revelation coincide with a strong proclamation
of the Kingship of Jesus Christ: “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down… he knoweth that he hath
but a short time” (Rev. 12:10,12).

When Jesus, our High Priest who now intercedes for us at the throne of the Father, returns to
earth, the power and influence of Satan here will be broken and the kingdom of Christ
established. The devil will then no longer be the ruler and god of this present evil world (Jn.
14:30; 2 Cor. 4:4; Gal. 1:4; 1 Jn. 5:19), but Christ as “king shall reign in righteousness” as “Ruler in
Israel”, and “have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth” (Is.
32:1; Mic. 5:2; Ps. 72:8).

A further proof that the millennial reign is not in heaven is that in this dispensation there will
still be inherent carnality and disorderliness among the nations, which will necessitate that they
be ruled with a strong hand. Although Satan will be bound and prohibited from deceiving the
nations into committing rebellious deeds, they will still have fallen natures that need to be
disciplined. In Revelation 12:5 and 19:15 it is plainly stated that Christ will rule the nations
“with a rod of iron.” His faithful servants will also share in this rule: “But that which ye have
already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him
will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a
potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father” (Rev. 2:25-27).

The Lord (Yahweh) declares in Psalm 2:6: “Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion.”
During the Messianic reign the throne of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem will represent heavenly
rule and therefore be a centre of divine wisdom, power, authority and righteousness. Micah
says: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be
established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow
unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His
paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall
judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords
into [ploughshares], and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Mic. 4:1-3; cf. Is. 24:23).
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Beating “swords into ploughshares” means re-using the same metal, which can only refer to
earth – there are no swords in heaven, nor ploughs needed there! A complete absence of
weapons, military training and war is unprecedented in history and can only refer to God’s
kingdom coming and His will being “done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). The devil will, at
last, be securely bound and unable to deceive, and sin will be restrained during Christ’s
thousand year “rod of iron” rule. Even the animal creation will benefit and predation will cease:
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Is. 11:9).

Jerusalem will spontaneously be recognised by all peoples as world capital and no hostility or
political tension will exist between individual nations: “At that time they shall call Jerusalem the
throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to
Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the [stubbornness] of their evil heart” (Jer. 3:17).

Laxity will be the only form of misconduct, as some nations will neglect their duty to go up to
Jerusalem to worship the King. It may still be a matter of the spirit being willing but the flesh
weak (Mt. 26:41). Their neglect will provoke a rebuke and disciplinary measures from the King:
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against
Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the
feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto
Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain” (Zech. 14:16-
17).

At the beginning of the Millennium, the remnant of the nations who survived the great
tribulation and the battle of Armageddon will honour the Lord (Zech. 14:16). However, the
upcoming generations will increasingly manifest their fallen nature which they will inherit from
their first ancestor, Adam. These peoples will be evangelised by Israel, who will all serve the
Lord with one accord, and many will be saved: “[The Lord] shall cause them that come of Jacob to
take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit” (Is. 27:6; cf. Zech.
8:23).

The doctrine of the two resurrections is also clearly related to the Millennium. Only those who
have part in the first resurrection (Lk. 14:14; 1 Thes. 4:16), including O.T. believers and those
saved during the tribulation, will rule with Christ. We should “examine” ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5)
and ask God to “search” us (Ps. 139:23-24) to be quite sure we are born-again so as to qualify
for the first resurrection: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such
the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6).

The rest of the dead are the unsaved multitude of all centuries, and they will not be resurrected
until the thousand years have ended (Rev. 20:5). They will then appear before the great white
throne to be judged and condemned to the eternal lake of fire (Jude v. 7).

