LET THERE BE LIGHTS

 

Bright and colorful lights and Christmas just go together. Around our house, we love the white lights, the LED lights, and the colored lights; ones that blink and ones that don’t. And it is nice to see houses decorated with hundreds (and often thousands) of lights. People who do enjoy them will drive around at night to view these beautiful settings. They not only make for a compelling display that is pleasing to the eye, but they also chase away the darkness, and we prefer light over darkness. There is a strong theology in the matter of light and darkness.

Light and the nature of God. According to 1 John 1:5, the basic nature of God is that He is “light.”  There is no darkness of any kind in Him, meaning that God is completely free from any and every moral defect. This is often communicated in the Scriptures when He appears surrounded by brilliant light/glory. John’s important point is that if a believer wants to live in fellowship with the Light, then he/she must not allow even a smidgen of darkness to enter and remain in life. And even with the few snapshots that we have of heaven and the eternal kingdom, we see light/glory and brilliant colors with even the New Jerusalem reflecting the glory of God (Rev. 21:11). Light, not darkness, characterizes our world to come. 

Light and the nature of Jesus.  Light is connected with Christ’s appearances and this should not come as a surprise to us. The Apostle John began his gospel with the declaration that Jesus was the “light” that entered this spiritually dark world (John 1:4-9). Jesus Himself would later state that He was the “light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus made this statement after He had forgiven a woman who was in very real moral/spiritual darkness. That woman (to use the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:13) had been delivered out of the domain of darkness and entered a glorious relationship with Jesus Christ. And so, it is with those who have received eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. All such have exited the realm of spiritual darkness and now are joyful in Christ’s kingdom of light. 

Light and Jesus’ First Coming. Brilliant light was part of the first coming of Jesus Christ into this world, and it will be on display at His second coming. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Luke 2:9 informs us that an angel appeared to some shepherds out in the fields and that “the glory of the Lord shone around them.” The darkness of that night quickly retreated and was brilliantly removed by the illuminating glory of God. The Light of the World had come, and it was appropriate for brilliant light to dominate that field in Bethlehem.

  About a year later, the “star” appeared to wisemen who were directed to go and find the new King. This brilliant light was a sign to them of the birth of the Jewish king, and it appeared to them in the east. It did not guide them across the fertile crescent (as our Christmas cards declare) but, much to their joy, it reappeared to them outside of Jerusalem and led them the five miles south to a house in Bethlehem where Joseph and Mary now lived. (Matt. 2:2, 7-11). Although there have been some attempts to see the “star” as an alignment of certain existing planets or stars, it can be shone that the “star” was most likely not some existing heavenly body but was a dramatic declaration that God had come into the world.  It was quite supernatural. I would concur with Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum when he said, 

“By this star coming in the form of light, what we actually have is the appearance of the Shechinah Glory ... The Shechinah Glory is the visible manifestation of God’s presence. Whenever God became visible in the Old Testament, this is referred to as the Shechinah Glory. In most cases, the Shechinah Glory came in the form of a light, fire, cloud or some combination of these three things. Over in Babylonia a light appeared, a brilliance, a radiance that may have looked like a star from a distance and yet had actions and did things which no star can do or does do. What these Wise Men actually saw was the Shechinah Glory. When they saw this…unusual brilliance, they deduced from it that it was a signal that the King of the Jews, the Messiah, had been born.”  (Messianic Christology, pp. 143-144)

Just as the Shechinah Glory guided Israel through their 40 years of wilderness wandering (Exo. 40:34-38), so it appeared and then reappeared to the wisemen.

Light and Jesus’ Second Coming. And light is associated with Jesus’ return. In Matthew 24:29-30, Jesus declared that when He returns it will be when the moon’s light is gone, and the sun has become darkened. Into that unnerving gloom on earth at the end of the Tribulation, the glory of Christ will shine. At that moment, there will appear the “sign of the son of Man,” which once again is probably the Shekinah glory of God (Matt. 24:29-30). Jesus will come in “glory” and will sit on His throne, which is a “glorious throne” (Matt. 25:31). In His earthly ministry, Jesus allowed three of His disciples to have a preview of this marvelous light of His kingdom glory on the Mt. of Transfiguration. “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light” (Matt. 17:2). They saw Him as He will appear in His coming earthly kingdom. This is what Peter, James and John experienced on the Mt. of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:2-5). To his dying day, Peter never forgot what He saw that day on the mountain, and he tells us about it in 2 Peter 1:16-19. Note Peter’s choice of words as he described Jesus as He will appear during that 1,000-year reign on this earth (“glory”, “Majestic glory”, “a lamp shining in a dark place”, “day dawns”, “morning star”). It is not the carpenter from Nazareth that returns but the King of Glory.

