To Draw Us to God

I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jer. 31: 3. 

The Lord of life and glory clothed His divinity with humanity to demonstrate to man that God through the gift of Christ would connect us with Him. Without a connection with God no one can possibly be happy. Fallen man is to learn that our Heavenly Father cannot be satisfied until His love embraces the repentant sinner, transformed through the merits of the spotless Lamb of God. 

The work of all the heavenly intelligences is to this end. Under the command of their General they are to work for the reclaiming of those who by transgression have separated themselves from their Heavenly Father. A plan has been devised whereby the wondrous grace and love of Christ shall stand revealed to the world. In the infinite price paid by the Son of God to ransom man, the love of God is revealed. This glorious plan of redemption is ample in its provisions to save the whole world. Sinful and fallen man may be made complete in Jesus through the forgiveness of sin and the imputed righteousness of Christ. 

In all the gracious deeds that Jesus did, He sought to impress upon men the parental, benevolent attributes of God. . . . Jesus would have us understand the love of the Father, and He seeks to draw us to Him by presenting His parental grace. He would have the whole field of our vision filled with the perfection of God's character. . . . It was only by living among men that He could reveal the mercy, compassion, and love of His heavenly Father; for it was only by actions of benevolence that He could set forth the grace of God. 

Christ came to manifest the love of God to the world, to draw the hearts of all men to Himself. . . . The first step toward salvation is to respond to the drawing of the love of Christ. . . . It is that men may understand the joy of forgiveness, the peace of God, that Christ draws them through the manifestation of His love. If they respond to His drawing, yielding their hearts to His grace, He will lead them on step by step, to a full knowledge of Himself, and this is life eternal.

A Throne in Every Heart

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Eph. 3: 17. 

God has bought us, and He claims a throne in each heart. Our minds and bodies must be subordinated to Him, and the natural habits and appetites must be made subservient to the higher wants of the soul. But we can place no dependence upon ourselves in this work. We cannot with safety follow our own guidance. The Holy Spirit must renew and sanctify us. In God's service there must be no halfway work.

When the heart is cleansed from sin, Christ is placed on the throne that self- indulgence and love of earthly treasure once occupied. The image of Christ is seen in the expression of the countenance. The work of sanctification is carried forward in the soul. Self- righteousness is banished. There is seen the putting on of the new man, which after Christ is created in righteousness and true holiness.

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3: 18). Beholding Christ means studying His life as given in His Word. We are to dig for truth as for hidden treasure. We are to fix our eyes upon Christ. When we take Him as our personal Saviour, this gives us boldness to approach the throne of grace. By beholding we become changed, morally assimilated to the One who is perfect in character. By receiving His imputed righteousness, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we become like Him. The image of Christ is cherished, and it captivates the whole being.

The upward progress of the soul indicates that Jesus bears rule in the heart. That heart through which He diffuses His peace and joy, and the blessed fruits of His love, becomes His temple and His throne. "Ye are my friends," says Christ, "if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15: 14).

Give to God the most precious offering that it is possible for you to make; give Him your heart.

A Biblical Prophecy of an Arab Confederation

Psalm 83 contains an intriguing prophecy of many Middle Eastern nations that appears to be as yet unfulfilled and to possibly tie in with end-time events. If so, it foretells a confederation of Arab nations that are determined to eliminate Israel. "They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones.

They have said, 'Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.' For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot" (Psalm 83:3-8).

These biblical names are significant when we understand the areas and peoples to which this prophecy refers. Edom includes the Palestinians and some of the Turks. The Ishmaelites, descendants of Ishmael, are many of the Arab peoples throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Moab is the area of central Jordan. The Hagrites appear to be other descendants of Hagar, mother of Ishmael. 


Gebal, meaning "mountain" or "boundary," is commonly equated with the Phoenician city of Byblos, modern Jubayl in Lebanon. Ammon refers to northern Jordan around Amman, the capital (which gets its name from Ammon). Amalek appears to refer to a branch of Edomite Palestinians. Philistia is the area around what is today known as the Gaza Strip. Anciently Tyre was a major city-state in southern Lebanon along the Mediterranean coast. Assyria ethnically appears to refer to inhabitants of Central Europe who migrated there many centuries ago, while geographically Assyria is in what is today northern Iraq. The children of Lot refers to Moab and Ammon—again, regions of modern-day Jordan.

Arab unity has long been elusive, but slowly a common purpose is bringing the different peoples of the Arab world together. This common purpose is the desire to destroy the nation of Israel and its chief backer, the United States of America, along with the West's liberal culture, long perceived as a threat to the Muslim way of life.

A Hallowed Name

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Matt. 6: 9. 

To hallow the name of the Lord requires that the words in which we speak of the Supreme Being be uttered with reverence. "Holy and reverend is his name" (Ps. 111: 9). We are never in any manner to treat lightly the titles or appellations of the Deity. In prayer we enter the audience chamber of the Most High; and we should come before Him with holy awe. The angels veil their faces in His presence. The cherubim and the bright and holy seraphim approach His throne with solemn reverence. How much more should we, finite, sinful beings, come in a reverent manner before the Lord, our Maker! 

But to hallow the name of the Lord means much more than this. We may, like the Jews in Christ's day, manifest the greatest outward reverence for God, and yet profane His name continually. "The name of the Lord" is "merciful and gracious, long- suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, . . . forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Ex. 34: 5- 7). Of the church of Christ it is written, "This is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness" (Jer. 33: 16). This name is put upon every follower of Christ. It is the heritage of the child of God. The family are called after the Father. The prophet Jeremiah, in the time of Israel's sore distress and tribulation, prayed, "We are called by thy name; leave us not" (Jer. 14: 9).