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MILLENNIAL REIGN

Remembering the words of the prayer the Lord Jesus taught us, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10), the following are the most important characteristics
of the future reign of peace on earth:
 God will rule on earth through His King of kings, Jesus Christ. A theocratic world
government will, therefore, be established (Lk. 1:31-33; Rev. 19:15; Dan. 7:13-14).
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 Christ will reign on David’s restored throne in Jerusalem and Israel will be the hub of the
world (Ps. 2:6-12; Zech. 8:22; Is. 2:2-3; 24:23; 33:17,20-22; Dan. 7:27). His government will
be characterised by righteousness and equity (Is. 1:26-27; 32:1-2; 16-17; Jer. 23:5-6).
 Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, “the city of our God”, “the city of the great King”, will be the
centre of worship for the whole world and all nations will converge there to worship God
through Christ the King of kings (Ps. 48; Zech. 14:16-20; Is. 66:18-23; Rev. 19:16).
 The saved remnant of Israel will rejoice in the Lord and evangelise the entire world (Is
12:3-6; 27:6; 40:9; 51:11). They will make the world fruitful (Is. 27:6) and God will be
honoured (Is. 28:5; Zech. 8:20-23).
 Satan will be securely bound so that he cannot deceive the nations (Rev. 20:1-4).
 Peace will prevail everywhere. There will be no more war or military training and weapons
will be recycled for peaceful uses (Is. 2:4; 9:7; Mic. 5:4-5; Hos. 2:18).
 The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Is. 11:9-
10; Hab. 2:14).
 There will be no disease (Mal. 4:2; Is. 33:24).
 People will live healthily and actively to a great age – like the antediluvians. A 100 year-old
person will be regarded as a child (Is. 65:20-23).
 Nature will greatly benefit since the curse of Genesis 3:17-19 will be lifted and the whole of
creation, which since then has been groaning, will be set free from the bondage of
corruption into glorious liberty (Rom. 8:19-22; Is. 55:12-13; Joel 3:18).
 An agricultural or horticultural way of life is indicated and the earth will produce food so
prolifically that planting the next crop will take place before the previous one has been
fully harvested! (Mic. 4:3-4; Amos 9:13-15; Is. 65: 21-23; Ps. 65:9-13).
 Harmony will prevail in the animal kingdom. The wolf will lie down with the lamb and the
lion will eat straw like an ox – they will “not hurt nor destroy” each other – because the
Lord will make a new covenant with the animals that will change the physiology and
aggressive nature of the carnivorous predators into the physiology and gentle nature of
herbivores (Is. 11:6-9; 65:25; Hos. 2:18).

ISRAEL’S POSITION IN THE MILLENNIUM

Israel’s position during the coming Messianic era is frequently described in the Old Testament
where it is specifically related to the day of the Lord. It will be a time of great blessing,
abundance, joy in the Lord and peace on earth. Israel will fulfil its original destiny and potential
as a people of God and be a nation through whom He will bless the whole earth. Paul says of
them: “Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much
more their fullness! … For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Rom. 11:12,15 NKJV).

Through Israel’s fall, by rejecting and crucifying their Messiah, the gospel of reconciliation with
God has been offered not only to Jews but to Gentiles also. What a tremendous blessing that is to
the Gentiles! How much more will Israel be a blessing to the world in the Millennium as they
proclaim the Messiah’s praises among all nations! This will be the long-delayed, but grand
consummation of this unique nation’s destiny and calling as the chosen people of God. The
following are examples of promises about Israel’s restoration and glory in the coming Messianic
era:
 “And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel, and they shall build the waste
cities, and inhabit them… And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be
pulled up out of their land which I have given them…” (Amos 9:14-15).
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 “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem,
the holy city…” (Is. 52:1).
 “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold,
the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise
upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light,
and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Is. 60:1-3).
 “And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they
shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand
and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your ploughmen and your vine-
dressers. But you shall be named the Priests of the Lord, men shall call you the Servants of
our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead
of your shame you shall have double honour, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in
their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be
theirs. For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work
in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall
be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All who see them shall
acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed” (Is. 61:4-9
NKJV).
 “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them,
saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer.
31:34).
 “And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they
shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them. And they shall
dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt;
and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for
ever: and My servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant
of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them,
and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My
tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
And the [nations] shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be
in the midst of them for evermore” (Ezek. 37:24-28).
 “And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them
toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter
shall it be. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zech. 14:8-9).
 “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment” (Is. 32:1).
 “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from
him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as
Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell
as Lebanon” (Hos. 14:4-6).
 “For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye,
and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God. For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness
for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: [proclaim] ye, praise ye, and say, O
Lord, save Thy people, the remnant of Israel… Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I
will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: …this shall
be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days… I will put My
law in their [minds], and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My
people” (Jer. 31:6-7,31,33).
 “Behold, I will bring [the city] health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto
them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the
captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them
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from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me; and I will pardon all their
iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against Me. And
it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth,
which shall hear all the good that I do unto them; and they shall fear and tremble for all
the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it” (Jer. 33:6-9).
 “…ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He
establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Is. 62:6-7).
 These and many other blessings will be characteristic of the Millennium when the
Messiah reigns from the throne of David in Jerusalem. His glorified saints will rule with
Him and righteousness and equity will prevail on earth (Is. 32:1; Ps. 98:9; Is. 11:4; Rev.
20:6b). Israel will play a leading part in world affairs and will be God’s special
representative nation among all the nations of the world.