Biblical truth and Christmas lights. There is some disagreement where the idea of lights at Christmas came from. Some point to the candles of Hanukkah, while others trace it back to Christmas celebrations in Europe or even to pagan rituals. It probably makes no real difference since beauty and light is present and darkness is gone. And maybe, just maybe, as we hang up our Christmas lights, we will remind ourselves of the nature of our Savior; that He is light. He is Light, and at His coming light will be manifested. Light has theological significance. And it is not at all out of line for us to infuse biblical truth into our current celebrations. The lights of Christmas are a reminder to many of us of great truth about our Lord and Savior.

May your Christmas be filled with light, both physical and spiritual.

DAVID, JESUS, AND THE GOD WHO DOES NOT LIE

The arrival of future events depends on just one thing---the character of the God who planned those future events. Prophesied future events will not come to pass because of who wins a war, or who wins an election, or who has the most money and political power. Mankind and demonic forces do not determine the arrival of ordained events or persons, and cannot even change the arrival times by one or two minutes either way. Prophetic fulfillment rests on who God is. Many key prophecies have not yet taken place, but they will certainly come to pass because fulfillment depends on God’s character.

The Character of the God of Prophecy.  God is SOVEREIGN, meaning that He is the supreme power in this universe, and that there is no individual or group that is greater than the Lord God. As the sovereign of the universe, the Lord may choose to allow certain things to take place, but His declared prophetic purposes cannot be thwarted by His creation. Those prophetic events will indeed take place. God is TRUTH, meaning that His revelations about Himself and man’s future are totally accurate and can be relied on. He can be trusted. He does not lie or deceive. He is OMNISCIENT, meaning that He knows everything, which includes things that are as well as all other possibilities. God does not learn new things so that He is forced to adjust previously given prophetic statements. God is OMNIPOTENT, meaning that as the Almighty there is nothing too hard for Him. He has all the power needed to bring prophetic events to pass. It is important to remember that the fulfillment of prophetic events is never a question about the power to do them, but usually the timing of those events. God is IMMUTABLE, meaning that God never changes. Over time the Lord does not mature nor does He decline. God’s statements about coming events will not change. God is HOLY, meaning that He is free from any taint of evil or uncleanness. So, all coming events, including His judgments, are free from anything evil. God is LOVE, meaning that He only does what is best. His goal is to bring all mankind back into fellowship with Himself and allow them to enjoy “Eden.” In His future kingdom believers will thoroughly enjoy His presence and His blessings. Jesus said that God loves to give good gifts to His children, and that He will do.

So, with a God like this, should we doubt that He can and will do what He says He will do? Is there a place for thinking that Satan and his minions, as well as his human collaborators, can somehow thwart or even delay God’s plans? (1 Chron. 22:8)

The Coming Prophesied Ruler---Genesis 48.  Around 1850 BC, Jacob, and his family of 70, moved to Egypt and joined Joseph. Just before he died, Jacob gave prophecies that concerned each of his twelve sons. In Genesis 48:8-12, Jacob prophesied of the dominance and rulership of Judah. And while there are some interpretive challenges here, the prophecy speaks of the kingship in Judah which will find its final fulfillment in the person of Messiah. The “scepter” will not depart from Judah. It is from the tribe of Judah that the Messiah will come. The final fulfillment has not yet taken place.

The Covenant Made with David---2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17.  King David had a strong desire to build an incredibly lavish temple for the Lord God. He had, no doubt, seen many gorgeous pagan temples when he had defeated nation after nation. But the Lord Jehovah, maker of heaven and earth, was dwelling in a temporary tent-like shelter. That should never be!  Although the Lord loved this heart desire of David, He would not allow David to build a sacred temple for Him because David was a man of war and had a lot of blood on his hands (1 Chron. 22:8). Instead, God said I will build your house (meaning David’s ruling dynasty), and with that God entered a covenant relationship with David. This “Davidic Covenant” was/is both everlasting and unconditional (that is, it depended on God alone for final fulfillment). Psalm 89 makes this point with great clarity. The covenant had five parts to it: (1) David would become famous; (2) David would have rest from his enemies; (3) David’s house (that is, his family line) would last forever; (4) David’s throne (that is, his ruling authority) would be forever; and (5) David’s kingdom would not ever pass away permanently but would continue forever. 

