Prophecy - The End Times

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Ohio

The following verses (vv. 10-12) have been even more striking to me. V.9 says, "The coming of whom ..." referring to this "lawless one."

These last few years have displayed such a growing "delusion, the operation of error, (v.11) sent by God Himself to those who rejected the love of truth, that they all would believe the lie."

This partly explains the great apostasy. Not just in the church, but all mankind rejecting what is true, what is truth. People are even losing the ability to find and know what is true.

Ohio,

What exactly was rejected? Paul addresses this:

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The truth is clearly seen and understood. Today we see everywhere the consequences of rejecting what is clearly seen and understood. Judgment comes with a strong delusion..

Nell

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

Ohio,

What exactly was rejected? Paul addresses this:

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The truth is clearly seen and understood. Today we see everywhere the consequences of rejecting what is clearly seen and understood. Judgment comes with a strong delusion..

Nell

Yes, and this delusion affects both the Christian and not.

"The god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving." - 2 Cor 4.4

"So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth." - 2 Ths 2.11-12

"Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction." 2 Ths. 2.3

This shows what incredible difficulties will face God's children in the final days. They will be surrounded by those who reject all semblance of truth. Basic honesty will be abandoned. Brotherly love will be a frozen relic.

Many seem to focus on what is happening in the world, but the way the world thinks must precede that.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Yes, and this delusion affects both the Christian and not.

"The god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving." - 2 Cor 4.4

"So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth." - 2 Ths 2.11-12

"Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction." 2 Ths. 2.3

This shows what incredible difficulties will face God's children in the final days. They will be surrounded by those who reject all semblance of truth. Basic honesty will be abandoned. Brotherly love will be a frozen relic.

Many seem to focus on what is happening in the world, but the way the world thinks must precede that.

This includes believers who resist simple acknowledgement that there is a day of reckoning coming. It's been a long time coming. As a result, believers, rather than paying attention as we are commanded to do, dismiss the end times as "you've been saying that for hundreds of years", and it hasn't happened yet. This is a delusion. Labeling the serious warnings as "fearmongering" is a delusion.

Matthew 24:37-39 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

What were the days of Noah like?

Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (there's more...)

Romans 1:20 still applies today, I think. No excuses. If you believe the Bible, you have to believe all of it and not try to explain the scary parts away. No excuses.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

[Nell]

Rev. 13:11-18 Abomination of Desolation
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he caused 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.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand

2 Thess. 2:2-4 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Antichrist as revealed by John: There is antichrist and the spirit of antichrist, which may be possessed by others.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Nell

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand

2 Thess. 2:2-4 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Some have said that it may be a waste of time for Christians to focus on Israel or the Jews during these end times, but these verses (prophesied by Daniel, Jesus, and Paul) provide compelling evidence that neither the Antichrist Beast nor our Lord Jesus Christ will appear until the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem.

The rebuilding of the 3rd Temple will be a monumental event in the history of mankind. We may or may not know the exact timing of the covenant (9.27) which the Beast will sign with Israel, but we can most assuredly assume the temple will be finished asap afterwards. Daniel (9.25) says to "know therefore and discern" the times of these events. Had the Jewish leaders of old "known and discerned," they would have known the exact year (9.26) their anointed Messiah was "cut off, having nothing" and thus "make an end of sins and reconciliation for their iniquity." (9.24)

Unfortunately most of contemporary Israel will miss this warning also. They will wrongly assume that the Antichrist Beast is their long-awaited Messiah. When this Beast "Prince" fake-Messiah is killed in the "middle of the week," (9.27) and subsequently resurrected by the power of the Dragon, (Rev 13.1-9) initially all Israel will be overwhelmingly deceived. Suddenly, however, the great tribulation will commence, and "peace and security" will be no more.

Nell, what do you think about this Beast ruling both Europe and the USA, under the auspices of NATO, with all their nukes? How else could this ruler be the 7th Caesar of Rome, and yet intimidate China, Russia, and the entire Moslem world into subjection, long enough to make the covenant, tear down the Dome of the Rock, build their Temple, and restore the sacrifices in Jerusalem?

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Some have said that it may be a waste of time for Christians to focus on Israel or the Jews during these end times, but these verses (prophesied by Daniel, Jesus, and Paul) provide compelling evidence that neither the Antichrist Beast nor our Lord Jesus Christ will appear until the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem.