This name is hallowed by the angels of heaven, by the inhabitants of unfallen worlds. When you pray, "Hallowed be thy name," you ask that it may be hallowed in this world, hallowed in you. God has acknowledged you before men and angels as His child; pray that you may do no dishonor to the "worthy name by which ye are called" (James 2: 7). God sends you into the world as His representatives. In every act of life you are to make manifest the name of God. This petition calls upon you to possess His character. You cannot hallow His name, you cannot represent Him to the world, unless in life and character you represent the very life and character of God. This you can do only through the acceptance of the grace and righteousness of Christ.

Choose Your Friends

Scripture: "He told them, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. " (John 15:12-15)

 

When I was in grade 4 of secondary school, I sprained my ankle. Being on crutches for 6 weeks made it hard to keep up with the other kids. But one friend stayed with me and made sure I didn't get left out. We came from different social and racial backgrounds, but that didn’t matter to either of us. She literally let me lean on her, and I was grateful for her kindness and strength.

Jesus Is Our Friend

Have you ever depended upon a friend like that? If not, you can certainly trust Jesus. He is not just our Lord; He is our Friend, too. He told His followers, "Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one’s friends" (John 15:12-15). My school friend displayed Christ-like love when she sacrificed her time for me.

Chosen Friend

My friend and I were different in many ways, but she still chose to help me. Likewise, God knew that we needed help, and He told His people: "But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob My chosen one, descended from Abraham My friend, I have called you... For I have chosen you" (Isaiah 41:8-9). God and humans are not even close to equal; but because of His friendship with Abraham's descendants, God fulfilled His plan to save humanity from sin.

Act on Your Friendship

We display our friendship with God and our faith in Him by obeying Him, doing what He asks of us: "[Abraham's] faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. ...So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone" (James 2:22, 24) Also, being a Christ-like friend to others is a great way to show Jesus' love. Praying for your friends, as Jesus did, is a great way to care: "I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail" (Luke 22:32).

PRAYER, CARE & SHARE

The Power of a Friendship!

It's so exciting to know that the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ, calls us His friends (if we follow His commands, John 15, v. 14)! And he wants us to love each other as He loved us. 

Last week we started to identify lost people around us, who don't yet have a living relationship with Jesus. This week's step is to initiate a friendship with one of these people.

Do you care enough for a lost person you see regularly, to start being friends with them? You don't have to rush. Pray about this person you identify. If you are shy, ask the Lord or a friend for help in reaching out. Do something that fits your culture - it may just be inviting them for a cup of coffee. 

You do not have to talk to them about Jesus right away. Just become friends and build the relationship. Ask them to tell their life stories, then really listen. Share your story when asked, without preaching. If they invite you to do something you don't feel is right, simply decline politely and without condemning. They will soon understand and accept you as you are - because you accept them as they are. 

Your PRAY NOW challenge: "Lord please help me to identify ONE person around me who does not yet know You as Lord and Savior, and to start a friendship with that person. Help me to pray Your blessing and peace on them and be a good friend to them. In Jesus name I pray, amen." 

Whether this is easy or challenging for you, follow Jesus' example and be a friend to someone who needs Him!

Feedback about Prayer, Care and Share:

Many of you are reporting how your lives have changed as you started looking at people with new eyes. People are amazed at the peace they experience as they pray God's blessing, peace and love on people around them. Many of you were amazed at what it does to your hearts as you identify unsaved people around you. If you just started reading about it today - you can just start doing it!

Puzzling U.S. Support for Islamists Over Moderates

It should be pointed out that there are truly moderate Muslims and non-Muslims scattered throughout the Middle East who desire Western freedoms. They are in the minority, however—just over 20 percent, estimates Andrew McCarthy in his new book Spring Fever: The Illusion of Islamic Democracy (2013, p. 55). But they are not the ones receiving Western support—even in places where they have higher numbers.

Consider Tunisia, for example, long regarded as the most Westernized of Arab nations. The Muslim Brotherhood's Ennahda Movement or "Renaissance Party," which Western media wrongly paint as moderate, took over the leadership of the country after the 2011 revolution but captured only 42 percent of the popular vote. Though restrained by having to govern through coalition with non-Islamists, the party still pushes the Islamist agenda, and sharia is gaining ground. Two men have even been sent to prison for posting cartoon images of the prophet Muhammad on Facebook.

In interviewing actual moderates who advocate secular government, Michael Totten hears the repeated complaint that they have no support from the United States: "The Americans are with the Islamists. They support Ennahda in Tunisia and the Wahhabists in Saudi Arabia. I've heard this complaint from every single secular person I've interviewed in this country without exception, from academics and democratic activists to journalists and teachers.

"They seem to be unanimously shocked and dismayed and appalled. The subject comes up again and again in conversation even when I ask about other things. It's impossible to spend any time here whatsoever without hearing about it" ("US Criticized by Tunisian Secularists for Backing Islamists," World Affairs, March 21, 2012, emphasis in original).

This reflects a disturbing realignment in U.S. foreign policy. When Lebanese-born Middle East expert Walid Phares was asked in a recent interview to expand on his statement that "everyone in Washington knows Obama supports the Muslim Brotherhood," he offered this stunning response:

"It is time to understand the policies of the Obama administration, the ones that are public and those that are obvious. If you compare the various Obama administration policies regarding the Middle East uprisings, you'd clearly see that the positioning of Washington regarding these demonstrations and protests is proportional to the outcome of these revolts.

