upgraded July 31, 2008

The greatest recognized peace in the history of mankind occurred during "Pax Romano", or "the Peace of Rome."  Rome established that peace through essentially a One World Government, with a One World Religion.  Rome recognized that they needed a One World Religion in order to maintain a One World Government.  Rome worshipped many gods including the worship of Caesar as their One World Religion.  World Leadership today recognizes and has been subtly and aggressively leading the world back toward the One World Government, and the peace that they hope to reestablish through such organizations as the United Nations. 

"There are a lot of very brilliant people who believe that the nation-state is fast becoming a relic of the past,"- President Clinton, New York Times, November 25, 1997

The Antichrist will be presented as a great man of peace.  In the quest for peace, World Leadership will attempt to aid the Antichrist in reestablishing a new One World Government that will include a One World Religion.  The Antichrist (King of Syria, governmental leader) and False Prophet (Pope, religious leader) will attempt to blend Islam, Judaism, and Judeo-Christian Organized Religion into a One World Religion, with the differences in worship being viewed as "denominational differences."  The Antichrist will sell his Muslim, Arab brothers on the re-establishment of daily sacrifice by the Jews in the interest of "brotherhood."  The Antichrist will state that we all look to father Abraham and worship the same God, but we simply call him different names.  It will appear briefly that peace can come to the Middle East, and make the Antichrist appear to be a miracle worker, or God himself.  

The False Prophet (Pope) will state that Jews call him God, Judeo-Christians call him Jesus, and Muslims call him Allah, but he is the same god.  The Antichrist and False Prophet will lie in stating that God, Jesus, and Allah is the same God. There is a softening now, by the leadership of these three religions, of the religious lines between these religions.

Judeo-Christian Organized Religion is already alleging that a great "sin" of mankind is a failure to accept another persons religion. Absolute truth in the religious arena is considered narrow minded, ignorant, a form of bigotry, and conducive to hate crimes. This "accept anything" thinking does not parallel the "narrow," (Matthew 7:14) exact and precise requirements of God.

John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

World Leadership does not care who is God as long as the world has peace. (In all likelihood, most world leaders do not actually believe in the reality of the literal God.)  The attempt to mold Judeo-Christianity, Judaism, and Islam into a common group will evolve within three and one half years into a worship of the Antichrist.

The Antichrist will follow the Roman strategy of a One World Religion, and will take the world from the worship of Jesus Christ, God, and Allah to the singular worship of  the Antichrist.

 Judeo-Christian Organized Religion will accept the "One World Religion."

When the Antichrist and False Prophet attempt to mold Judeo-Christianity, Judaism, and Islam into a single religion with a common god, the members of the Body of Christ, looking to the Spirit of God and versed in the Scriptures will not be deceived, and will refuse their allegiance.

The world position will be "we have endured 3,500 years of war in the Middle East, and now that we have peace, there exists 'a radical element' of Judeo-Christianity that does not want peace." This "radical element" is the true church, the Body of Christ.  The Muslim Antichrist with those in Islam, and the Judeo-Christian False Prophet with those in Judeo-Christian Organized Religion will attempt to annihilate the Body of Christ.

Scripture has proven that persecution can start instantly.

Acts 8:1 (NIV) And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

Some of the "radical element" will be viewed by Organized Religion as "unlearned" and "ignorant."

Acts 4:13 (KJV) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

The educated members of the "radical element" will be viewed as "insane."

Acts 26:24 (NIV) At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."

Even Jesus' family thought He was out of His mind:

Mark 3:20-21 (NIV) Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

As in Jesus' day, it will be alleged that this "radical element" is "demon possessed."

Matthew 10:24-25 (NIV) "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

Matthew 11:18 (NIV) For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'

John 8:48-49 (NIV) The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" 49 "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.

This "radical element" will be hated by Organized Religion and the world.

1 John 3:12-13 (NIV) Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

John 15:18-19 (NIV) "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

John 17:14 (NIV) I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

Proverbs 29:10 (NIV) Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.

Matthew 10:22 and Mark 13:13 (NIV) All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Luke 6:22 (NIV) Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

How long has it been since someone in Judeo-Christian Organized Religion had enough zeal and intensity in the Spirit of God to be hated by the world? Judeo-Christian Organized Religion, to its detriment, and as proof of its decadence and deviation from the teachings of Jesus Christ, has become totally acceptable to society.

The secular world, including Organized Religion will attempt to bring this "radical element" under control by extermination. The members of the Body of Christ will be persecuted for three and one half years.

Matthew 24:9-10 (NIV) "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

Matthew 10:21-22 (NIV) "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

John 16:1-4 (NIV) "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

Daniel 7:20-22 (NIV) I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell--the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

Daniel 8:12-13 (NIV) Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled--the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?"

Daniel 8:23-25 (NIV) "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

Daniel 12:7 (NIV) The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."

