The New World Order
In the old western movies of yesteryear, there was always the damsel in distress, the bad guy in the black hat, and the hero in the white hat. The scene is set; the hero’s sidekick rides up and hollers, “Sneaky Pete has Pure Pearl as hostage in the old Mining Shack! What are you going to do, Gentleman Jim?” The reply comes back, “I’m gonna round up the ranch hands, and we’re ridin’ over to that shack. Then, we’ll take down all the bad guys and rescue Pure Pearl. Then, she and I will ride off into the sunset and be happy ever after!” Then, Gentleman Jim picks up his “git-tar” and says, “But First, I’m gonna sing a little song!”
Of course, by now, the audience in the theatre is going crazy, throwing popcorn at the screen, and yelling for the hero to get on with the rescue. Is that so different from what’s happening in real life here today?
Our Jesus came to this earth as fully-man, and fully-God about 2,000 years ago. He was to become the sacrificial lamb on that trip here, that would cover the sins of the world. Yet, “He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him; and no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2b). All the religious leaders should’ve been looking for Him if they had really studied the old prophecy scrolls.
We read about all that He went through right up to His crucifixion and ascension back into Heaven. We can’t help but ask, why was He rejected? With all the Old Testament prophecy available, why didn’t those leaders realize they were criticizing and condemning the Creator of the whole Universe? All they knew was, this man didn’t follow the many rules of the Temple that they added to or took away from as they saw necessary. He was a threat to their livelihood, and He didn’t fit their expectation of a “conquering Hero.”
This Jesus was causing a stir among the common folks, and they were beginning to think it might cause a revolt, making the Roman occupiers angry. After the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus in John 11:47-50, “So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, what are we to do, for this man performs many signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year said to them, ‘You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one Man should die for the people; not the whole nation should perish.’” (Emphasis mine)
Just studying the scrolls from Daniel and Zechariah should have told them that the timing was right for their Messiah to appear in their day. This Jesus was fulfilling prophecies right and left, but they chose not to believe in Him.
Why, you may ask, could they be so blind as to not realize who He was, and what they were doing was so wrong? Good question. Why, I ask, can you see all that is happening in the world today, and not see prophecy unfolding right before our very eyes? Seems to me to be the same scenario, except Jesus isn’t here – Yet!
Satan has been an adversary to the Triune God (Trinity) since before the earth was created. His great Pride caused him to fall, and he took part of the heavenly host with him (Isaiah 14:12-15 and Revelation 12:4). For them, there is no pathway to forgiveness; they sealed their fate when they rebelled against God. Satan was active in the Garden of Eden, all through the Old Testament, up to the birth of the Messiah. He was there in all the places Jesus went, and many more were being controlled by worldly lust than those seeking the real truth. Satan knew then, and he knows now, who are his followers, and he knows his time here is growing shorter daily.
Today, it’s even more in the open than when Jesus was physically here. We have “Churches of Satan” around the country, wiccan/christian churches (talk about a misnomer!), and every abomination that is listed in the Bible is being put out as no longer sinful. That supposedly was just for the Israelites in the ancient days—this is just what the secular world wants to hear.
In Matthew 24, Jesus gives signs of the end of the age. In 2 Timothy 3, Paul gives many attitudes that will be present at that time. If you read through them, you can apply each and every sign and attitude to life on earth today. Yes, to some degree, they have always been around, but not as intense as today’s events. People are openly worshiping Satan, and calling for a new world order. When the new world order and the one-world government is about to be set up, that will usher in the final antichrist.
I say “final” as there have been “preliminary” antichrists all the way back to Jesus’ time here. John tells of their activities then, and told us that they would increase more and more as time passed (1 John 2:18-19). It’s at a point today where the introduction of the “ultimate one” is just a breath away. The Holy Spirit has to be taken out of the way before that can happen (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7).
There has been a coalition formed between Russia, Iran and Turkey that has never before existed. Yet, they are the forces named in the book of Ezekiel that will attack Israel at some point. Israel is very prosperous, and those countries are in trouble financially. God said He would put “hooks” in their jaws and bring them out (Ezekiel 38:4).
Just in the past couple years, oil and natural gas deposits have been found in Israel, and the fields are extensive. America just recently became the largest exporter of oil, and this has hurt the coalition countries that relied on their oil resources for income. Is it any wonder forces are at work trying to take America down, and Israel as well?
What’s going on is like watching one of those old movies. Everything is so obvious except to those who are directly involved. There’s a definite dividing line between good and evil, and the sides are set up. Anything “Christian” or pertaining to Israel is viewed as bad, something to be put down. Other radical “religions” and alternate lifestyles are being viewed as the “new normal.” This is no surprise to the Heavenly Father as He told us it would be this way in these times.
Rather than “throw popcorn” or complain about current scenarios, we need to be getting ready to meet the Savior who will be coming back—this time as Lord of lords and King of kings, not as a sacrifice.
Romans 10:9-13 “Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead; you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the scripture says everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
When God says something once, we need to pay attention. When He repeats anything, we need to take special note of His will.
You can’t buy or earn your salvation, but you do need to repent and live for the Savior. When you have accepted Him, and confessed and have been forgiven, you will not suddenly become perfect and sinless. When, not if, we sin, we have a pathway to again have forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This does not give us license to sin freely, but God knows our weaknesses, and will give us forgiveness through the Blood of His Son, shed on Calvary for us.
Our demeanor is to be thankful for our Savior, and live to honor Him. We’re not saved by any works, but through His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus gave us the pathway to the Father (John 14:6), so we should strive to live in a way not to bring shame on His name (Acts 4:12). It is only through the mercy of the Father that are we covered for our sins through His Son’s blood.
Call out to the Savior, if you haven’t already done so, and admit to Him you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Ask Him to rescue you and to be there for you always. He will never desert or forsake His own, and will forgive when asked.
We do not worry about when the day or hour comes that will take all believers off the earth. It could be today. No matter when it takes place, He will take us to be with Him to avoid the wrath that is to follow. Then, when we are with Him, we’ll definitely be singing songs of Joy!
Look up, He’s coming soon!
Maranatha