October 30, 2022- Kings and nations prepare for war. Armies are prepped and ready for the battle ahead. Evil wants to destroy good, and reign forever on the earth. Good wants to destroy evil, and reign forever on the earth. Both sides have their weapons prepared. However, one side is destined to lose and both sides know this. Nothing like this war has ever occurred on earth before nor will it ever occur after this war.
The good will defeat the evil. Isn’t this how it is supposed to be? It is in movies, books, and theater. In this war, yes, good will defeat evil (check next week's article for more information). Yet, who decides which side is good and which side is evil? Let me tell you friends: God decides these things. For this war that I speak of is of the Antichrist against Jesus, and it is coming for us, soon.
The Antichrist
The Holy Bible speaks to the spirit of the Antichrist in 1 John 2:22 as someone that denies God and the Son (Jesus Christ of Nazareth). If someone denies Jesus, they do not have the Father in them (1 John 2:23). We know that the spirit of the Antichrist has been around since the disciple John’s time and it will come for it is written that, “and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4: 2-3, NKJV).
The Antichrist that will come is discussed in the books of Daniel, 2 Thessalonians, and Revelation. This is by far the most complex and possibly the most intimidating book within the Holy Bible to read. Chapters 13, 19, and 20 discuss the Antichrist as a beast. We do not know much about him. At the same time, we know more about him than you may think. For example, we know that Satan will give his throne, power, and great authority to the Antichrist (Revelation 13: 2,4). We also have a vague idea of the timing of the Antichrist: He will come during the two witnesses. He will have a mortal wound, from which he will heal from. This will cause those on the earth to worship him (Revelation 13: 3 and 14).
We also know that the Antichrist will:
Be revealed (we will know who he is) (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
Kill the two witnesses (Revelation 11:7)
Have a blasphemous name (Revelation 13:1, and 13:18)
Speak great things (he will be a great orator) and blasphemies (Revelation 13:5)
Sit on the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
Be given power and authority from 10 kings (Revelation 17:12,13) and Satan (Revelation 13:2,4).
Rule for 42 months (3 ½ years) (Daniel 7:25, and Revelation 13:5)
Require to be worshipped (Revelation 13:12), and most of the world will worship him (Revelation 13:8).
Perform signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9 and Revelation 13:13)
After the “falling away” occurs, the Antichrist will be revealed to us (2 Thessalonians 2:3). This falling away refers to those turning from the Christian faith and abiding by unsound doctrine, in an ultimate rebellion to God. This will happen in a worldwide fashion allowing the Antichrist to step in. However, the Antichrist will not rule forever. He will “continue a short time” (42 months or 3 ½ years). In addition, he will not be alone. The Antichrist will have an aide.
The Antichrist’s Aid
While Satan will give the Antichrist power and authority to do the things mentioned previously, the Antichrist will also have assistance from another. According to Revelation 13:11-16, the Antichrist will have the help of the false prophet. The Antichrist will give power to the false prophet. In turn, the false prophet will:
Cause the earth to worship the antichrist (Revelation 13:12)
Perform great signs in the presence of the antichrist (Revelation 13:13)
Tell people to make an image to the Antichrist (Revelation 13:14)
Kill those that will not worship the beast by beheading (Revelation 13:15, and 20:4).
Require a mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16)
Let us discuss some of these items, particularly about the signs and the requirement of a mark of the beast.
The Signs of the Antichrist’s Aid
The signs that the false prophet perform will be a way to deceive as many people as possible. The Holy Bible says that “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Revelation 13:13). To understand if someone performs signs or miracles from God or not, listen to what they are saying. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 says:
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 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.
Beloved do not be fooled by signs or wonders performed by a false prophet or the false prophet that will reign with the Antichrist.