Psalms 79:1-11 (NIV) A psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. 2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead. 4 We are objects of reproach to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us. 5 How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name; 7 for they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his homeland. 8 Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. 9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake. 10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants. 11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die.

Revelation 13:7 (NIV) He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

Revelation 13:10 (NIV) If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

Daniel 7:25 (NIV) He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

Revelation 6:9-11 (NIV) When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

Revelation 7:9-14 (NIV) After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" 13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" 14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 20:4-5 (NIV) I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.

The persecution of the members of the Body of Christ will be physical only. The Antichrist will not be able to touch our spirit or soul.

Romans 8:35-39 (NIV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Daniel chapter 3 is a fore glimpse of the Tribulation period. Nebuchadnezzer symbolizes the False Prophet in setting up an image and requiring worship by all men. Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego are symbolic of the members of the Body of Christ in refusing to worship the image. The fire that is "seven times hotter" is symbolic of the Seven Year Tribulation period. The members of the Body of Christ will go through the fire, but the Spirit of God will be with them.

Daniel 3:24-25 (NIV) Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Additional pictures of the Coliseum

The Coliseum in Rome where many members of the Body of Christ were fed alive to lions as sport after they refused to recognize the Roman Emperors as god. This is a fore glimpse of the persecution of the members of the Body of Christ under the Antichrist and False Prophet (Pope-Rome) for refusing to recognize the Antichrist as God.  Judeo-Christians who believe that God will "Rapture" them from this world prior to persecution need to sit in the Coliseum and read the Holy Word of God.

The tragedy of the confusion put forth by Satan to deceive people concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is that some "Judeo-Christians" have hidden behind the lies that state that they will be "raptured" before persecution, and have become convinced that they will have an easy route to heaven.

Jeremiah 14:13-14 (NIV) But I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, 'You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.'" 14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.

It reflects great ignorance and the height of arrogance for you pansies in America to believe that you will be removed in some secret "rapture" prior to persecution, when the Body of Christ is being persecuted to death around the globe even right now.

Like the unwise virgins referenced in Matthew 25:1-13, some of the members of Judeo-Christianity have played fast and loose with God, not preparing themselves for the Tribulation that is coming. When the Tribulation does come, these people's initial reaction will be shock and disbelief, confusion and anger directed toward God, and Judeo-Christian Organized Religion.  Many of these people will become mad at God for allowing them to be in the Tribulation.  These people will be physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually unprepared for the Tribulation.  In most cases, it will take a period of time, if ever,  before they realize that God through His Holy Word told them all along that the Tribulation was coming, and that they would go through it.  They believed the teachings of man, and never judged those teachings by the Word of God.  These people will doom themselves because they accepted the devil's lies as truth and never sought the Truth through God's Holy Word.  Without the power of the Spirit of God they are no match for the devil.  Tragically, in their anger, and during their emotional instability, these people may rashly and vengefully take the Mark of the Beast in order to punish God for allowing them to be in the Tribulation.  These people will accept the Mark of the Beast, and be DAMNED FOREVER.

No one without the power of the Spirit of God will be able to resist the Antichrist.

Revelation 13:8 (NIV) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Revelation 13:16-18 (NIV) He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

Do not delude yourself into thinking that you can delay making a decision for Jesus Christ and then at the crisis moment be able to resist the "Mark of the Beast."

Jeremiah 12:5 (NIV) "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

If you do not have the courage to bow your head in the public and thank God for your food, where there is religious freedom, how will you ever take a position for Jesus when you stand before the devil incarnate? The Word of God states that at the crisis moment, like Peter, you will fail!  (Matthew 26:31-45, 69-75; Mark 14:27-31, 66-72; Luke 22:31-34, 54-62; John 13:31-38, 18:15-18, 25-27)

The great difference is that Peter had time for repentance,

YOU WILL NOT!

If you cannot resist sin, you will never be able to resist the Man of Sin. If you do not have the power through the Spirit of God to totally abstain from sin, you will not have the power to totally abstain from the Man of Sin. "Calvinists" or people who are deceived into believing in "Eternal Security" will rationalize and justify accepting the "Mark of the Beast" just as they rationalize and justify their sin. They believe that they are eternally secure. If they are eternally secure, when they get hungry, there will be no reason not to accept the Mark of the Beast. If you sin every day "in word, thought, and deed", the sin of acceptance of the Mark of the Beast is simply one additional sin in a lifetime of sin. If you believe, as John Calvin taught, that you are predestined by God to accept or not accept Jesus Christ, when you get hungry you will rationalize that you never had a chance of salvation, and you will simply accept the Mark of the Beast.

Revelation 14:9-12 (NIV) A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

Revelation 16:2 (NIV) The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.

Revelation 19:20 (NIV) But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 20:4 (NIV) I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.