PROOFS THAT THE MILLENNIUM IS FUTURE

Irrefutable evidence that the millennial dispensation is still future is provided by the following
very distinctive features of the Millennium which still await literal fulfilment:

PROPHECIES OF ISRAEL’S BLESSINGS NOT YET FULFILLED!

Divine prophecies of Israel being re-gathered to their land, spiritually revived, elevated above
all nations and abundantly blessed (Deut. 28:1-14; 30:1-4; Ezek. 36:24-28; Is. 60:1-22; Hos.
14:5-8; Rom. 11:26-27) have never been fulfilled. On the contrary, no nation has suffered and
survived anything like the prolonged world-wide dispersion, disdain, persecution, hatred and
genocide which the people of Israel have during the past two millennia. God’s promises never
fail – they will be honoured in the Millennium.

A LITERAL 1000 YEARS!

The amillennialist claim that the six-fold mention in Revelation 20 of “a thousand years”
represents the Christian era of circa 2000 years is untenable. Without doubt it is still future and
will be literally fulfilled, just as the prophecy of the Babylonian captivity of 70 years was literally
fulfilled (Jer. 25: 11-12). A thousand-year reign of Christ would have ended circa AD 1033,
followed by Judgement day!

THE BINDING OF SATAN

At Christ’s appearance the devil will be bound so “that he should deceive the nations no more,
till the thousand years should be fulfilled” (Rev. 20:3). We know from Job 2:1-6 that Satan is
ultimately limited by the supreme authority of God and can only act within the restrictions
imposed on him. According to amillennialists Satan is bound and Messiah has been reigning as
Prince of Peace for the past 2000 years! If those years have been peaceful we may well ask, what
on earth will happen after Satan’s release? If Satan is indeed bound in prison why are we
warned against his devices (2 Cor. 2:11), subtle deception (2 Cor. 11:3), wiles (Eph. 6: 11), fiery
darts (Eph. 6:16), temptation (1 Cor. 7:5), snares (1 Tim. 3:7), power (Acts 26:18), persecution
(Rev. 2:10), and efforts to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8)?
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KINGDOM THEOLOGY

One of the major reasons for the theological confusion and apostasy in the end-time church is its
lack of dispensational discernment. Prophecies about a future kingdom on earth are allegorised,
or spiritualised, and applied to the church. In that way, the Millennium is equated with the
church age and some Christians feel justified in developing and practising kingdom theology.
The door has thereby been opened for the following false doctrines to be brought into the
church:

DOMINION THEOLOGY
It is asserted that we should rule as kings, even as little gods, and take control over the world
now. Because of the authority vested in us we have the power to change things in the material
and spiritual realms by our words – called positive confession or word of faith. Christians will
soon occupy leadership positions in politics and other areas of public life, thereby obtaining the
authority to legislate for society in accordance with Christian principles.

Comment: Dominion theology is derived from the promise that we will rule with Christ in the
Millennium (Rev. 5:10; 20: 1-6). Those who wrongly assume that we are in the Millennium now,
mistakenly try to live up to their claim to be kings.

