Concerning End Times

by Brent

I spend a lot of time considering end times thoughts.  I was recently presented with a bunch of material, which I feel the need to address openly.

A summary of the material presented

  • The World Council of Churches is satanic as is the World Evangelical Alliance
    Anyone associated with representative churches is going to Hell, God calls us to withdraw from them
  • The mark of the beast is here (microchips)
  • Artificial intelligence will control humanity
  • FEMA – civil defence organisations are a government conspiracy to round up rebels such as Christians into concentration these camps
  • We must prep so we can survive

I fundamentally reject these conclusions

I think the evidence presented are real concerns, but the conclusions derive from an understanding of scripture contrary to my own.

The best introduction to end-times teaching I’ve heard highlights Jesus’ first words addressing the disciples’ questions:

Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no-one deceives you.

This warning is reiterated numerous times.  Satan is the chief of deceivers.  Since Eden he has mastered deception to distract, entice and intimidate people away from godliness.  So many conflicting end-times teachings produce immense confusion ranging from pagan doomsday predictions to the truth of God’s word.  As with many, I have my pet theories, some of which will be wrong and some right.  The best I can do is present arguments for why I embrace or reject certain theories.  Remember, 2000 years ago, many wonderful Bible teachers got it wrong and murdered their Messiah.  But this brought about God’s plan, with murderers such as Saul of Tarsis encountering the truth of God and becoming incredible men of faith i.e. Paul.

Some go-to scriptures for the “end of the world” are:

  • Daniel 9 describes a seven year world peace treaty with a world emperor who will violate Israel’s temple after 3.5 years
  • Matthew 24 and Luke 21 record Jesus’ teachings starting from the destruction of the temple 40 years later, summarizing history since, leading to his return
  • 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul encourages us with teaching on the resurrection of dead believers and the rapture of the living – taken to be with him.
  • Revelation 4-19 collects various visions revealed to Jesus as recorded by his disciple John.

There are many other scriptures, which describe many more details and provide precedent and pattern applicable to this time.  There are other prophecies which are not yet fulfilled, that are often lumped in to these seven years to appease an immediate return of Jesus for his church – particularly Ezekiel 38-39’s battle of Gog & Magog.  These may be quite separate.

As with any Bible teaching, please don’t take my word for it – or anyone else:

Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Philippians 2:12 … work out your salvation with fear and trembling

You are responsible for your own eternity.

I prefer the pre-tribulation rapture theory

But I really like pan-trib: “whatever happens it will pan-out” 😉

This influences my interpretation of end-times and arguments I present.  I don’t want to go into detail here, but Reasons to believe in a pre-tribulation rapture is a good start, and I randomly found Pre-Tribulation rapture arguments debunked for alternate consideration.

The claim that pre-trib is a new idea since the 1800’s is debunked by Ken Johnson’s book The End-times by the ancient church fathers summarized on YouTube.  He presents Irenaeus (AD 170), Hippolytus (AD 210), and Ephrem (AD 350) teaching a pre-trib rapture.

It’s ok to disagree, but we can at least examine facts, to strengthen or detract from various theories.

* Inter-church unions

The news is evident of corruption in churches, particularly paedophile clergy and blessing sexual immorality.

Many churches put social justice before presenting the gospel in truth and love – often as a reaction to other’s presenting the “God’s judgement” part of the gospel in proud self-righteousness and condemnation of those they are called to save.

These church unions seem to be dominated by liberal Christianity who avoid preaching the bad news, without which there is no good news.  This “God loves all and Jesus died for all” is preached while contradicting the exclusivity of

John 14:6 Jesus answered “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.”

Some embrace the “All religions lead to God” deception.

I’ve never heard of the current Pope preaching this gospel, but rather his embracing of all God’s children into heaven and our need to nurture mother earth.  This reinforces my typical protestant bias.

But we’re all corrupt humans.  For example, the great Martin Luther who pioneered Protestantism and the translation of the Bible for broad distribution to the people was horribly anti-Semitic – a product of his time.  His writings fuelled the Jewish holocaust of WWII.  Some say “We’d have a perfect church if only we got rid of all the people.”  If we look for fault in others, we will find it – ask a good friend or even better a rival to help you find your faults ;-).