"When the rising masses are targeting Islamist regimes, the Obama position abandons the uprising. When the revolt will end up with an Islamist takeover, the US position swiftly sides with the revolt. These are not theories, these are measurable realities.

"In June 2009, when millions of Iranians, mostly young (and female) were demonstrating against the Ayatollahs, President Obama stated the US 'wouldn't meddle.' But when the demonstrations in Egypt exploded, the Obama position evolved in two stages. As long as it was the youth and seculars on the streets, Washington stayed in the middle. But when the Muslim Brotherhood entered Tahrir Square en force, President Obama meddled 'strongly by asking Mubarak to step down.'

"[The] same scenarios occurred in Tunisia and in Libya and seem to be repeating itself in Syria. Observers and commentators in the region, particularly in Egypt, aren't shy about this description. They clearly state and provide evidence for an alignment of the Obama administration with the Muslim Brotherhood. US lawmakers for the past few years have been warning that the administration is favoring the Brotherhood fronts in Washington and seeking their influence in national security and foreign policy. 

"Well, since the Arab Spring and particularly this year 2012 in Egypt, this alignment has never been clearer. Ironically, the Obama administration denies siding with the Brotherhood because the American public wouldn't digest such an un-American positioning. It would be the equivalent of an American partnership in the 1930s with the national socialists [German Nazis] or the Italian fascists. 

"Today, in the Arab media there are hundreds of articles, statements and panels openly exposing and criticizing the Obama administration support to the Islamists in general and the Brotherhood in particular" (interview with Jennifer Hanin, "How Does Egypt Regain Its Once-Coveted Status? . . . Part I," Breitbart.com, Dec. 17, 2012).

McCarthy likewise mentions "the stinging rebukes of Obama's performance by authentic Egyptian democrats, demoralized over America's infatuation with the Islamists. This, too, mirrored the Islamist ascendancy in Turkey: the more unabashed Erdogan became in promoting sharia and the Brotherhood's jihad against Israel, the closer Washington drew to him" (p. xiv).

To illustrate how bizarre matters have gotten, in June 2012 the U.S. administration hosted a delegation of Egypt's new leaders in Washington that included new parliament member Hani Nour Eldin, a member of the Islamic Group—the terrorist organization headed by the imprisoned Blind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, spiritual leader behind the first World Trade Center terror attacks in 1993.

"The White House and State Department stonewalled media inquiries about how a man well known to be a member of a formally designated terrorist organization could conceivably have been issued, first, a visa to enter the United States, and then, an invitation to consult with our government's security and foreign policy officials in Washington" (p. 174). The matter was brushed off as no big deal since Nour was, after all, democratically elected.

Then there are the recent claims of the Egyptian magazine Rose El-Youssef, translated into English on the website of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, that six American Muslim leaders working with the Obama administration are Muslim Brotherhood operatives who are helping to shape U.S. policies. Of course, while that may be, there's no proof that anyone needed to steer the administration to where it is today.

Topping all this off is the fact that, despite the course Egypt is now set on, the U.S. government is continuing to send it, the most powerful Arab nation, billions of dollars in military aid and hardware (including 20 advanced F-16 fighter jets and 200 Abrams tanks)—equipment that could end up being used against Israel or even American forces. We need to open our eyes to the future that's being set up today.

A Closer Look at the Muslim Brotherhood

It's important to pay attention to the organization that has made the most significant gains through the Arab uprisings—al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun, the Muslim Brotherhood, the godfather of all Islamic supremacist groups. With representative political parties and social organizations throughout Muslim nations, and numerous outreach arms in Western countries, it is perceived by many in the West as a moderate, peaceable association. 

"However," notes Steven Simpson in the Canada Free Press, "if one looks for reality and clarity (unlike the current American administration which foolishly engages the Brotherhood and views it as 'moderate'), it will be seen that the Brotherhood is a violent fascist movement that seeks global Islamic domination. Indeed, it is the phalanx and aegis for all Islamist groups that have emerged throughout the Muslim world. Bluntly put, it is nothing short of an Islamic hydra, and an implacable enemy of the West, Israel, and all non-Muslims" ("Why the Arab Spring Will Descend Into an Islamic Ice Age," April 16, 2012).

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in 1928 by a schoolteacher and imam named Hassan al-Banna, who desired the revival of the Islamic caliphate. The caliphate—the international community of Muslim believers led by a caliph, a successor to Muhammad—had fallen with the end of the Ottoman Empire at the conclusion of World War I and the modernizing influence of Kemal Ataturk, who with great difficulty transformed Turkey into a secular state.

Al-Banna was killed in 1949, and the Brotherhood was banned in Egypt just before, but it would continue to operate—soon guided by al-Banna's principal disciple Sayyid Qutb, who had been a bureaucrat in Egypt's education department.

In the words of former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey: "Qutb caused enough trouble in Egypt to get himself awarded a traveling fellowship in 1948 . . . Regrettably for us, Qutb chose to travel to Greeley, Colorado. And although it would be hard to imagine a more inoffensive place than post–World War II Greeley, Colorado, for a man like Qutb it was Sodom and Gomorrah. He hated everything he saw: American haircuts, enthusiasm for sports, jazz, and what he called the 'animal-like mixing of the sexes,' even in church.

"His conclusion was that Americans were 'numb to faith in art, faith in religion, and faith in spiritual values altogether,' and that Muslims must regard 'the white man, whether European or American . . . [as] our first enemy' . . . [He later] continued to write and agitate for Islam and against Western civilization, particularly against Jews, whom he blamed for atheistic materialism and considered the worst enemies of Muslims" ("Executive Power in Wartime," Imprimis, October 2011).

