-------End Time Prophecies-------

When we speak of the end times, people have the impression that the world is going to end but the truth is that a new era is about to begin that will be totally different from what our present world is like today. I have never really understood why people refer to the return of Jesus The Messiah, who is going to set up a peaceful kingdom on earth, as the "end of the world". It is simply a new beginning.

However, since most of the world rejects Jesus, then it would be the end of the line for them and they probably would rather for Jesus to stay where He is. A woman who practices the religion of Buddha emailed me exclaiming that the Bible was not true, Jesus was not God but an arrogant man, and He was a Jew and she hated Jews. Sadly, much of the world has the same opinion of Jesus as this woman does. At least she knows what side of the fence she is on.

The scripture clearly states, "9 Why God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phillipians Chapter 2

Jesus is coming back as King of kings, and Lord of lords but there are things that have to take place before that event occurs. One thing that has to take place is the collapse of the world's economy to make room for a new system of buying and selling.

A study of Bible Prophecy indicates that there will be a man, empowered by Satan, whom the world will believe is the Messiah. Even the country of Israel will accept this impostor as the true Messiah. Concerning the nation of Israel, Jesus said, "I am come in my Father's name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive." John 5:43

If a world is to be united in following one person, things have to change. One thing that must change is how the world conducts business. Every country has its own currency but global trade exists today and has been in place for quite some time now. Thanks to the advent of the computer and the internet, someone from the USA can go to Germany or some other country and instantly have his money converted to the accepted form of payment in the country he or she is currently in and vice versa. They simply have to insert their debit or credit card into an ATM machine and conduct the transaction.

However, there is a problem with this system. It is called identity theft. I, myself, have been a victim of identity theft and it is a very disconcerting thing to happen to you. Identity theft costs consumers and businesses millions of dollars each year.

Concerning the coming man of sin who will deceive the world into believing he is the Messiah, scripture states, "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." Daniel 8:25

The term "craft to prosper" means this man will be very good for the economy and people will love him for it. The United States, as well as many other countries, are having great difficulty with the economy. When President Barack Obama was elected, the people who voted him in office thought the economy would turn around but his economic policies have only made a bad situation worse.

The United States is so far in debt, it really doesn't matter who is elected, the dollar is going to collapse. When that happens, it will have a chain reaction effect on other countries and the world will be looking for help. Someone that can do financial miracles.will be what the world is looking for at that time and Satan will be more than happy to oblige.

This man, who will be empowered by Satan, will stun the world with his economic policies. People will be amazed at his grasp of finances. His agenda for the economy will seem to work wonders and the people will think only a god could do what this man did. They will be awed by him and will want to worship him as many people do today with celebrities.

The culmination of the one world economy will be, "16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation Chapter 13

The people of the world will gladly take this mark that allows them to buy and sell goods. What would be the benefits of such a system? This mark would eliminate identity theft. It would also eliminate tax evasion, as cash transactions would be eliminated. This would be good for tax collecting governments as everyone would be taxed and no one could escape it.

People are happy when they can pay their bills, buy stuff, and can go out and party This happiness will only be temporary. They will celebrate the Antichrist just like they did when Barack Obama was elected president but disillusionment will soon follow just as it has with President Obama.

It will be bad enough that you could not go to the store and buy groceries without the mark, but you would also be hunted down and killed. "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20 Chapter 4

Beheading of Christians already takes place in Muslim countries and this persecution of Christians is going to get much worse. The Mark of the Beast is something that people will willingly do because their focus will on the here and now and not eternity. These people will be deceived so much that they will actually pledge allegiance to Satan when they take this mark, forever dooming them to an eternity in hell separated from God.

The multitude of people who refuse to take the Mark are actually pledging allegiance to Christ and they will pay a high price for it: their lives. What did Christ say about those have faith in Him? "51 Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." John Chapter 8.

Notice where the souls of the men and women are who were beheaded because they would not worship the beast nor his image nor take the mark. They are living and reigning with Christ. Even though their physical selves died, the spiritual side of them lived on in heaven.

The ones who took the mark will spend an eternity in hell. Why? Because the economy was more important than spending an eternity in heaven with Christ. Revelation 14 states, " 9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

During the tribulation, the line between those who reject Christ and and those who accept Christ will be crystal clear. Unlike today when many people say with their lips they belong to Christ but with their hearts they serve the evil one.

Fence straddling is coming to an end. Which side of the fence are you on?

Copyright 2010 by Gary Goodworth

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