Revelation 18 is presented, calling for us to have nothing to do with a corrupt church:

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

This aligns with scriptures that tell us to shun false believers who encourage or condone unrighteousness so that they might be shamed into righteousness.

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: a man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

But note, Paul did not decree that this church be cut off.  In fact in his next letter, he encourages them to restore this man to fellowship:

2 Corinthians 2:5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent – not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 

Looking further into context, we read:

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

This aligns with scriptures that tell us to shun false believers who encourage or condone unrighteousness so that they might be shamed into righteousness.

6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.

I understand this to be history recorded in advance (aka prophesy) of the judgement on the religious capitol near the end of the tribulation.  At this time, before God destroys the city, he calls his people out – just as he dragged out Lot’s family from Sodom and Gomorrah before their destruction in Genesis 19.  This implies that even unto the end, whatever this city is, God’s people will be present.

In 1 Kings 18 we see Elijah’s showdown with the pagan priests.  After this in his burnout, he complained to the Lord:

1 Kings 19:10 He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

But in God’s answer:

18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’

Even when it looks like a church or denomination or union is totally corrupt, God still has his servants.  We therefore cannot condemn every catholic because we might have great concerns about their leadership.  I know that there are wonderful spirit-filled believers among them.  I deeply respect those who feel led to remain in spiritually poor churches, because they are the ones who keep them from complete apostacy.

When we condemn a part of the church, we are cutting off a part of Christ’s body.  We each have different purposes.  The hand does not perceive the world in the same way as an eye (touch vs. sight) neither does it interact with the world in the same way.  But we each contribute to the whole.  It sometimes takes a huge effort to understand the function of another part of the body. To be incredibly rude, we might judge a part of the body to be the anus, but without this we’d die bloated with our own crap.

James 4:11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your neighbour?

Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

The Restrainer

The key to my objections is the concept of “the restrainer”.

2 Thesalonians 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming.

I believe the “restrainer” (the King James word used instead of holding him back) is the church (from my pre-trib bias) others say the Holy Spirit e.g. https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/related-topics/who-is-the-restrainer.html.

What’s important here is that evil is being restrained.  At some time, this “restrainer” will stop, coinciding with the “lawless one” being revealed (the antichrist).  At this time the evils prophesied in Revelation will be unleashed on the Earth as God’s judgement.  Until then, during this age of grace, the world is being protected by God as the gospel is preached – just as Noah preached for 120 years before the great flood with his dad Lamech and grandad Methuselah.

During the tribulation, there will be a false religion.  The allegation here is this religion is already here as the apostate union of churches with other religions.  However, the false prophet will not be revealed until after the 7 year world peace treaty is signed.  I expect that what we currently see is a precursor that will easily morph into the evil religion.  Consider if there were a pre-trib rapture, the world left behind would be without the evil-restraining influence of godly believers.  Many corrupt “Christians” will immediate understand what has happened and will turn to God as with many Jews.  But the left-behind church leadership will explain away what has happened – as did the Pharisees of Jesus’ time – in the same manner as they explain the cessation of the supernatural in the church.  They will fulfil the concerns alleged against the world church unions.

But the antichrist will introduce a new religion:

Daniel 11:35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
36 ‘The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.

Although one could speculate a revived original paganism as practiced before the flood and Nimrod’s Babel.

Consider also God spoke to Abraham:

Genesis 15:16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.’

This sets precedent that God waits until sin has “reached its full measure” before stepping in.  We see this also in

Genesis 6:9 … Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.

Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

I find the accusations against our more liberal sister churches being of the antichrist akin to labelling someone a Nazi or a communist in political discussions.  Such statements kill respectful dialogue and by demonizing those of other perspectives we alienate them from any positive influence we may be able to apply.  I am deeply saddened with the division political discussions have brought about, particularly among my German church family. Some minister to their migrant neighbours and others outright reject them because they come as a wave of lawlessness.  I think it is wrong that Germany failed to protect its citizens by controlling its borders with regulated immigration, but worse that Christians refuse to minister to the foreigner in their midst – regardless of how they got there.  I believe God has brought these people to Christian lands that they might bring the gospel back to their own after experiencing God’s unconditional love through his church.