THE BINDING OF SATAN

It is claimed that the authority vested in us in this kingdom era, empowers Christians to engage
in strategic spiritual warfare against the kingdom of darkness, pulling down evil strongholds,
binding Satan and stripping him of his power. Peter Wagner, George Otis, Marches for Jesus, etc.,
promote this practice globally, claiming to liberate cities, regions and even entire countries from
demonic bondage.

Comment: The devil will only be bound at the Second Coming of Christ when the millennial age
begins. It is highly presumptuous to argue that we can bind the devil now and deprive him of his
territory in this present evil age of which he is “the god” (2 Cor. 4:4). Demons can only be cast
out of individuals now, not from geographical areas!

CHRISTIAN RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WORLD

Proponents of kingdom theology have a vision to reconstruct, or transform, the world in
accordance with Christian principles. They are advocating a process of social, political, moral
and religious transformation aimed at creating a peaceful and just Christian world. They argue
that when they have achieved this vision by preaching a mixture of the true gospel with politico-
social reform, then the kingdom will have come – even before the King comes!

Comment: In the Millennium, spiritual deception, war, violence, injustice and immorality will
indeed vanish from the scene (Jer. 3:17). However, we are not in the Millennium now, but in an
evil world which is strongly influenced by Satan (Acts 26:18; Eph. 6:12). Sadly, most people are
on the broad way to hell and prefer darkness to light (Jn. 3:19).

PROSPERITY GOSPEL
Many Christians get carried away by the promises of economic abundance during the
Millennium and jump to the unfounded conclusion that these promises are intended for the
church age. They proclaim a prosperity gospel of name it and claim it, and suggest that all who
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have a strong faith should be very prosperous and free of any problems or hardships in life. If
you are sick, bed-ridden, poor, unemployed and without a big house and large car of your own,
your faith must be very weak!

Comment: Economic abundance will indeed characterise the Millennium (Amos 9:13-14).
However, in the present age we have to be content with what we have (1 Tim. 6:8), not strive for
material riches (Lk. 12:15) but prepared to be poor (2 Cor. 6:10; Jas. 2:5) and to suffer for Christ
(Phil. 1:29).

SIGNS AND WONDERS

The advocates of kingdom theology say that we should demonstrate our superior spiritual
powers by performing great signs and wonders – including sensational healing miracles. Even
the most weird, mystical manifestations such as hysterical laughter, jerking, falling down when
“zapped”, making animal noises, and being “drunk in the Spirit”, are irreverently ascribed to the
activity of the Holy Spirit.

Comment: The signs and wonders of the last days are explicitly associated with false prophets
(Mt. 24:11,24). They are paving the way for the appearance of the Antichrist, whose coming will
be “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thes. 2:9).
Biblical truth is not the norm, but new and dramatic experiences.

UNITING THE WORLD

Kingdom theology is aimed at the ecumenical unification of the world church in preparation for
the coming of the King. Theologians and church leaders with this mind set advocate a global
new world order of unity and peace. This a human-centred theology of creating a humanistic
kingdom on earth before the coming of Christ. Ecumenicalists are devoted to social, political and
economic change in the world, working hand-in-hand with New Age leaders.

Comment: The united world church mentioned in the Bible is described as an apostate
organisation representing all the false religions. This body is identified as “Mystery, Babylon the
Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth” (Rev. 17:5). The true church of
Christ cannot enter into association with non-Christian religions – nor with false teachers
within the professing church.

THE TRUE MILLENNIUM

Let us eagerly expect the true Millennium that will commence after the coming of the King,
Jesus Christ. Only He can save the remnant of Israel and of the nations (Zech. 12:10; Mt. 24:30-
31), bind and incarcerate the devil (Rev. 20:1-3), restore the throne of David (Acts 2:29-30) and
change everything on earth for the better. If we are prepared to suffer now and serve the Lord
in the face of much opposition (Acts 14: 22), we will accompany Him during His triumphant
return (Zech. 14:4-5) and reign with Him on earth (2 Tim. 2:12).

