John’s Update: September 11, 2009
Iran
I found more articles on Iran published this week than in any week since I have started sending out these updates. Since there is no authority except what is given by God (cf. Daniel 2:21; John 19:10-11), and since God rules over all things, all events and all nations (1 Chronicles 29:11; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Psalm 47:7; Ecclesiastes 9:1)—including that which appears to be evil (cf. Acts 4:24-28)—then we can say unequivocally that God is using Iran for His perfect kingdom plan.
As mentioned in the past, I believe God is using Iran to bring Arab nations into alliance with Israel to fulfill the ten-nation treaty with Israel. After all, it seems from Daniel that five of those nations will be from the Western half of the old Roman Empire—meaning, European nations—while five will be from the Eastern part—which likely means they will be Arab nations. Due to the Arab hatred of the Jews, the only thing that could seemingly pull them toward Israel would be fear. In this case, I believe fear of Iran (see Arab Nations Fear Iran Nukes published this week) has already begun to motivate the Arab nations (such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan) to align with Israel (although somewhat secretly because they cannot afford to publicly align with Israel yet—but they will!). (I shared with you past articles which reported meetings between Israel and those three countries.) Arab nations are very fearful of Iran obtaining nuclear capability because they know what that will mean for the nation—as well as for the rest of the world! They also realize that the United States will not stop Iran from its goal of nuclear capability. So they turn to Israel. Why? It is because Israel has the ability to stop Iran (by military attack), and Israel has the motivation to do so (since Iran has threatened Israel’s extinction).
An article published Saturday (see Iran Closing in on Nukes) reported that military and intelligence sources have revealed that by February of 2010 (and some say sooner), Iran will have stocked enough high-grade enriched uranium for two nuclear bombs. (See the Wall Street Journal article [see Iran Closing in on Nuke] stating that Iran is on course to achieve a nuclear bomb by next year. In addition, an article published by the New York Times this week [see Iran at Break Out Stage] in which Iran is at the “breakout” capacity in which it could quickly convert to a nuclear bomb.) The same article stated that the Obama administration plan to engage Iran in talks has only emboldened Ahmadenijad to thumb his nose at the West and race ahead toward his goal of nuclear weapons, including completing efforts to design a missile cone to fit a nuclear warhead. (Also see the Reuters article [see Iran Says No to Nuclear Talk] which reported that Ahmadenijad has said no to the U.S. attempt to talk to Iran about nuclear capability.) Of course, what has not helped is the fact that both Russia and China have refused to participate in putting greater sanctions on Iran (see Russia Says No and Russia and China Say No), and if you read these two cited articles carefully, you will also see the threat of Russia and China vetoing any attempt by the U.S. to bring sanctions against Iran at the U.N. (See also The Guardian article, Persuasion Hasn't Worked, which also reports Russia and China will not cooperate with Iran and, thus, the U.S. plan of engagement with Iran is doomed.)
One-World Currency
Another article was published this week indicating that the United Nations is planning a new monetary system (see U.N. & New Monetary System). In addition, a White House report stated this week that the U.S. will borrow forty percent of the money it will spend within the next year (see U.S. Debt)! It is news like this that has devalued the dollar worldwide and has motivated the U.N. to seek a new world currency. (Also note China’s concern regarding the amount of money the U.S. is beginning to print, which will make the significant amount of U.S. debt China owns worth less [see China Concerned].) As I have stated in the past, Revelation 13 indicates that a one-world economic system will be in place by the mid-point of the seven-year tribulation period (the last seven years before Jesus returns to the earth), which will most likely have a one-world currency in place prior to that time in order to administrate the one-world system. Are we beginning to see movement toward that?
Clarification
Last week I announced a new title for my book (Apocalypse 2012: The Ticking of the End Time Clock). However, I want to clarify (due to several people asking) that I am not trying to predict the date of the rapture of the Church and the beginning of the tribulation period—not at all! I do believe we are close to the occurrences of those two events—and I believe that they could occur in 2012 (or earlier)—but I am not using that date to make any prediction. It was suggested to me that I should put 2012 in my book because of the growing interest in predictions (coming, supposedly, from the Maya calendar and Nostradomus, among others). However, I am only planning for the first chapter to be on the 2012 predictions; then the rest of the book will show what the Bible says will occur in the near future.
Update on My Book
The editing process on my book should begin within the next couple of weeks. In addition, a team will be working on a cover design for it. (Amy Paige has designed some great art work for the book which I will show off in the foyer of Cypress Valley Bible Church this Sunday.) John Goodding has volunteered to begin work on my website, so pray for him on that. (I really appreciate John’s help!)
I want to thank each of you who have supported my work in some way—by prayer, by pre-purchasing one or more copies of the book, by telling others about my book, and by passing these email updates onto friends. I appreciate you very much!
This Sunday
This Sunday I will have an opportunity to preach at Cypress Valley Bible Church in Marshall, TX on The Antichrist, which is from a chapter in my book. If you are not in the locale to make the service, you will be able to access the message (probably by Sunday evening) online at www.cypressvalley.org.
I am going to conclude this email with an excerpt from my book on The Antichrist. (If you received the August 28 email update, you know that the Antichrist will be the false prophet mentioned in Revelation; he will not be the world ruler that many Christians commonly believe.)
The Miraculous Deception of the Antichrist
The false prophet’s ability to deceive is portrayed in verses 14-15 of Revelation 13: And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath [a spirit] 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.
There definitely seems to be something very upside-down about what is presented in verses 14-15. People will create an image and will then worship their creation. It, of course, makes sense for creation to worship its creator, but not for a creator to worship his creation.
Earlier we saw that the false prophet will be able to perform a miracle by making fire come down from heaven. But that is not the only miracle he will perform. As we see in verses 14-15, he will give “life” to the image after it is built. The result of granting it “life” is that the image will speak and cause any who will not worship the image to be killed.
It is interesting that the passage does not give us an explanation of this “miracle”. Apparently, God wants us to get the feel of how the world could be deceived by this “miracle”. If the explanation were readily available in the passage, we would not grapple with it as much, and we would not see as well how the world could be fooled.
There is a simple explanation of this “miracle”. It is most likely a case of demon possession of an inanimate object, which, interestingly, is the only case of demon possession in all of prophecy. Though this will probably be accomplished by demon possession, the world will believe this is truly a miracle—the miracle of the talking image.
What is even more significant than the image being able to speak is that it is able to bring about the deaths of any who do not worship it. Again, we are not given an explanation of how this will occur, but, apparently, the demon possessing the image will be given the power to kill.
The fact that miraculous signs will be associated with the false prophet aligns with the description we see in Revelation 19:20 when the beast and the false prophet are captured by Jesus at His return: 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 [underlining added].
In connection with this, notice the description in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10: The coming of the lawless one [the beast] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved [underlining added].
Therefore, though the power, signs, and lying wonders stem from Satan, they will be made evident to the world by the false prophet. This means that the authority Satan will give the beast is the power to make war (Revelation 13:4) and to rule the world, but the authority Satan will give the false prophet is the power to work great signs and wonders.
Keep looking up!
John