The Mark of the Beast
The mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16) is a big item to consider. Why? We do not know what it will be, but we do have some basic information on it. The mark will be placed in a certain spot of the human body. The placement is significant because according to Revelation 13:16 (KJV) it will be placed in the right hand or in the forehead. Other versions like NKJV say on the right hand or on the forehead (Revelation 13:16). The mark will contain the name of the beast or the number of the beast (Revelation 13:17). The Holy Bible says that “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 13:18). To convince us that this mark will be necessary, only those that worship the beast and receive the mark will be able to buy and sell (Revelation 13:17).
Many people have speculated what the mark of the beast is. However, it seems that the Holy Bible is clear on this. Let us consider the passages: The Antichrist will be revealed (we will know who he is when the time comes). We also know that the false prophet will require the mark of the beast. Therefore, once the Antichrist arrives, and once he is revealed, he will befriend the false prophet. Through demonic and unclean spirits, these two will perform signs and wonders to deceive you and make you wonder and worship the Antichrist. The false prophet will require the mark of the beast. Considering these facts, we will know what the mark is when it comes.
To summarize some of these things that we know about the mark of the beast here are some points that were discussed:
Where it will be located: on your body, either in/on your right hand or in/on your forehead
Who will require it: the false prophet
How he will convince people to get it: you will not be able to buy or sell
What it contains: the name of the beast, or the number of his name (666)
Beloved, do not get the mark of the beast, because those who will worship the Antichrist, and receive the mark will receive a “foul and loathsome sore” (Revelation 14:2). If your name is not written in the Book of Life, you will be called to war (Revelation 19:19) and destroyed by God and you will be sent to hell (Revelation 20:15).
The War
The Euphrates River will dry up, “so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared” (Revelation 16:12). Iraq released a statement saying that the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers could dry up by 2040 due to climate change, and watershed mismanagement[1]. In fact, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq are in conflict over the Euphrates and Tigris River and respective water rights[2]. This conflict has been ongoing since 1960. Syria and Saudi Arabia have been involved in the conflict as well[3]. The Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers headwaters are from Turkey, and they flow through Syria, and Iraq leading out eventually to the Persian Gulf. [4]
After the Euphrates River is “dried up,” Satan will use the antichrist and the false prophet, and together they will send out demons to the kings of the world to gather them for a battle against God Almighty (Revelation 16:14). The kings of the earth and their armies will gather at a place in Hebrew, called Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). Footnotes in my Holy Bible indicate that original text called this Megiddo. I do not speak Hebrew, but using Google translation, Armageddon is "har məgiddô". There is a community in northern Israel known as Megiddo that was built in 1949 just four years after World War II. Could this be the area that they will gather their army? Perhaps, but the book of Joel has this war taking place at the Valley of Jehosaphat (Joel 3).
Beloved, I pray that your soul is saved and that your name is written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb, in the name of Jesus, amen! If you are not sure if your name is written in the Book of Life, here is how to do it:
Accept Jesus Christ of Nazareth as your Savior (see Accepting Jesus section below), for He died on the cross for your sin (Galatians 1:4).
Repent from your sins because this was Jesus’s first lesson when He started His ministry (Matthew 4:17).
Accepting Jesus
Beloved the time is short. We are living in unprecedented times. The time to accept Jesus Christ as your savior is now! If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, accept Him now by saying this prayer:
God, I confess that Jesus came in the flesh and blood, paid the price for my sins, died on the cross, rose on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and sent the Holy Spirit to help me understand Your ways. For that, I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord, and I welcome the Holy Spirit in my life. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen!
[1] Climate Change News, Seen from space: Extreme drought dries up rivers across the globe, 8/26/2022 The National News, Iraq could have no rivers by 2040, government report warns, 12/2/2021 [2]Climate Diplomacy, Turkey, Syria and Iraq: Conflict over the Euphrates-Tigris, undated. [3]Climate Diplomacy, Turkey, Syria and Iraq: Conflict over the Euphrates-Tigris, undated. [4]Climate Diplomacy, Turkey, Syria and Iraq: Conflict over the Euphrates-Tigris, undated.