Qutb later became the leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood and was eventually hanged in Egypt in 1966. But his brother Muhammad Qutb fled with other Brotherhood members to Saudi Arabia and eventually taught Sayyid's ideology to then-obscure figures Osama bin Laden and his eventual right-hand man Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda since Bin Laden's death. These al-Qaeda figures and their followers are sometimes referred to as Qutbists.

Another follower of Sayyid Qutb's writings was Omar Abdel-Rahman, often called "the Blind Sheik," spiritual advisor to the 1993 World Trade Center bombers who is currently serving a U.S. sentence of life imprisonment. Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri called for his release before the al-Qaeda attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen in 2000. And they relied on Abdel-Rahman's fatwa calling for the mass-murder of Americans in perpetrating the horror of 9/11 the next year.

The Blind Sheikh remains a hero among Islamists, so it should perhaps come as no surprise that the major calls for his release of late have come not from al-Qaeda but from the current Muslim Brotherhood leadership of Egypt—the so-called moderates.

Osama bin Laden's Dream Lives On

Osama bin Laden, whose al-Qaeda terror group was behind the devastating Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, has been dead for almost two years. But his dream lives on, and we see this being played out in headlines across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

What dream is that? It's the dream of forming an Islamic caliphate —a worldwide body of Muslim believers, transcending all national borders, united under Islamic sharia law and the rule of a caliph —a successor to the founder of Islam, Muhammad, who died in A.D. 632.

But the caliphate isn't an end in itself. Islam's holy book, the Koran, tells Muslims that Allah sent Muhammad "with guidance and the True Faith [Islam], so that he may exalt it above all religions" (Surah 61:9, Dawood translation). Thus the purpose of the caliphate is to be a stepping-stone to Islamic world domination.

Bin Laden himself praised the 9/11 attacks, in which almost 3,000 Americans were killed, as "a great step towards the unity of Muslims and establishing the righteous caliphate, Allah willing."

Bin Laden's late deputy and head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (best known for the videos posted online of him beheading Western prisoners), outlined the group's master plan in seven phases, the last four of which he described as the overthrow of moderate Arab regimes such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the declaration of an Islamic caliphate, the "fight between the believers [Muslims] and non-believers [non-Muslims]," and the final stage of "definitive victory" for Islam.

Although it's seldom reported in Western media, establishing an Islamic caliphate is a powerful motivation among key players behind the so-called "Arab Spring" and much of the current unrest in today's very divided Islamic world.

For example, leaders of some of the rebel groups battling to overthrow Syrian president Bashar al-Assad openly state their desire for a caliphate. The Muslim Brotherhood, which recently gained control of Egypt after the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak, was founded in 1928 with an Islamic caliphate as one of its primary goals (the Muslim Brotherhood also spawned the terror groups al-Qaeda and Hamas, which rules Gaza).

In May 2012, Egyptian cleric Safwat Hegazy warmed up thousands at a rally for Mohamad Morsi, later elected as Egypt's president, by saying: "We can see how the dream of the Islamic caliphate is being realized, [Allah] willing, by Dr. Mohamed Mursi . . . The capital of the caliphate—the capital of the United States of the Arabs—will be Jerusalem, [Allah] willing." Taking the stage, Morsi agreed: "Jerusalem is our goal. We shall pray in Jerusalem, or die as martyrs on its threshold."

The dream of an Islamic caliphate means nothing to most of those of us in the West, but it means everything to those raising havoc in an arc of instability stretching 4,500 miles from Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean to Pakistan on the Indian subcontinent.

Islamist gains in elections following the Arab Spring uprisings have actually been referred to by a number of analysts as "electoral Bin Ladenism." Indeed, Osama bin Laden's dream is alive and well, and reshaping the world before our eyes.

Pope Francis - Devotion and Obedience

I joined millions of others in watching the biggest news story of the year so far unfold: the announcement of Francis I as the new pope. There was plenty of spectacle: impressive displays by the Swiss Guard, marching bands, excited throngs singing in the pope’s honor, and seemingly baffled news anchors barely keeping up with the action.

In all of the ritual and ceremonial dogma, one specific custom caught my eye. After the presentation of Pope Francis I as the new Bishop of Rome, each of the electing cardinals stepped up to the pope and, in turn, vowed to obey him. A vow of obedience is an enormous responsibility to commit yourself to. It means that you, in essence, are living for that person from that time on and acknowledging that their will is the most important thing in your life.

I had one question in mind after watching it all. Where is God in all of this? The focus on the celebration was clearly on a man—the pope—and the ones who selected him. The cardinals referred to Francis I as their “Holy Father.” Jesus specifically said that titles like that are reserved exclusively for God the Father (Matthew 23:9
).

So is unquestioning obedience. Why was it a big deal for the cardinals to vow obedience to Pope Francis? Because, as leader of the Catholic Church, the pope takes responsibility for and acts as an official representative of the beliefs of his church. And frankly, some of those beliefs just aren’t biblical, like Sunday worship and Mary reverence.

The apostles faced religious leaders who demanded obedience to themselves instead of God. They had the right perspective. The apostles responded to them, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29, New Living Translation). The cardinals made their choice, and they decided they would obey a man. You have the same exact choice to make right now. Will you obey a man? Or will you obey the God who created the universe, the true Holy Father of all?

A New Pope!

Pope Francis I (Francis the First) steps onto the world stage as the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina will face a load of work in taking on the role of pope. First reports say he is a man of people, one who rides a bus with the public (although those days are over!) and is man with his own mind. The church will soon discover just what this man will become.