The Three Unfulfilled Parts of the Davidic Covenant.  What is so important about all of this is the fact that the last three provisions of this covenant have not been fulfilled. They were not fulfilled in the Old Testament and they were not fulfilled at Christ’s first coming (though they could have been). They were not fulfilled in the Old Testament as is evidenced in the angel Gabriel’s statement to the virgin Mary. He said, “you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:31-33). Gabriel’s statement makes no sense if Solomon or someone else in the O.T. fulfilled it.

The Davidic Covenant was not fulfilled when Jesus came the first time. John the Baptist announced the long-awaited kingdom of Messiah, and Jesus validated His messianic claims time and again. However, the proud, unbelieving generation of Jews refused to accept Jesus as their messiah. Was that the end of the covenant? Absolutely not. The covenant was everlasting and will exist as long the universe exists. Psalm 89:36-37 declares: “His (David’s) descendants shall endure forever and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful.” Since the universe still exists, the Davidic Covenant is still in force. Jesus, the eternal Person, is the guarantee that David’s line cannot ever be cut off. Also, the covenant is unconditional, meaning that there are no conditions that David or his descendants must fulfill. It is God alone who will fulfill it. Psalm 89:30-32 saw that those who came after David would prove unfaithful and God would have to deal with their unfaithfulness and unbelief. Then Psalm 89 powerfully declares God’s word about what He will not do. 

“But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, nor deal falsely in My faithfulness. My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness, I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me.”

Because God did not lie to David, the Davidic Covenant awaits fulfillment. And that fulfillment will take place when Jesus returns at His 2nd Coming and rules the world, which includes all the nations of the world (Psalm 2:8). In looking at the last three parts of the Davidic Covenant, it is seen that David’s “house” (his family line) will indeed last forever, since the covenant has been given to Jesus who will live forever (note again Gabriel’s statement to Mary). The fourth part of the Davidic Covenant is that David’s throne (his ruling authority) will be forever. Ruling authority now belongs to Jesus, but He has not yet exercised that authority. There are theologians today who teach that Jesus is presently ruling. But that simply does not line up with the reality of life in this world, which remains under the domination of the Evil One (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19). The Scriptures inform us that when Messiah reigns, it will be a rule with “the rod of iron,” meaning that there will be zero tolerance for overt sin and rebellion (Psalm 2:9). This rod speaks of dominant ruling authority, and extends not simply to Israel but to all the nations of the world (Rev. 12:5; 19:15). Jesus not only rules from Jerusalem over a united Israel, but will rule all the gentile nations in this world. Today, are the nations of the world under Jesus’ authority? There is no way that one can really believe that Jesus Messiah is presently ruling the nations. This can only come about by ignoring normal interpretation and engaging in wholesale spiritualization. If Jesus is presently ruling then the many details given in the OT about Messiah’s kingdom, simply make no sense. Trying to line up the many O.T. prophecies with present reality are simply impossible. Both O.T. and N.T. writers declared that the reign of Messiah would be characterized by righteousness, peace among men, great universal joy, harmony in nature (the removal of the curse), universal prosperity, the universal worship of the Lord Jehovah, the complete absence of Satan and his forces of evil, a full knowledge of the Lord and the removal of disease and deformity (Isa. 9:3-4; 11:4-9; 35:5-6; 61:1-9; Jer. 23:5-6; Joel 2:28-32; Rom. 8:19-23; Rev. 20:1-10). These realities are simply not seen in our world today! Yet, scripture says these will characterize Jesus’ rule.  

The fifth part of the Davidic Covenant declares that David’s kingdom will have no end to it. Long ago, Daniel stated that after the kingdoms of mankind are terminated by the coming of the Messiah that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed…it will endure forever.” (Dan. 2:44). The point being that once the Lord’s reign begins at the 2nd Coming, never again will any created being rule. The Apostle Paul adds some details to this when he teaches that after Jesus’ rule (the 1,000-year kingdom on earth), He will turn ruling authority over to the Godhead which ushers in the eternal phase of God’s kingdom on a new earth (1 Cor. 15:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5).