Yeah, "some" are entitled to speculate, but Daniel, Jesus and Paul have more credibility in my mind, too. I also don't trust anyone who comes up with some bright ideas and claim they are "right". In some places, the scripture is clear. Otherwise, we are clearly told that no one knows for sure...except the Father.

The rebuilding of the 3rd Temple will be a monumental event in the history of mankind. We may or may not know the exact timing of the covenant (9.27) which the Beast will sign with Israel, but we can most assuredly assume the temple will be finished asap afterwards. Daniel (9.25) says to "know therefore and discern" the times of these events. Had the Jewish leaders of old "known and discerned," they would have known the exact year (9.26) their anointed Messiah was "cut off, having nothing" and thus "make an end of sins and reconciliation for their iniquity." (9.24)

Unfortunately most of contemporary Israel will miss this warning also. They will wrongly assume that the Antichrist Beast is their long-awaited Messiah. When this Beast "Prince" fake-Messiah is killed in the "middle of the week," (9.27) and subsequently resurrected by the power of the Dragon, (Rev 13.1-9) initially all Israel will be overwhelmingly deceived. Suddenly, however, the great tribulation will commence, and "peace and security" will be no more.

The rebuilding of the 3rd Temple is a huge mystery to me. There are too many verses referencing what will happen in the end times, in the 3rd rebuilt Temple, specifically with Antichrist.

There is some evidence that the 3rd Temple could be rebuilt fairly quickly. It's believed it's already been prefabricated "somewhere" and with today's construction capabilities, assembling the pieces could happen quickly. The utensils for worship have been crafted too, apparently, and are ready to go.

The location of the site has always been identified as the location of the current Dome of the Rock, the site of a Muslim Mosque. Then evidence surfaced that the actual location may be in a nearby area in the City of David.

The timeline of what we see in the scripture doesn't seem to allow for a lengthy process of rebuilding the temple. So, it would be amazing if all of orthodoxy were to be convinced of a different location. When/if we see that happen, it might be time to fasten your seatbelts!

Nell, what do you think about this Beast ruling both Europe and the USA, under the auspices of NATO, with all their nukes? How else could this ruler be the 7th Caesar of Rome, and yet intimidate China, Russia, and the entire Moslem world into subjection, long enough to make the covenant, tear down the Dome of the Rock, build their Temple, and restore the sacrifices in Jerusalem?

I think Europe, the USA, and the nations of the world will all likely be deceived by the Antichrist beast and peacefully accept him as ruler. If so, this would expand the involvement of the nations of NATO and include the UN. The issue here is, I think, "new world order" or another term "globalists" which bring nations of the world together.

There are some pretty extreme websites out there describing what is about to happen as a "takeover" is, not "predicted" but promised based on current events. What's happening in Canada is extraordinary.

There's just too much happening in the world not to pay attention: watch and pray; look up; etc.

Nell

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

There is some evidence that the 3rd Temple could be rebuilt fairly quickly. It's believed it's already been prefabricated "somewhere" and with today's construction capabilities, assembling the pieces could happen quickly. The utensils for worship have been crafted too, apparently, and are ready to go.

The location of the site has always been identified as the location of the current Dome of the Rock, the site of a Muslim Mosque. Then evidence surfaced that the actual location may be in a nearby area in the City of David.

The timeline of what we see in the scripture doesn't seem to allow for a lengthy process of rebuilding the temple. So, it would be amazing if all of orthodoxy were to be convinced of a different location. When/if we see that happen, it might be time to fasten your seatbelts!

Nell

There’s probably the same levels of speculation and controversy as to end time events among the Jews as among Christians. I’m thinking that the “covenant with the Prince” spoken of in Daniel perhaps will provide a suitable compromise. It was fascinating to see several Arab countries normalize relations with Israel under the last administration. I wonder if the Temple was ever discussed?

It’s interesting to see the ironies. The Temple was rebuilt the 2nd time under the endorsement of the Persian king. Today, however, the Persian “king” is forcing a security realignment between Israel and Arabs. Seeing Iran aligned with Russia/China probably will only strengthen that alliance. One strange difference between our own two political parties can be seen here. The left favors Iran while the right favors Israel/Arabs.

Daniel 9 mentions the “Prince” destroying the Temple, and yet (spaced apart by two millennia) the Prince will later facilitate its rebuilding.