It takes some time for a papacy to be shaped. But the events of recent years will likely begin to determine what this leader will do. Clergy sexual abuse scandals will be high on the list. Reforming the administrative arm of the church will be another. But most likely other events, unknown to people right now will likely shape this man's term in office. 

World events are moving at a rate that will engage the world's religions to bring effective answers. How this new pope will engage with other world leaders will be fascinating to watch. 

Once again the world is transfixed on the great stage of Vatican City and Rome. You have to admit it is a well choreographed scene when a new pope is announced on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica. We have watched two of these events in the past eight years and it is always fascinating. Such a setting, the revelation of new popes, fascinates even secular minded people.

In this there is a lesson. Religion is still a potent force in today's world. Despite evidence that even a majority of Catholics pay little heed to church teachings about personal behavior, i.e. sexual mores, there still exists the small seed of fascination that can be sparked into something larger. 

Bible prophecy shows a religious leader emerging on the world stage who will ignite a passion within people that will reach unprecedented proportions. That is why the fascination over the selection of a new pope is as important to watch as who the man is or what he may do.

Identifying the Beast

The Bible says, “All the world wondered after the beast” (Revelation 13:3). It’s no secret that the majority of modern prophecy teachers apply this prediction to the rise of one Mr. Bad Guy (the Antichrist) who will supposedly show up after the rapture. That’s the dominant view. Is it correct?

“FBI Apologizes to American Lawyer Wrongly Arrested” was the title of an Associated Press story that appeared in the San Luis Obispo Tribune on May 26, 2004. A terrorist bombing had occurred in Spain killing 191 people and FBI fingerprint evidence pointed to Portland attorney Brandon Mayfield - a Muslim - as the guilty one. Mayfield was thrown in jail. But the FBI soon discovered they had wrong man. The Tribune declared, “Court documents released Monday suggested that the mistaken arrest first sprang from an error by the FBI’s supercomputer for matching fingerprints.” The embarrassed agency then acknowledged the need to “review its practices on fingerprint analysis.”

When it comes to the beast, is it possible that the “fingerprint analysis” of many modern prophecy teachers is in error? Most expect the arrival of a future Antichrist, but are they looking for the wrong man? Could the beast be here now?

Let’s review the evidence presented in Identifying the Beast (Part 1). The beast of Revelation 13:1-10 is the same as the “little horn” of Daniel 7. Both have “a mouth speaking great things” (see Daniel 7:8; Revelation 13:5) and “make war with the saints (see Daniel 7:21; Revelation 13:7). Almost everyone agrees here. In Daniel 7, the plain prophetic sequence is:

• The rise of a lion (verse 4)
• The rise of a bear (verse 5)
• The rise of a leopard (verse 6)
• The rise of a fourth beast (verse 7)
• The fourth beast has ten horns (verse 7)
• Another little horn rises among the ten horns (verse 8)
• The little horn had eyes like a man (verse 8)
• The little horn had a mouth speaking great things (verse 8)
• The little horn made war on the saints (verse 21).

An angel said, “The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth” (Daniel 7:23). 98% of Christian scholars throughout history have identified these four beasts as four kingdoms - Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. It’s simple history, a no brainer. The controversy swirls around the ten horns and the little horn. Futurists place the ten horns in the future (predicting a “revived Roman empire”) and think the “little horn” refers to one Mr. Diabolical who shows up after we’re gone.

Preterists think the little horn is Nero who waged war against Christians in the first century. In Identifying the Beast! (Part 1), we saw fatal flaws in both of these views. Futurists insert a 1500-year gap after the fall of Rome (thus breaking the successive sequence of Daniel 7), while preterists fail to realize that the little horn bursts into strength after Rome’s division into ten parts, not before.

The ONLY SOLUTION that fits Daniel 7’s sequence sees Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, then Rome’s division into ten parts, and then the little horn that is the same as the beast. Let me stress that this prophecy is not pointing its irrefutable finger against sincere people who don’t fully understand the Scriptures. No. Its focus is a “kingdom” or beast-system (centered in one “man”) that is leading millions away from childlike faith in the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Who is the little horn? Are you ready? Martin Luther wrote that Daniel “saw the terrible wild beast which had ten horns, which by the consent of all is the Roman Empire, he also beheld another small horn come up in the middle of this. This is the papal power, which rose up in the middle of the Roman Empire” (1).

Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, John Knox, William Tyndale, John Calvin, John Wesley, Roger Williams, Fox’s Book of Martyrs, the translators of the King James Bible, John Bunyan, the Westminster Confession, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Spurgeon, David Benedict’s History of the Baptist Denomination, Bishop J.C. Rylie, Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, and countless other historic Protestants all believed the little horn of Daniel 7 was the global power of the Roman Catholic Church which came out of the Roman Empire, rose up among the ten parts of Europe, is centered in one man (the Pope), has made war with the saints in history, is a “kingdom” today (over 100 embassies stand on Vatican hill), and even now exerts global influence.

According to 400 years of Protestant scholarship (which shouldn’t be taken lightly), the beast is here now and has been operating for over a thousand years. Again, this prophecy is not against sincere people who don’t fully understand the Bible - but against a system that leads away from direct faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and has introduced many subtle traditions into the Christian Church.

The Bible, Peter, Mary, Confession and Mass

The author of this article is familiar with the many differences between Protestants and Catholics. These differences are important, for they affect our life, faith and salvation. In this short article, I will examine the following key issues: The Supremacy of Scripture; The Place of Peter; The Place of Mary; Confession to Priests; and the Sacrifice of the Mass.