Our response to this unfulfilled covenant with David?  

        First, these truths give us clarity and perspective on the world that we presently live in. What we see in our world is not what will be in the future. All the “mighty” men and great nations will come to an end. Knowing and believing the truth about the magnificence of the coming reign of King Jesus helps us with our priorities here and now. 

Second, fear and anxiety ought not take root in our lives. We are citizens of the coming kingdom, along with being citizens of America. Of the two, one is temporal and fading and the other is eternal and glorious. And while we have some responsibilities in the temporal, our ultimate loyalty is to Jesus, David’s great son. 

Third, because of the character of the Lord God, what He declares is coming will indeed come. Our best days are not now, but are ahead of us when we see King Jesus in all His royal splendor. And that is going to really be something! Maybe soon?

PROPHECY’S IMPORTANCE---BEYOND PRESENT EVENTS

Missiles, drones, and war planes fill the skies of the Middle East as Iran and Hezbollah aggressively attack Israel with ferocity. Does this signal coming end time events? Is it prophetically significant? People’s interest in prophecy piques at such a time. And that is good. It is important to try and view events through the lens of Scripture. It is important to go to the Bible to see what it says about the end times. But all too often, these events calm down and depart from the top of the news cycle, and people very often go back to life and cease to give much thought about prophecy. Prophecy is very important beyond a sudden, but evaporating interest in it.

The Continuing Decline in Prophetic Teaching

    The problem faced by the church these days is that so many in the church have not been taught about biblical prophecy. There are some churches where the believers are faithfully taught biblical prophecy which is woven throughout the Scriptures. But too many pastors and teachers these days do not do such teaching. These, who ought to have been instructing their flocks about the truths of the Bible simply do not do so. But why?  There are several reasons for this silence from the pulpit. First, many pastors feel that prophecy is far too difficult and too divisive. They think that prophecy is hard to understand and there are so many opinions, so they stay away from it. They are convinced that church attenders will exit the church if prophecy is taught. These pastors seem to forget that their primary task is to teach the whole counsel of God. And some of these churches have removed almost completely any reference to eschatology in their doctrinal statements. Second, the feeling is that prophecy is just a lot of speculation and they need to be talking about the “real world” and not about things which may or may not happen. Third, there is the belief that prophetic teachers are simply involved in a lot of wild speculation. After all, how many times can you declare that the Rapture is going to take place very shortly and it has not. How often can you point to some world leader and suggest that he is the prophesied antichrist? It is true, unfortunately, that some teachers are heavily into speculation and do diminish prophetic importance as a result. But nevertheless, prophetic truths are found everywhere in the Scriptures and must be taught. Fourth, I have discovered that many men attended seminaries where they simply were not instructed in this theological subject. Apparently the school they attended had a low view of the prophetic word.

The Critical Importance of Biblical Prophecy in the Life of the Believer 

1. BIBLICAL PROPHECY IS ESSENTIAL IN ESTABLISHING A “TWO-WORLDVIEW.

The Apostle Paul had a two-world view (Phil. 3:13-21); that is, he lived well in this world because he always had an eye on the world to come. Biblical prophecy sharpens our view of the world to come and this is a tremendous help in how we live in this world; how we prioritize life and make decisions. Without an understanding of what lies ahead, it is nearly impossible to view life as the Apostle Paul did.

2. BIBLICAL PROPHECY GIVES US HOPE (Confident assurance).

If there is anyone who ought to live in this world with confidence, it is the child of God (cf. Titus 2:13).  If there is anyone who ought not live under the load of defeat, fear, and depression, it is the child of God. While none of us are exempt from painful situations in life, we should not live hopeless, negative, defeated lives because we understand where all of life is headed and that we have an amazing future that is ours as believers.  “Let us rejoice and be glad” (Rev. 19:7) will be the prevailing sentiment for the redeemed.  This attitude of hope is not wishful thinking because it is grounded in the commitment of God to restore what was lost in the Garden of Eden.  Man’s willful disobedience brought about the loss of paradise, of fellowship with God and of the privileged position of ruling the earth. When Adam and Eve sinned, God could have wiped everything out and started over again.  (After all, what would He have lost but two people and six days of work!).  But instead, He promised that there would be restoration and reconciliation through the “seed of the woman.”    