The deceivers and false prophets who are striving to establish a humanistic Utopia on earth
before the coming of the King, are exerting themselves in a futile effort to achieve an
unattainable humanist dream. There are conditions on earth that we simply cannot change
before Jesus comes again! Instead we have a thrilling expectation for the future at His coming –
we will not only escape the great tribulation (Rev. 3:10) by the rapture, but return seven years
later to rule with Him during His millennial reign (Rev. 5:9-10)!
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Above all, the most important thing about the millennial reign is that our Lord Jesus will be
completely vindicated and glorified on this very earth where He “went about doing good and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38), yet was so disgracefully humiliated,
despised, rejected, cruelly cast out as worthless and crucified by the fallen creatures that He, as
Creator, had made. God’s answer to this is that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and
every tongue confess Him as Lord (Phil. 2:6-11).

Jesus will also be vindicated in the eyes of that very nation which was so very honoured by His
first coming, yet so dismally failed and sinned in that they did not recognise Him as their true
Messiah, despite His clear fulfilment of their Scriptures. Pilate’s inscription above the cross will
be vindicated and fulfilled in that Jesus will reign not only as “king of kings, and lord of lords”
(Rev. 19:16) universally, but also as “king of the Jews” (Mk. 15:26) in Jerusalem!

THE FINAL JUDGEMENT AND THE NEW CREATION

(REVELATION 20-22)

The reason why the devil will not be cast into the lake of fire together with the Antichrist and
the false prophet is that he will be used as a catalyst to make manifest the latent evil in unsaved
people at the end of the millennium. They will then reveal their true character, which will
clearly distinguish them from the saved people.

The shocking fact is that even in the dispensation of the kingdom, when Christ will publicly and
visibly rule from the throne of David in a government of righteousness, millions of people will
proceed with their lifeless form of godliness without complying with Christ's command to be
born again. In the history of mankind those who, spiritually, chose the narrow way were always
a minority group, referred to as a remnant. The same phenomenon will repeat itself in the
millennium. When the deceiver of the nations is released from his thousand year bondage in the
bottomless pit the latent evil in people will immediately be activated into sinful deeds of
rebellion against God. The carnal nature of unsaved people will be drawn to the devil like pins to
a magnet and sinful deeds will proliferate in a short space of time. Of this time, John writes:

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out
to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them
together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the
earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God
out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire
and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and
night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:7-10).

After the millennium, ending with Satan’s final rebellion against God, a great white throne will
appear in heaven. The second resurrection will then take place, when all people who lived and
died without Christ will be resurrected to stand before God at that awesome throne of final
judgement, where they will be condemned to eternal death. The narrow way and the broad way
(Mt. 7:13-14) will then each reach its ultimate destination – the one in the new Jerusalem with
its pearly gates and golden streets, and the other one in hell:

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15).

Please note that the lake of fire is a literal place of torment and that it will exist forever. The
Lord Jesus often referred to the eternal abode of the wicked (See Mt. 10:28; 13:40-42; 25:41,
46).
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THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH

The book of Revelation concludes with a description of God’s new creation. During the final
judgement the earth will be burned up, the heavens will pass away and the elements melt with
fervent heat (2 Pet. 3:19). A new heaven and a new earth will be created. The New Jerusalem,
that wonderful city which Jesus prepared for those who love Him, will descend from heaven
from God, having the glory of God, and rest upon the new earth.

The city and its streets are built of pure and transparent gold. The foundation stones of the wall
are decorated with precious jewels that vary from crystal clear stones to deep red sardius, green
chrysolite and sparkling blue sapphire. In the high walls that surround the city are twelve gates
made of pearls – each gate is a single pearl. The idea of a tear is conveyed by a pearl, since its
formation is associated with pain and suffering. When the oyster is injured, a shiny pearl is
formed in the wound. When the feet and hands of Jesus Christ were pierced by the rough nails
and He gave His life on the cross, the gates of paradise were again opened to fallen humanity. On
the merit of His tears and suffering He became a precious pearl to us, which in itself is a gateway
to the New Jerusalem. Through Him we can enter into the kingdom of heaven and delight
ourselves in the glory of the Lord.