1. The Supremacy of Scripture: Paul wrote, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! ... For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned to fables." 2 Tim. 3:15,16; 4:1,3,4. Here we are told that the Scripture defines doctrine, not the Church. The Scripture is to "correct" us when we stray. Through the Scriptures we can be "perfect." In the light of Christ's return, we are to "Preach the word!" not the doctrines of men. Paul said many will turn from the truth to fables. How can we tell what is "truth" and what is a "fable"? By the Word. Jesus wants to "cleanse [the church] with the washing of water by the word." Eph. 5:26.   
2. The Place of Peter: Rome declares that God's Church is "built on Peter," and that "Peter will remain the unshakable rock of the Church." Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 141. (1994). Is this the truth or a fable? How can we find out? By the Word. The primary passage used to support Rome's idea is Mat. 16:18. The context reveals that Peter acknowledged who Jesus Himself was - the Christ (vs. 16). Then Jesus said, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock will I build My church" (vs. 18). Rome says Jesus meant that Peter was the Rock, yet Christ did not say this. He didn't say, "You are Peter, and on you I will build my church." Rather, He said, "You are Peter, and on this rock ..." Protestants believe "this rock" is Jesus Christ Himself, not Peter. The Bible says, "...that Rock was Christ." 1 Cor. 10:4. David said, "The Lord is my Rock." Psalm 18:2. "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation ..." 1 Cor. 3:11,12. Thus the Word says we should build on Christ, not Peter. 
Rome says Peter was the first Pope - that is, Number 1 among the apostles. Yet Peter himself said he was only "a fellow elder." 1 Peter 5:1. Peter would not let anyone bow down at his feet in reverence (Acts 10:25,26). Paul rebuked Peter (Gal. 2:11). James led the Jerusalem council, not Peter (Acts 15:13,19). If Peter was the first Pope, and God intended His church to believe this, then why didn't Paul mention Peter even one time in his letter to the Church of Rome? Paul's epistle to the Romans never mentions his name. This is highly significant. If we stick to the Word, we do not find the supremacy of Peter.

3. The Place of Mary: Mary was the chosen vessel through whom Christ was born. Mat. 1:20-23. The angel Gabriel said she was "highly favored," and "blessed among women." Luke 1:28. When Jesus grew up, He did honor his mother in the Gospels, but He did not exalt Mary above other women. In fact, Jesus even said, "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." Mat. 12:50. Thus anyone who does God's will is just like His mother. Outside the Gospels, we discover that the name of Mary is hardly mentioned in the rest of the New Testament! Peter, who was supposedly the first Pope, didn't say a word about Mary in his letters. And Paul, in his letter to the Romans, mentions the name of Mary only once (Romans 16:6), yet he was probably not speaking about the mother of Jesus. There is absolutely no reference to Mary in any of his other epistles, which were practical letters written to the early churches. No Christian was taught in the New Testament to say a prayer to Mary. Rome says that Mary now has a "saving office" that can bring us "the gifts of eternal salvation," and that she carries "the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix." Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 252. Yet not only are these titles not applied to Mary in the Bible, they are also contrary to the Word, which says, "There is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." 1 Tim. 2:5.
4. Confession to Priests: Rome says we should confess our sins to priests, yet the Word doesn't teach this. James wrote, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." James 5:16 (KJV). This is not the same as confessing sins to a priest, but rather means that we should confess our faults to each other, and pray for each other. David wrote, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin." Ps. 32:5. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. Thus we should confess our sins to God who alone can forgive. The practice of confessing one's sins to another sinner is not only degrading to the confessor, but harmful to the hearer. Paul said "it is shameful even to speak" of certain sins. Eph. 5:12. If we sin against someone, we should make it right with them, but otherwise, we should not confess our sins to another sinner. If we do, we are planting the seeds of evil in another mind. Paul wrote, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Eph. 4:29. If we confess our sins to a priest, we are disobeying this Word, and will only impart evil "to the hearers." We should confess our sins to Jesus Christ! He can handle it, and He will forgive us.
5. The Sacrifice of the Mass: Rome says that when her priests break the communion bread, this is an actual reenactment of the very Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. "The Mass is an unbloody re-enactment of the sacrifice of Calvary." The Faith of Millions: The Credentials of the Catholic Church, by Rev. John A. O'Brien. p. 355 (1955). In the Mass, "Christ Is Sacrificed Again." Ibid. 354. Is this truth or a fable? How can we find out? By the Word. The book of Hebrews is clear. Paul wrote about "the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Heb. 10:10. "But this Man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God" (vs. 12). "For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" (vs. 14). Thus the Bible is clear. There is only one Sacrifice, and it occurred on the cross. Christians should put their total faith in what Jesus has already done two thousand years ago. Any teaching about another sacrifice is really a denial of what Jesus Christ has already done "once for all" (Heb. 10:10) and represents a diversion away from Christ's love and truth.

Fear God, Not Man

When we fear men we are in danger of becoming slaves.

We tailor our actions to please those we fear and we are snared or trapped into a cycle that is hard to back away from. The Bible warns that the fear of men is a snare, but trusting in God brings us safety (Proverbs 29:25). The Bible also tells us to be obedient to the king and those who rule over us (Romans 13:1-2). Wisdom is the way in which we walk in a world ruled by Satan and yet love and respect our heavenly Father.

God does not take us out of this world. He expects us to be a light to the world. Humans can take our lives, but only God can erase us from the eternal Book of Life. That is what we need to fear compared to those who can only take our lives. We obey the one we fear and we try to please Him. When we choose to obey God, the floodgates of His love open to us, and blessings are showered upon us. There is no comparison. Fear God. The rewards are endless.