Prophecy informs us that those three things that were lost will be fully regained because of the Cross and the powerful working of our Creator God.  Unhindered fellowship with God, a wonderful paradise and the opportunity of ruling with our Messiah will again be the experience of people. Biblical prophecy lets us in on this marvelous ending and gives us the confident expectation which assists us in living well for Christ right now. Biblical prophecy provides us with a clear, comprehensive worldview which in turn generates biblical hope because we are dealing with a God who is faithful to His promises.

3. BIBLICAL PROPHECY HELPS BELIEVERS IN THEIR STRUGGLE AGAINST SIN.

  Serious believers are very aware of the “sin that so easily entangles us” (Heb. 12:1) and wish for victory over sin.  When we keep future events fresh in our thinking, that we are going to see Christ and appear before His judgment seat, we are apt to not allow sin to take up residence in our lives.  We can say “no” to sin much easier.  This was the point the Apostle John made.

“And now little children abide in Him (keep in fellowship), so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming...And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”  (1 John 2:28; 3:3)

It is when we cease thinking that Jesus could appear at any moment and bring to pass the end times as described in the Bible, that we get careless in the way we live.  Remember Jesus’ powerful statement that it is the evil slave who says “my Lord delays his coming” (Matt. 24:48).  The believer’s struggle against sin will never stop in this life, but that believer is fortified in the inner person by the truths of what may soon take place.

(4) BIBLICAL PROPHECY PROVIDES A VALUABLE MINDSET IN TIMES OF TRIALS.

The fact that believers are faced with some burdensome and painful trials in this life is not a new revelation.  We know that God has not exempted believers from the sudden death of a loved one or the arrival of a debilitating disease or the appearance of great financial loss.  And even if such “major tragedies” do not enter the believer’s life, the child of God still experiences scores of “minor” pressures, griefs, disappointments, and setbacks.

  James, and others, observed that believers can respond well or they can respond poorly to these painful times in life. For trials to be successfully endured, James says that the believer must possess God’s wisdom, which is seeing life from God’s perspective.  An integral part of God’s perspective is the future that lies ahead.  This is how Jesus faced the trial of His crucifixion.  The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (12:2). Jesus looked beyond those six hours on the cross to that time in His glorious kingdom when He would be with those that He would redeem and restore.

The believer who is focused on this world will likely not do well in trials when things go terribly wrong in this world.  Without a working knowledge of things to come, he will have to fall back on the “stiff upper lip” approach or to wishful thinking. The truth is that our best life is not now.  But the believer who anticipates the glorious age to come will be better positioned to deal well with the pain and disappointments that accompany trials in this world.  

After speaking about the universality of trials and the need for God’s wisdom, James references the future (James 1:12).  The “crown of life”, also mentioned in Revelation 2:10, does seem to focus on the future reward given to the believer who loves the Lord so much that he does not resent what the Lord has allowed into his life. An incentive for enduring in trials is the understanding that there is future reward for the enduring believer.

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will   receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)

As James’ letter ends, it returns to the matter of the trials of life and the need to patiently endure like Job and the prophets of old.  And here James again appeals to the future to give strength to his friends.

“Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord....You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” (James 5:7-9)

What believers need in times of trial and difficulty is not positive thinking, but prophetic thinking! 

(5) PROPHECY GIVES AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.

The prophet Isaiah powerfully declared that God is sovereign over all men and nations (Isaiah 40).  No person, no nation or combination of nations can for one second thwart the plans and purposes of God.  And while we might be impressed, or  even intimidated, by the authority of those in Washington DC, Moscow, Beijing or Tehran, God is not.  Bible prophecy reveals that our sovereign God will bring to pass everything that He said He would do. He is sovereign. And biblical prophecy reinforces that significant reality.

Biblical prophecy must have an important place in the life and thinking of the believer for that one to live well here and now for the Lord Jesus.  Perhaps the average believer, whether in the pew or the halls of the academy, need to give serious reflection to the Word of God on the strategic role of prophecy in our theology and our living.  

