If you are paying attention to world events, you know that the globalist and world leaders see an opportunity with the pandemic to take control. Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, commented that “the pandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world.” Others, like our president, are using the phrase, “build back better” to paint the same picture.
The pandemic, along with the advancement of AI (artificial intelligence), seems to be bringing the world quickly to a global convergence. Elon Musk warns about AI. He suggests; “…you know, whoever acquired it, and if it was limited to just one of the people there and it was ultra-smart; they would have dominion over the earth.” WOW! Amazingly, we are living in the time when the world is heading exactly in the way the Bible has described.
Learn about how to become a member of God’s kingdom!
God, through the prophet Daniel, said that the final kingdom before the return of Christ would devour the whole earth. (Dan. 7:23) A kingdom is not a democracy or a republic. A kingdom is ruled by a king. In the Bible a king and kingdom is synonymous. This last government on earth will reign over the whole earth by one individual referred to as the antichrist (Rev. 13:7; I John 2:18).
Just about every Bible commentator agrees that the fourth beast of Daniel 7 is speaking about the Roman Empire that would come on the scene about 500 years into his future. The prophecy of Daniel indicated that there would be three phases to this last kingdom before Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth.
The Three Stages of the Roman Empire
The First Stage: This kingdom would be different than the others due to its overwhelming destructive power. Daniel described it as “dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong” (Dan. 7:7). The Romans conquered much of the known world at its inception. The land of Israel fell under its control.
The Second Stage: Ten kings described as ten horns arise out of this kingdom. These ten kings would rule together in this kingdom. (Dan. 7:24) Since the Roman empire never had ten kings at one time, one can conclude this to be a future phase of the kingdom.
The Third Stage: The little horn is an eleventh ruler that comes up among the ten and overthrows three of the ten kings. This eleventh king will speak blasphemes against God and ultimately demand to be worshipped as God. (I Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:6) He will be the greatest expression of man-centered mania in his rebellion towards God.
The fourth beast of Daniel seven and the first beast of Revelation thirteen are speaking about the same person. Both identify the final stage as the worst stage of all when it comes to deceit, death, and destruction. In fact, Jesus said that if those days were not cut short, no one would survive it. (Matthew 24:22)
The Beast of Daniel compared to the First Beast of Revelation
| Daniel 7 | Revelation 13 |
|---|---|
| Ten horns (v. 7) | Ten horns (v. 1) |
| Came up from the sea (v. 3) | Rise up out of the sea (v. 1) |
| Mouth speaks pompous words (v. 8) | Mouth speaking great things and blasphemies (v. 5) |
| He shall persecute the saints of the Most High. (v. 25) | He makes war with the saints. (v. 7) |
| Saints given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (3 ½ yrs.). (v. 25) | He is given authority to continue for 42 months (3 ½ yrs.). (v. 5) |
This is where our world is heading. Almost 40 years ago Dr. Renald Showers in his excellent book, The Most High God, aptly stated: “Ironically, man’s greatest effort to rid himself of the rule of God will not produce the freedom he desires. Instead, it will enslave him in the most fiendish, oppressive, form of bondage. Rather than moving toward Utopia, man is hurtling toward the most horrible time of tribulation in world history”.
This is scary stuff. But Jesus says “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). He’s coming back to to crush this kingdom and to set up His kingdom to rule and reign in righteousness; “a kingdom which shall never be destroyed” (Dan. 2:44).
However, we’re not commanded to be looking for the antichrist. The Bible instructs us to be “looking for the Blessed Hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”; a reference to the rapture that will remove the church before the rule of antichrist. (Titus 2:12). There’s a great reset coming, but not the way that the globalists think.
Are you a member of His kingdom?
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Learn more about God’s coming kingdom on earth at calvarybaptistirwin.org sermon site: The Millennial Kingdom – the Golden Age on Earth.
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Assurance of Heaven 