The Middle East's Family Feud

The Middle East continues to be a powder keg of violent unrest and political upheaval. What's the root cause of the seemingly never-ending conflict? And what is the solution to the world's oldest family feud? 

Have you ever watched families fight? It isn't pretty. Accusations fly back and forth. Grievances big and small from years past are often dredged up. Past hurts are not forgotten and live on in the present. This is the fuel of anger, resentment and sometimes hate.

Since 1948 with the birth of the state of Israel, there have been wars, suicide bombings and terrorist attacks.

Why do we see such hatred in the Middle East? The bottom line is that it's all one big family feud.

 

A family in turmoil

The three main religions of the Middle East—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—all trace their spiritual roots back to the same person, Abraham. The towering historical figures behind these three religions— Moses, Jesus Christ and Muhammad—were all direct descendants of Abraham.

Imagine this scene. Five people, all living in the same home. Abraham and Sarah—husband and wife. Their female servant Hagar and her son Ishmael—who was fathered by Abraham. The fifth person is Isaac, the newborn son of Abraham and Sarah. Isaac is the legitimate son of Abraham and therefore will be heir to all that he owns as well as the promise from God of incredible blessings. It's a perfect recipe for conflict. The seeds of strife are already sown and ready to sprout.

Sarah demands that Hagar and Ishmael leave the home. Abraham objects but has to do it to maintain the peace within the house. Eventually Hagar leaves, but not without a promise of hope for her son.

God gave a message to Hagar, assuring her that her son would have a history and a story. He said to her: "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count . . . You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael [which means 'God hears'] for the Lord has heard of your misery.

"He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers" (Genesis 16:10-12, New International Version).

 

Ishmael's descendants prophesied to become very great

This description of Hagar's descendants is very significant because many of today's Arabs are descendants of this same Ishmael, whose father was Abraham. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, is said to be a descendant of Ishmael.

When the Bible calls Ishmael and his descendants "a wild donkey of a man," it's really not meant as an insult. The wild donkey in the desert was an aristocrat of the wild beasts of that desert area. The prophecy is a reference to how Ishmael's descendants would emulate the lifestyle of the wild donkey, leading a free and noble existence in those desert lands.

It goes on to say that "his hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand against him." On one hand, this could refer to Ishmael's descendants striving for independence, resisting foreign domination. But it also must refer to their setting out in conquest and meeting resistance.

The prophecy goes on to say that Ishmael will live in hostility towards all of his brothers. That's a reference to the conflict that's historically existed among the Arabs and between the Arabs and the other sons of Abraham like the Jews.

The ongoing turmoil in the Middle East is a very real human problem. It's no more difficult to understand than this story of five people we've been tracing. It was a family problem then, and it still is today. Abraham's descendants can't get along today any better than they did thousands of years ago.

So let's review. God promised Abraham a child to carry on the promises and the inheritance. Lacking faith that God would do it, Abraham had a son, Ishmael, by one of his female servants, Hagar. Ishmael, with his mother, lived under the same roof as Abraham and Sarah in this story. But now comes a twist.

 

Isaac's birth meant hardship for Ishmael

After 14 years as an only child, Ishmael's world is turned upside down when Sarah gives birth! She has a son named Isaac. Now things become really complicated.

Ishmael is a teenager growing toward manhood, and Sarah grows unhappy with him as a rival to Isaac in the household. She wants Ishmael out! She can't stand the sight of him any longer. Abraham is conflicted. He doesn't want to send him away. But God tells him to heed Sarah in this and that Ishmael will become a great people and won't be neglected. God provides for Ishmael—he is not left destitute.

Thus, Isaac's arrival fundamentally changes Ishmael's relationship with his father and his position in the family. Afterward, Ishmael felt envy and rivalry toward his half-brother. These are feelings that tribally survived down through the centuries and affect the politics of the Middle East today.

 

The feud continues with Esau and Jacob

The family issues only get worse as we read on in the Bible. Isaac, Abraham's son by Sarah, had twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Even before these two were born, they struggled within the womb of their mother. God explained that these boys would become two nations, with one being stronger than the other.

Jacob and Esau struggled through deception and envy all of their lives in their own relationship. Because of Jacob's deception and trickery, Esau grew to hate his brother.

Again, the consequences of this are with us to this day. The descendants of Esau intermarried with Ishmael's descendants. Their bitterness and resentment against Jacob's descendants grew through the centuries.

Understand this: Nations are families grown large. They still have the problems that affect family units. When families grow into nations and carry on their problems, it can have global impact.

And so we come to today and the immediate problems in the Middle East.

 

Different peoples vying for the same land

Today we have Jew and Arab contending over an inheritance, a spot of land that in the end does not belong to either of them.

It belongs to God. Remember the scriptures from Genesis where God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants. It wasn't Abraham's land. It wasn't his sons' or their descendants. In fact we read in the book of Hebrews that Abraham "dwelt in the land by faith as in a foreign country" and that "he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:9-10 ).

Abraham never really inherited the land he was truly looking for. He considered himself a stranger and a pilgrim while he lived in the land his family was given! God owned the land then, and God owns the land now!

None of this critically important matter is understood and acknowledged in the world of international diplomacy. The present religious and political turmoil in the Middle East is at its heart a family feud between Abraham's descendants. It's a dispute prophesied to erupt into a larger conflict much sooner than we might think.

Because neither side is willing to change their hearts and the way they look at the other, peace treaties have been made and broken through the generations. There's still envy, jealousy and infighting—the kind we see in a family divided.

 

Jesus Christ will heal the broken family

Will the descendants of these brothers ever be reconciled? Humanly and physically speaking, it's simply not possible. For far too long there has been too much envy, too much hatred, too much bloodshed and too much distrust.