It is a good thing, when Iran and Hezbollah attacks Israel, that we think seriously about the significance of such events. But we really need to go beyond a temporary interest in prophecy. Pastors, teachers and all believers need to immerse themselves in the Scriptures and observe what they have to say about the upcoming prophetic events. Prophecy is life changing.

KEEPING AN EYE ON EUROPE

 

In biblical prophecy, Europe plays an important role in end time events. It is the geographic area where much of the old Roman Empire existed. It is out of the old Roman Empire that the dominant end-times person arises; the man commonly referred to as the “Antichrist.” Today Europe is powerful economically, politically, and militarily. And it is one significant place where the political pot of globalism and nationalism is boiling. 

The Situation in Europe Today.

The European Union began about 30 years ago and today has 27 member states. Not all 27 are equal since some nations are far more robust economically as well as being more potent militarily. But all is not well in the EU. Today’s EU is being divided by the same issues that are dividing America: that of inflation, “green” policies, out-of-control immigration, “social justice” and the rise of Islamism. And, as in the USA, there are opposing viewpoints which allow little ground for compromise. The recent EU June elections saw significant gains from the “far right” and those who favor nationalism as opposed to the majority who favor globalism. 

Among many, there is a growing sense that the EU is becoming “ungovernable.” It seems to get more chaotic as the days go by with the result that time and again the EU is forced to implement inadequate stop-gap measures to deal with issues and unhappy nations.

As the world heads towards 2025, Europe is in turmoil as the forces of nationalism are striking back against the forces of globalism. Nationalists want to retain the uniqueness of their nations with their own cultures, borders and known way of life. They are seeing their way of life disintegrate as globalist policies of open borders and socialistic agendas are put in place. 

Globalists see nationalists as having no concern for others, and they firmly believe that the narrow interests of nations must be set aside in favor of trans-national institutions and laws. The globalist has a very simplistic view of the world in that they believe that a one-world government will unite everyone and solve the basic problems confronting the world. Nationalism seems to be growing in Europe and the battle with globalism is growing in intensity.

The Future Situation of Europe  

It is not possible to say what the EU will look like in the immediate future. However, it can be said that eventually there will be a united European Union which will come into existence. This global powerhouse will be under the direct control of the malevolent end time figure commonly called the Antichrist. Globalism will win out. The victory of globalism will be very short-lived, but nevertheless it will come about.

After the June elections, one member said that “only a united Europe has a chance to survive in the future.” He is close to being correct, though it will not be as he imagines. And this brings us to the prophecies of Scripture.

The Biblical Setting.

The prophet Daniel revealed that the Antichrist (Daniel refers to him as the “little horn”) is identified when he makes a covenant agreement with Israel (Dan. 9:27). He then begins his quest for domination by defeating 3 nations of Europe (Dan. 7:24). The 3 nations are not specifically identified. This conquest would surely indicate that Europe is not happily living in unity at this time in the future. It will take the strength of this one man and his nation to subdue these 3 nations. These 3 nations are clearly independent nations, each with its own king (or ruler of some designation). How they are subdued is not said, but it is likely through military conquest, though economic pressure might be involved. After this “depriving of sovereignty” of these 3 nations, apparently 7 other European nations simply acquiesce to his great power (again, the nations are not specified). This will result in a 10-nation union, with the Antichrist coming from an 11th nation. The setting geographically for the defeat of the 3 nations is where the old Roman Empire existed which is fundamentally the region of Europe. This is seen in Daniel’s vision in chapter 7 where the “little horn” and all the other horns (nations and kings) emerge from the fourth empire, which is Rome.

The Antichrist’s nation is clearly quite powerful because of the covenant agreement with Israel (Dan. 9:27) is put together while the Antichrist is over just his own nation. When it comes to the initial stages of the Antichrist’s wars, the Bible does not reveal the specific reason why the Antichrist goes to war and defeats these 3 nations; whether it is over economic issues or nationalistic matters or military conflicts. But whatever the causes, when the proverbial dust settles, there is a union of 11 nations that are united primarily, or exclusively, in Europe. This powerful confederacy of 11 nations, which exists in the first half of the Tribulation, will give this “man of war” the ability to conquer. 