PREPARATION

After the reader has been given a glimpse of the new heaven and the new earth in Revelation 22,
his attention is drawn back to the present. Equipped with new insight into the glorious
destination of all Christians, as well as the terrible eternal abode of the wicked, the reader is
challenged with the need for a genuine commitment of faith in Jesus on his part. It is also
expected of us to be blameless in holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thes. 3:13).
We are clearly called to a life of dedication, godliness and separation from the present evil
world:

“And he said to me: Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He
who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he who is righteous,
let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and
My reward is with Me to give to every one according to his work” (Rev. 22:10-12).

The Lord again reminds us that we are not to follow the pattern of Babylonian thinking of unity
at all costs. This ideology teaches people to go along with anything that comes their way, and to
accommodate all religions and their non-Christian traditions. In our dispensation, which is
characterised by the presence of two opposing spiritual forces, the ideal of global unity is not
feasible. We should rather, because of our faith in the Lord Jesus, be prepared for greater
polarisation against an evil world. Such an attitude calls for spiritual as well as moral non-
conformity to the mainstream of the permissive and corrupt life-styles that are the order of the
day.

You cannot compromise and revert to the sinful practises and ideologies of this world that is in
the power of the Evil One. Follow the straight and narrow road all the way. Do not deviate from
God's principles and do not become overwhelmed when the world, as well as the compromising,
worldly churches, turn their backs on you. Jesus warned His disciples against persecution and
rejection by the world (Jn. 15:18-19; 16:33).

Nominal Christians, who compromise with the world, will obviously not be reproached and
persecuted. But in the end they will pay dearly for this temporary advantage when the Lord will
refuse to accept their self-styled form of Christianity (Mt. 7:21-23). Friendship with the world is
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emphatically branded as enmity against God (Jas. 4:4; 1 Jn. 2:15-17). Therefore, no bridges
should be built between the two ideologies and life-styles.

You are invited at this very moment, even should the tribulation already have begun, to turn
from the pathway of darkness and iniquity to the Saviour, Jesus Christ. To everyone who truly
wants to be saved, the Lord says:

“And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev.
22:17).

Do not delay your decision, but go down on your knees and confess your sins to Jesus Christ. He
promises that those who come to Him, He will in no way cast out (Jn. 6:37). He waits for you
now:

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall
be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Is. 1:18).

The Lord pardons abundantly. (Is. 55:7) Even if you have backslidden time and again, you can
still have the confidence to return to the Lord. Do not allow the devil to prevent your salvation
or spiritual restoration with the idea that your sins are too many, too awful or even be
unpardonable. These are some of his many lies! Confess everything to the Lord and accept 1
John 1:9 as the promise of complete forgiveness and salvation: “If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).

Testify to others about your faith and take a public stand for Christ (Rom. 10:9-10), even though
it may bring persecution. Do not be ashamed to acknowledge your Redeemer, and do not keep
quiet about the great things He has done for you. Read the first epistle of Peter, and rejoice even
in the suffering you have to undergo because of your faith. The hardships in this hostile world
do not weigh up against the eternal glory that is shortly to be revealed to us (2 Cor. 4:16 – 5:1).
Time is so short that not a moment should be wasted if you are to get into a right relationship
with the Lord. What you do now, or neglect to do, will be decisive for your eternal destiny.

At the conclusion of Revelation the assurance is given that, if we have been reconciled with God
through the blood of the Lamb, the Holy Spirit will bring a deep longing for the return of Jesus in
our hearts. The Spirit and the bride call on the heavenly Bridegroom: Come, Lord Jesus! His
response to this is: Surely I come quickly! (Rev. 22:17, 20). Are you prepared for His coming?

THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR

In Revelation 22:16 the Lord says: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the
churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Jesus is the Root and Offspring of David. As the Root of David His Deity is asserted – He is
David's Lord! As the Offspring of David His Manhood is involved (Lk. 20:41-44). He is the
promised Messiah who was born from the house of David in the tribe of Judah – the seed of
Abraham through whom all the nations would be blessed.