These are ancient wounds that will not be healed by peace treaties. Even in recent history, instead of repairing the breach, leaders of both the Arab and Israeli factions refuse to seriously attempt peace and reconciliation.

There is good news, however. While there is no physical solution, there is a spiritual solution. True peace will come when the greatest of Abraham's descendants—Jesus Christ—returns to settle this dispute and all others on earth.

Get to know Jesus Christ—the Prince of Peace—now, and you'll be prepared to work with Him to bring peace to these warring families. Do it today, and you might begin to bring some peace into your own life!

A Chariot of Fire?

Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11
)

 

Last Thursday was Pope Benedict XVI's last day on the job. By resigning the papacy he set a new precedent for any future Pope who reaches an age where he cannot function in the job. He also created a new title for a retired Pope, Roman Pontus Emeritus. 

The most interesting image from the day was Benedict's departure. Deliberate or not it looked as if the Vatican took a page out of the Old Testament. Elijah-like, in a chariot of "white" fire Benedict was "translated" out of Vatican City. What staging! Andrew Lloyd Webber couldn't have done it better. 

Now the attention is drawn to the gathering of Cardinals who will soon be locked into the Sistine Chapel. The world will be looking for the white smoke to rise from the chimney signaling the election of a new Pope. The next Pope will be faced with a church struggling to solve monumental problems, such as the many cases of priest sex abuse. It will be fascinating to watch this selection to see how the Roman Catholic Church conducts its future business.

The Papacy, St. Peter's Basilica and the setting of Vatican City in the heart of Rome is tailor-made for such a spectacle as Benedict's departure this week. The world stops and wonders at such scenes and then life goes on as usual. In a short time a new Pope will come out on the balcony and wave to the world and the mystery and pageantry will again cause the world to pause. 

Religion is still a powerful feature in the midst of an secular age. Jesus described a time of religious deception. “Take heed that no one deceives you.   For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many" (Matthew 24:4
,5). What happens in the Roman Catholic Church is important to watch.

In Egypt, Locusts Threaten Food Supply

Really, that’s what the headline says . It sounds like something out of Exodus but right now Egypt's fragile economy faces another crisis with a gathering plague of locusts. 

Several reports this week say Egypt's winter wheat crop is under threat from locusts. The nation is already under stress from the a shortage of grain that is causing hardship among the many poor who rely on bread as a staple part of their diet. Stratfor reports that without these harvests, the price of wheat will go up as the government is forced to increase imports to meet demand. Higher prices for grain are passed onto the people and this adds further strain to an already fragile economy managed by the struggling Muslim Brotherhood-led government. 

Ironically, Egypt imports wheat from Russia, America and others—up to 60 percent of the wheat it consumes. In the time of the Roman Empire, Egypt exported grain to Rome. Add to this the subsidized prices people pay for grain and a real problem could erupt if the supply chain is severely interrupted.

An adult locust eats it body weight in grain each day. A swarm of locusts can contain up to a metric ton of these pests. That's a lot of chomping by one of nature's most ravenous insects. Locusts are a biblically clean food but I can't see them replacing the daily bread of an Egyptian!

The coming weeks will determine the breadth of this infestation. April is the critical month for harvesting the winter wheat crop. Several factors such as wind patterns, rain and food supply will determine how far the locusts will spread. 

This is just one more problem impacting Egypt's fragile political and economic condition. Nearly three out of four Egyptians under age 30 are out of work or severely underemployed. The tourism industry, a major source of income, has not recovered from the unrest created by the overthrow of the Mubarak regime more than two years ago. The Muslim Brotherhood's control of the government has further eroded the delicate balance of power between the military and the civilian segment of the government. Egypt by any observer's evaluation is a ticking time bomb waiting to blow into another major crisis.

Egypt is the largest nation in the Arab world with the largest standing army. What happens there matters to the overall stability of the Middle East. With Iran nearing completion of a nuclear weapon and Syria still waiting to collapse into another broken state the region is a cauldron of unrest. The future of the region is still waiting to emerge from the fog of unrest that settled during the so-called Arab Spring.

Founded on Righteousness

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Ps. 97: 2, N. E. B. 

In all His dealings with His creatures God has maintained the principles of righteousness by revealing sin in its true character-- by demonstrating that its sure result is misery and death. The unconditional pardon of sin never has been, and never will be. Such pardon would show the abandonment of the principles of righteousness, which are the very foundation of the government of God. It would fill the unfallen universe with consternation. God has faithfully pointed out the results of sin, and if these warnings were not true, how could we be sure that His promises would be fulfilled? That so- called benevolence which would set aside justice, is not benevolence, but weakness. 

God is the life- giver. From the beginning, all His laws were ordained to life. But sin broke in upon the order that God had established, and discord followed. So long as sin exists, suffering and death are inevitable. It is only because the Redeemer has borne the curse of sin in our behalf, that man can hope to escape, in his own person, its dire results. 

We are to accept of Christ as our personal Saviour, and He imputes unto us the righteousness of God in Christ. . . . "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4: 10). 

In the love of God has been opened the most marvelous vein of precious truth, and the treasures of the grace of Christ are laid open before the church and the world.... What love is this, what marvelous, unfathomable love that would lead Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners. What a loss it is to the soul who understands the strong claims of the law, and who yet fails to understand the grace of Christ which doth much more abound. . . . Look at the cross of Calvary. It is a standing pledge of the boundless love, the measureless mercy of the heavenly Father. 

There is a God in Israel, with whom is deliverance for all that are oppressed. Righteousness is the habitation of His throne.