The scriptural picture of the Antichrist is clearly that he is a man of war and one that cannot be defeated (note Dan. 11:36-37, 42-44; Rev. 13:4-7). Eventually, he will become the sovereign of the planet and will rule the entire world for a period of 42 months (Rev. 13:5). This will be during the second half of the Tribulation period. This situation of world domination will remain until he is brought to his end by the returning King Jesus (Rev. 19:19-21). But it all begins in Europe. And this should be a reason for periodically looking at what is happening there.

Some Final Thoughts

Down through human history, men have dreamed of becoming the ruler of the world, but without success.  Satan offered that position to Jesus, but Jesus turned him down. But the day of that dream being fulfilled is coming as the Antichrist will be the first true globalist. In the meantime, preparations are underway for that to take place. Fortunately, the Scriptures are crystal clear on the ultimate end of things. Great will be that day when the Lord Jesus Christ comes in power and great glory, destroying the “great globalist” and establishing His righteous rule over all the nations of the earth.

Dividing humanity into nations was God’s plan. Globalism was not. The Tower of Babel revealed early on that globalism only breeds evil and degeneracy among men. And in the end, an even greater evil and degeneracy will be experienced by mankind in the end times globalism of the Antichrist, the greatest globalist of all. Nations were God’s idea, and even in the kingdom of Jesus Messiah (the millennial kingdom), there will be nations (note, for example Zech. 14:16-19 and Psalm 2). And once that 1,000-year period of Jesus Messiah’s rule is over, the eternal kingdom comes to the new earth. And even in the eternal kingdom of God, there will be kings and nations (Rev. 21:24-26).

As we live in an increasingly chaotic world and as we see the “elites” of the world push globalism, we need to remember that the Scriptures foretold this. The Lord God is not caught off guard by this. We must never feel hopeless, since we have inside knowledge about the coming of Jesus and His kingdom and the end of globalism. And, since we have been placed on earth for such a time as this, let us actively, faithfully serve our Savior. Again, “it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.”

PREPARING ISRAEL FOR THE END TIMES

The present and coming events on planet earth center on the nation of Israel. They are the focus of God’s activities, even when His attention seems to be on the nations of this world. This is so because Israel is the only nation with whom the Sovereign God has made an everlasting, unconditional covenant. This covenant, which remains unfulfilled, will be fulfilled because the Lord God has sworn that He would completely fulfill it. This covenant will not be fulfilled with the Church, but with the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it is through this covenant that all of God’s advertised purposes connected with this planet will take place. No detail will be overlooked.

• God’s Unbreakable Purpose.  God has not left mankind in the dark about His goals. It is His intention to restore and to reconcile all that was lost back in Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. At that moment in time, God could have destroyed everything and started over again. However, He chose to restore and to do so through an unbreakable covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It would be through a physical descendant of Abraham, Jesus Christ, that this covenant would be fulfilled. A key part of this Abrahamic covenant was a “sub-covenant”, which is commonly referred to as the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). This New Covenant focused on dealing with sin and restoring Israel (and the gentiles) back to God. By means of His death on the Cross, and bodily resurrection from the dead, the greatest problem of sin was completely taken care of. But when Jesus came to earth, the covenant people rejected Him. This amazing act of unbelief on the part of Israel made it impossible for God, at that time, to fulfill His covenant promises. But eventually, He will fulfill them. Jesus was clear that the end time events, including the establishment of His kingdom on this present earth would not take place until Israel accepted Him as their messiah and savior. In Matthew 23:39, Jesus said, “…from now on you shall not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” A future generation in Israel will turn to Jesus Messiah. The salvation of national Israel was, and is, a key to God’s planned restoration and reconciliation. 

The nation of Israel spiritually here in the 21st century seems quite similar to Israel in the 1st century. After all these centuries, they still have not come to recognize Jesus as their messiah. However, that is going to change. The coming Tribulation, along with the Gog/Magog war (Ezek. 38-39) will tear the spiritual blindfold off of national Israel and they will come to Him in unprecedented numbers. Note carefully the testimony of the O.T. and N.T. scriptures.

“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the gentiles has come in: and thus, all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’ ‘And this is My Covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’” (Rom. 11:25-27)

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I shall raise up for David, a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness’.” (Jer. 23:5-6)

“Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…and I will be their God and they shall be My people…for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jer. 31:31-34)

“And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born.” (Zech. 12:10)

During the coming Tribulation, Israel will come to Jesus and these promises will be fulfilled. And then in the Tribulation, Israel will become what they were always supposed to be; a marvelous light to the gentile nations. And the result will be that gentile people, from all the nations, in great numbers will come to receive the forgiveness of sins promised in the New Covenant (Rev. 7:9-14). God’s promises and purposes will come to pass completely.

• Today’s Events and God’s Purpose.  God certainly does not waste any events as the world is moving along in these end times. While that terrible war with Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023, is not specifically found in Scripture, the student of the Scriptures understands that this surely is part of the preparation for the end time events that are described in the Bible. There are two things of note. First, this war has brought renewed preparations on the part of Israel’s enemies. While Hamas is likely going to be completely defeated, Syria, Iran and Russia continue to pour armaments into a close proximity to Israel, as they also accumulate a great deal of intelligence. Eventually, all these will probably be part of the Gog/Magog battle. And the second matter related to the present war is the impact that the Hamas war has had on the Jewish people. They were, and are, shocked by the brutality and evil of October 7th. It was holocaust-like. The result has been, according to a variety of sources, that many of the hearts of the Jewish people have softened and become more open to spiritual things. And, in my opinion, this is part of the preparation for the spiritual awakening of Israel, when that spiritual blindfold is finally and completely removed from their eyes.

• The Future War with Gog/Magog.  Most Bible students are quite aware of the prophesied war that Ezekiel 38 and 39 talks about. It is a massive invasion of Israel by Russia, Iran and a whole group of Islamic nations (but not Egypt). As this huge force invades Israel, God will intervene and bring about a terrible destruction of these invading armies. Space does not permit a detailed look at this coming battle, but there are four points that need to be made.

1. This war is led by a nation from the far north of Israel.

Over the centuries, Israel has regularly been invaded from the north, whether that was Babylon, Assyria, or others. But Ezekiel is clear that this invasion will be led by a nation from as far north as one can go. Russia is the only nation that fits this geographical statement (Ezek. 38:6, 15; 39:2). And so, the present filtering in of Russian troops and armaments into the area of Syria, just north of Israel, is noteworthy.

2. This war is a certainty. This is an important war in bringing about the fulfillment of God’s purposes. Ezekiel 39:8 declares: “Behold, it is coming and it shall be done, declares the Lord God. That is the day of which I have spoken.” No one, including Satan, will be able to back out of this coming war. Even if the Evil One understands the spiritual significance of it, he cannot keep it from taking place. And those nations, blinded by their deep hatred of Israel, will surely want to invade and destroy the Jewish people.

3. This war is initiated by the Lord God.  We often are awed by the apparent power and intelligence of leaders and nations. It appears that they are in charge. However, Ezekiel is quite clear that the Lord will force the hand of Putin (or whoever is leading Russia) and his colleagues to invade Israel. It almost seems that they are somewhat reluctant to attack. God has His timing and He is going “to summon” Russia in the “latter days” to invade Israel (38:8). And Ezekiel 39:2 adds: “and I shall turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.” It is quite clear who is calling the shots here. It is not man or the Devil, but the Lord God. We must never forget that it is the Lord God who is sovereign over all men and all nations (note Psalm 2). 

4. This war triggers Israel’s returning back to the Lord.  Of the greatest importance is the purpose for this battle, as it is revealed by Ezekiel. In 39:22, the prophet states: “and the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward.” When God destroys this large invading force in that war, Israel’s secularization and atheism will begin to evaporate. This will begin the process which will, in the Tribulation, bring millions of Jewish people to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their messiah and savior. God will bring a complete fulfillment of His covenant commitments.

As we continue to observe unsettling events in our world, and especially in the middle-east, we need to remind ourselves that the Lord Jehovah, God of Israel, is all-knowing and all-powerful. His will is good and perfect and He will bring all things to completion just as He has promised.

All the pieces may not be exactly in place at the moment, but all the pieces are lying on the table and can be quickly assembled.  It does appear that the direction is moving towards the biblical end times. God’s timing is always perfect; as He is never too early and never too late. “In the fullness of time” these events of the end times will unfold. The “season” does seem to be here, and this is another reminder that we should number our days and maximize the opportunities in our lives to serve the coming King Jesus.