The Last Transitional Generation

There is so much information in the Bible about the last transitional generation. According to the Bible, there are three "transitional" generations...generations that see a fundamental change in how man abides with God. The first was Moses' generation, the second was the generation of the Book of Acts, the third is the generation that will see the events described in the Book of Revelation. For thousands of years, God has been kneading the dough of the earth, preparing creation for the most intense time in human history. The prophets were all given insight into this last generation before Jesus returns to establish His earthly kingdom. This last generation isn't going to get zapped away to heaven, we will see heaven descend to earth!


God's plan to drive evil off the planet is very specific and knowable. Over 150 chapters in the Bible are primarily about this plan which mostly takes place over the course of 7 years. I want to get my mind around that! There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible, covering approximately 6,000 years of human history...over 10 percent of the chapters of the written Word of God are about the last 7 years of natural history. When I look at it that way, to believe information about the return of Jesus is figurative or symbolic seems a little silly. God really wants us to know His plans, so we can recognize what is happening around us.


According to Jesus, the great falling away primarily happens because believers don't know His plans and become "offended" at what He allows to happen. It is essential that the last transitional generation understand what is happening so their hearts are steady and so that they can be a faithful witness to the world of who is behind the events of the last 7 years before Jesus returns!


The prophet Daniel was given great insight into God's plan for the "time of the end," as the angel Gabriel referred to it. God revealed to Daniel over the course of several visions, and then explanations from heaven, of the succession of kingdoms that would dominate the promised land and persecute the people of Israel. The character of the last ruler to attempt the domination of God's people was revealed to Daniel with great clarity.


Daniel was shown that God would allow a man to have great authority in the earth in the last days. Throughout the Bible, we find out this last ruler offers himself to the world as a humanistic "messiah." He is a man with a great plan to fix things apart from the power of God. The world is hungry for someone to take away their fears, to give them what they want and need...to "fix" the world. God will eventually give everyone what they want. This man will offer the solution. He is an alternative to Jesus, who really does have a perfect plan to fix the world. This man is second person in an unholy trinity comprised of satan playing the role of the anti-father, antichrist as the humanistic messiah, and the false prophet, a popular religious leader, assuming the role of the anti-holy spirit, complete with his own "signs and wonders."


The antichrist will attempt to get the world to trust him instead of Jesus. He will eventually try to kill anyone who worships Jesus instead of himself. His character and his plan can be well-known if I will spend time studying what the Bible says about him. Just like Jesus is the perfect representation of the heart of His Father, the antichrist is the perfect representation of the heart of HIS father. Daniel was shown the heart of this man:


Daniel 8:15-17 Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”


23-25 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise (this is the antichrist), Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.


Daniel was shown the method of the antichrist's scheming to get power over the world:


1. He will be a brilliantly sinister negotiator. He will "destroy fearfully" means antichrist will use fear of "what might happen" to get the world to trust him. God uses love to build relationships, satan uses fear of the future to corral people into agreeing with him.


2. While the masses continue to suffer, antichrist will prosper and thrive. He will live completely disconnected from the suffering of those he is claiming to "help." The good shepherd loves and cares for the sheep. This wolf has no regard for the sheep, using them as necessary to elevate himself.


3. Antichrist will hate strength that isn't his. Attacking anyone powerful that isn't aligned with him. He will hate Israel, although for a time he will pretend to be their ally.


4. He will actually lie to many people and get away with it. Deceit will prosper, be celebrated as a wise attribute, under his rule.


5. Antichrist's arrogance will be full. He will "exalt himself in his own heart" means he will believe he is the smartest guy in the room, regardless of who is actually there.


6. He will "destroy many in their prosperity" means he will hate wealth that isn't his. Elsewhere in the Bible we find out antichrist's main strategy is to trade loyalty for wealth and power. He is a redistributor of wealth, who attacks the wealthy to consolidate his power. He will go after the wealth (land) of few in order to promise it to many to gain their loyalty:


Daniel 11:39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.


7. He will not go on forever. He will be utterly destroyed when Jesus returns, along with all those who followed him and accepted his system over the plan of the invisible God who is about to be quite visible.


It is important that the Church learn how to identify the character of the last world ruler. We have an important role to play. Now is the time Daniel was told about: Daniel 12:1-4 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”