In Deuteronomy 18:15 Moses also referred to this great Prophet who would be raised up in
Israel. Through the centuries Satan hated and persecuted Israel because of the promises made
to them about the coming Messiah. Religious leaders with insight understood the true reasons
for the spiritual and physical attacks against Israel and committed themselves to the struggle
against the forces of darkness. They realised the worthiness of bearing the reproach of Messiah
and of suffering for a cause which has long-term spiritual benefits for humanity. For unselfish
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service of this nature God will reward them in eternity. Moses chose “rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ
[the Messiah] greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Heb. 11:25-
26).

As the Bright Morning Star Jesus Himself is the promise of a new day that will dawn over this
troubled world. The morning star is visible only during the latter part of the night – just before
and heralding the dawn. The darkest hour is often just before dawn. It is still night now and the
world is sinking ever deeper into moral and spiritual darkness. The true believers will meet
Jesus as the Morning Star during the rapture in the fourth night watch of this dark dispensation.
The darkest part of the night will then ensue on earth under the evil reign of the Antichrist. With
His Second Coming Jesus will, as prophesied, "arise" as "The Sun of Righteousness… with
healing in His wings" (Mal. 4:2), dispelling all darkness and usher in His millennial reign as
Prince of Peace, King of kings and Lord of lords!

NOTES:
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
You may want to explore the following additional resources:

Professor Johan Malan has many more articles relating to the second coming on his website:
www.bibleguidance.co.za

Anton Bosch has done a set of 45 verse-by-verse studies on the book of Revelation. These are in
MP3 format and are available free of charge from TCSA.

John Walvoord. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Moody Press, Chicago, Il, 1966. (This is arguably
the best book on the subject of the second coming).

Dwight Pentecost. Things to Come. Zondervan. 1965.

Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy (Editors). When The Trumpet Sounds, Harvest House Publishers.
Eugene, OR.

Note that the “Left Behind” series by Tim LaHaye are novels and are not to be used for serious
Bible Study even though the theology on which they are based is fundamentally sound.

NOTES:
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ASSIGNMENTS – MODULE 26
NOTES:
1. There are no optional questions for this module. You must complete all the assignments.
2. The questions are designed to make you THINK. Please do so.
3. You will not be able to answer these questions unless you understand the principles
taught in this module. If you find that you do not know how to find the answers to the
questions below, you need to restudy the relevant section of the module. Once you
understand what has been taught above, finding the answers become routine.

TASK 1
Please complete the Module Evaluation Sheet (10 points)

TASK 2
Read and study the Study Guide carefully. We have allowed sufficient time to read through the
Study Guide slowly and thoughtfully a couple of times. Once you are done, you should have a
thorough working knowledge of the topics. You must read through the study guide at least
twice.

TASK 3
Answer the following questions:

QUESTION 1
Draw up a numbered list in which you list, in order, the sequence of all the major events that
surround the end times. When two events happen simultaneously then give them the same
number.

QUESTION 2
Write a critique of this study guide. Talk about the things on which you disagree as well as those
on which you agree with the author. Remember that it is not wrong to disagree but it has to be
done with the right attitude and you have to quote Scripture to support your view. (1000
words).

QUESTION 3
The author made a strong case for the pre-tribulation rapture. But there are at least four
additional views. Explain two of the other views including what they teach and what arguments
they use for those views. The author has not dealt with the other views so there are two things
you need to do in order to answer the question. First, look at his arguments for a pre-trib
rapture and you will see some of the things he is arguing against. Second, you will have to do
some independent study. Ask your pastor as well as other teachers in your area what they
believe and why they hold those views. If you have access to a book or two or the internet, you
will find a lot of additional information. (1,000 words)
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QUESTION 4
The manual briefly touches on the Great Tribulation but there is a lot of information about it in
the book of Revelation. Write an essay in which you outline all the major events of the
Tribulation, including information from both the study guide as well as the book of Revelation.
(1,000 words).

QUESTION 5
The author makes reference to two major occasions when God will act as a judge. Briefly discuss
the differences between these two judgements. (500 words).

QUESTION 6
False religion is represented by means of three major symbols and/or individuals in the book of
Revelation. Briefly discuss each of these three symbols/individuals and their meaning (500
words)

NOTES: