The tribulation temple and false peace - Part 4

So far, I have written about the compromise of Israel that will allow the false peace to take place, as well as the two coalitions of nations the Bible describes in the months and years leading up to the 7-year peace "covenant," the antichrist coalition, and the Gog coalition, that are integral to the making of the peace and the breaking of the peace. These coalitions of nations are present in the earth right now, and the prophecies surrounding these two coalitions are being fulfilled with regularity...two leaders have fallen, and one is on the way out, Russia and Iran are aligned for the first time since the prophecies were given, and the two coalitions are actively vying for power in the Middle East.

Watching political movements described thousands of years in advance actually play out in the news is exciting, but Jesus didn't say "get excited" in advance of my plans. EVERY time Jesus mentioned His return, He said the following: "watch," "pray," and/or "be ready." Getting ready is what we are supposed to be all about right now. In fact, 2,000 years ago, the disciples were living all-in to be ready for the intensity to increase.

I John 2:16-18 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

It is easy to read these words written 2,000 years ago and think, "wow, was John early." But the truth is, John was living in perfect agreement with Jesus in this respect....that is why His words are "the Word." Jesus and John were friends. Jesus told John exactly what to expect before He returned, and John was seeing it. If you want to know what the world will look like in the years leading up to the return of Jesus, just look at John's life and the lives of the Apostles. The tribulation they were experiencing had them convinced the last hour was upon them...they knew what to watch for, what to pray for, and what to be ready for.

John knew that the appearance of the antichrist was going to create a major rift in the Church. Right after saying that the antichrist was about to appear, John described what he was seeing...this is what God had told Him to watch for. John wasn't early, God let John walk through the initial stages of what we will experience in full for OUR benefit:

I John 2:19-23 They went out from us (people from the Church), but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

John knew the Daniel prophecies. John knew that the antichrist BECOMES the antichrist when he guarantees Israel's security for 7 years. What John was saying in these passages was that when the antichrist appears...when he confirms the Daniel 9:27 covenant...that almost instantly severe division would hit the Church. Jesus had told His disciples that this would be the case...that the central issue of the earth is "do I trust that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, or do I look for another? " This is the question the Jews had to answer when Jesus came the first time, and the this is the question the whole world will have to answer...including the Church...at the time of the end!

Many people who go to Church on Sunday, take their kids to youth group, and volunteer to help here and there, imagine they have already settled the issue of whom they trust. This, unfortunately, is woefully untrue. You don't settle the issue of whom you trust in one moment. You decide the direction you are going to go, moment by moment...the more you follow Jesus in the incremental stages, the more solid your faith becomes...you settle the issue of whom you trust progressively...Jesus is not just a gate, He is also a way! You are "saved" as long as you remain within the gate, but in the last generation, many will exit the gate:

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The gate is entrance to the kingdom, the way...the path...is going deeper and deeper into the kingdom. If you walk through the gate, but don't progress on the way....dying to yourself more and more...living more and more consecrated...different than you were before you walked through the gate, then you haven't settled much in your heart about whom you trust. You haven't put down roots to withstand tribulation. THIS IS DANGEROUS!

Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

The appearance of the antichrist is going to test your heart about whom you trust in a severe way, and it will come like a "flood" or a "storm." When the antichrist appears, nearly instant "faith wars" will begin all over the earth.

This is why: when the man promises to protect Israel for 7 years, Christians are going to have to start telling the world that this man who just finally made peace in the Middle East is actually the antichrist. Most of the world will not like this message, and will believe that the man who made peace is one of the greatest men to ever live. That will be intense...mother against daughter, son against father.. BUT, even worse, this man will be ready to arrest, imprison, and even kill "radical" Christians that are opposed to His agenda. A storm is coming. Many will fear the man more than Jesus, for fear of their lives and families. You don't want to fail this test.

Jesus was clear that following Him was like establishing your shelter for a storm. You don't build a house in one step. You hammer board after board together, and attach a roof, and walls, and windows...this is getting "ready".

Matthew 7:26-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (And this is what those who take a "wait and see" approach can expect) “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

This massive testing of all men...including Christians...STARTS with the appearance of the antichrist. This test will come upon the whole earth suddenly. Like a flood:

Daniel 9:26-27 ... end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; ...

I honestly believe we are a few years, if not months, away from this test. Jesus described this test like a fire He was going to set that would engulf the whole world. Jesus said that the coming of this test required preparation...and intentional "getting ready." Watching these events in the news is not enough. According to Jesus, there is an all-in ACTIVE preparation required:

Luke 12:46-53 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

So, according to John and Jesus the appearance of the antichrist is going to divide people dramatically, and like a flood, it will come suddenly. This is because of the decision the whole earth is making right now in whom they trust: other people/ government to be responsible for them, take care of their health, and pay them...or invisible Jesus. The 7-year tribulation is the culmination of one last global attempt at a humanistic world "solution" and everyone will have to decide whether to go along with the flow, or to make a stand for the truth. The first real test of this will be the appearance of the antichrist in the form of identifying the man who promises to "play God" to Israel for 7 years. This intense decision is called by the Prophet Joel "the Valley of Decision"

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.