* The mark of the beast is here

A very compelling presentation is made of the introduction of microchips injected into people for identification.

Certainly, this is what the mark of the beast could be.

Revelation 13:15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 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, 17 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.
18 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.

Revelation 14:9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Revelation 15:2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

Revelation 19:20 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 worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Note the combination of worshipping the beast and receiving his mark.

In History

Someone said “Satan doesn’t know the time of the end, so he always needs a man ready to step up to the job”  This also infers that Satan always has a plan for how to implement the mark of the beast.

There has always been speculation regarding the identity of the beast/antichrist and his mark:

  • Nero: demanded to be worshipped and no one could buy or sell without the coin marked with his image in their hand.
  • Hitler: determined to rule the world.  The German currency is called the Deutsche Mark.
  • Almost every American or Russian president and most popes has been thus accused.

Technologies

  • A tattoo
  • In the 70’s and 80’s, barcodes were all the rage as computerization asserted the control strip is marked with a 6, or sometimes a 9, but the end-timzers saw straight through that trick 😉
  • Credit cards
  • EFTPOS cards (Electronic Fund Transfer at Point Of Sale) extended computerization

Each of these met resistance as people feared government control and were gradually accepted as ok.  I see this more as humanity’s incessant fear of change, mixed with religiously-fuelled superstition.

  • Now microchips are the trendy mark of the beast

But none of these openly combines an act of worship

But what about something like an Islamic armband such as worn by militant groups like ISIS on the right arm or forehead (Some say the Greek for hand could be understood as arm) Walid Shoebat – a Palestinian-American presents this. This is really interesting because it is the only example that openly combines worshipping of a god, but then Islam is not connected with worshipping an image.  This reveals how the mark would be a humanly visible sign of allegiance to the emperor, without which trade is illegal.

Yet future, an injection could genetically alter the recipient following theories of a resurgence of fallen angel – human hybrids or animal-human hybrids (super soldiers), but the aspect of worship must not be overlooked.

The mark of the beast cannot happen without the beast – an emperor who has brought a 7 year world peace treaty, who will be worshipped including with a mark of allegiance on the right hand or the forehead.  We should not be fearful of any technology, although I superstitiously take entry stamps on my left hand and if I felt I should get a microchip, likewise.  I’d get really paranoid if they absolutely demanded my right hand or forehead.

Remember nothing will happen until the restrainer stops restraining, which allows the man of sin to be revealed.

* Artificial intelligence will control humanity

Computerization is everywhere.  I am a software engineer (programmer), I understand AI is a tool that can be utilized, although I’ve not yet had the need to apply it directly.  This technology is incredible at processing tonnes of information.  E.g. facial recognition, speech recognition – so when you talk with Siri or Google on your phone.  Google search is AI.  It’s a wonderful tool.  The concern is more along the lines of the Terminator movies, where AI will come alive and control humanity or wipe us out for the good of the planet.  That makes for great movies, but contradicts the Bible:

Revelation 19:20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur.

Hell is for spirits – not for inanimate objects (Sorry Joni Eareckson Tada, you won’t get the pleasure of seeing your wheelchair burn in Hell – although I love the sentiment 😉 )

This means the beast will not be AI.  But be assured, Satan uses every technology possible to steal kill and destroy – then it will be without the current restraints.

* FEMA – civil defence organisations are a government conspiracy

… to round up rebels such as Christians into concentration these camps

Civil defence is one of the most vital government agencies.  We need a body that is ready to manage any disaster, including mass evacuations.  We must be ready to pop up refugee camps for even millions of citizens.  In times of such crisis, lawlessness can run rampant, so stricter population control must also be practiced.  It is a very unfortunate necessity when regular order breaks down and otherwise nice people get desperate.  In various depictions, “looters are shot on site” because law enforcement does not have the usual time for pleasantries.  In disaster, society could quickly turn to the “Wild West”.

However, these mechanisms can transform into concentration camps as is common to fascist and communist revolutions.  Even America had POW camps to contain the risk of Japanese-Americans during World War 2.

It is reasonable to be wary of the misuse of this vital civilian infrastructure.  We continue to see concentration camps when military control is asserted e.g. the Yugoslavian war, ISIS, Congo, North Korea, China.

However, we must uphold the Biblical theme of respecting, honouring and supporting our government.

See also https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Human-Authority,-Instituted-By-God

This is portrayed particularly in response to bad governments: Joseph loved his Pharaoh, Moses’ encounters with Pharaoh were civil, David placed himself under the authority and protection of a Philistine king.  Daniel loved Nebuchadnezzar – the Hitler of his time –  when his people were brutally murdered, his city destroyed, his Temple desecrated and he was probably castrated.  I think Paul’s writings involved some self-therapy as he encouraged submission to the Caesar who was responsible for killing so many Christians.

Acts 23:5 Paul replied, ‘Brothers, I did not realise that he was the high priest; for it is written: “Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.”’ (Exodus 22:28)

I am appalled with so many slandering our governments on Facebook – particularly Christians. This is completely unacceptable. When governors act against godliness, that must incite us to pray all the more for them – that God would bless them and show them Godly wisdom.  In such times particularly:

Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

* We must prep so we can survive

Preparation for natural disaster is most important.  Be aware of the risks of your area and prepare suitable shelter and provision in case disaster strikes – canned food, water, tents, off-grid cooking, a storm cellar, a nuclear bunker, an evacuation route for tsunami, bush fire etc.
Someone commented that the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles implies an annual survival practice as are the great kiwi annual camping trips.  When Christchurch’s earthquake happened, people quickly organized their BBQs to cook and put up their tents or tarpaulins for shelter.

While a zombie-apocalypse does not fit the Bible, there is the very real possibility of plague.  In the late 1800’s electricity was wiped out by a solar storm, an nuclear Electro-Magnetic-Pulse could also destroy all electronics over thousands of kilometres.

So it is prudent to be prepared.  We may also need to prepare for civil war and political uprisings as per historic realities.

However given modern technologies, to prepare for survival against the beast’s government:

“Resistance is futile” – the Borg (from Star Trek)

  • Cell phones are extremely trackable
  • China is currently introducing population monitoring based on facial recognition.
  • People can be tracked en masse by satellites

Within a year of the restrainer withdrawing, the world government can develop global heat-sensing satellites and UAVs along with billions of tiny drones to get close-up on anyone.

The mark of the beast is totally unnecessary to control the population – hence its association with worshipping the beast’s image.  It’s about submitting one’s allegiance to the Beast and worshipping him.

Conclusion

  • Churches must work together to hold each other accountable to godliness – not condemn each other to hell because we have a different expression of faith or have some weaknesses.
  • The beast will not be known until that world emperor enforces a 7 year world peace treaty.
  • The mark of the beast requires the beast to first be known and serves primarily as a mark of allegiance to his new religion.
  • We need not fear technology – rather use it to extend the gospel.
  • The church restrains evil from our society – through our influence, spiritual warfare and disseminating the Holy Spirit – even if society is anti-Christian.
  • Government protects and serves society as appointed by God, but this same body will be used of the devil when unrestrained.
  • “Resistance is futile” – what God has decreed will happen.  He has told us ahead of time so we know who wins.
  • Whatever happens, Jesus is the hope of our salvation – with God, it will all pan-out in the end.

My hope against this hopelessness is in the Lord – that he is faithful and just to keep us from or through the valley of the shadow of death.  I’ve read the end of the book – we win.

Whether Jesus comes for me at the sound of a golden trumpet or the desperate honking of a speeding truck, I will be ready and he will receive me into his glory – because I have recognized my inability to fix my sin and accepted Jesus’ sacrifice to pay for my restoration.  This is what really matters.

I pray that this provides some challenging perspective on things and I’ve left you with more new questions than I’ve answered ;-).

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

Shalom

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