“Hounds from hell” is a term coming from Greek mythology, but that is the farthest thing from my mind. I simply sometimes use this terminology to describe those of mankind and the spirit world that Satan uses to advance his own purposes. We often also call them ‘minions,’ which means followers, gofers, slaves, assistants, cronies, etc.

Those of the spirit world are not visible to the naked eye, but they are just as real as any human we can see. The apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, speaks of them in the book of Ephesians.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

All of the garbage that is going on around us in these last days is being advanced by these evil followers of Satan. They have always been around, but I believe they were especially active during our Lord’s first advent and are now revving it up again because they know their time is growing short.

Daniel is one of the Old Testament books that reveal much about the last days. Actually, to understand the book of Revelation, one must first study the book of Daniel. In the following verses we can easily see an example of the war taking place in the spirit world by God’s angels and those who followed Satan (Lucifer).

“Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, ‘O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.’ While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come'” (Daniel 10:10-14).

I am of the opinion that the spiritual war also intensified during Daniel’s lifetime. I do not think Satan wanted us to know what God had Daniel write since it is so applicable to us today. If you recall, God told Daniel to seal the book because it wasn’t meant for man to understand these words until the time of the end. However, at the time of the end, man would understand what Daniel could not understand at that time.

“Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand'” (Daniel 12:8-10).

Folks, that time is now. We are in the last days of the Church age. We are fast approaching the “time of the end.”

The hounds from hell are very active. Any true Christian who is attuned to God’s Word can easily see that the days we are in are abnormal, to say the least.

Israel is again a nation, 72 years and counting. This would have been impossible, humanly speaking. There are so many signs today pointing toward Daniel 9:27, which is the final seven years due Israel we commonly call the Tribulation.

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).

Additionally, there are so many signs today pointing toward the Tribulation, they are almost too numerous to count, and they are all converging together.

Is it no wonder the ‘hounds from hell’ are so busy? The war has escalated so that many humans have joined Satan’s team. We see them every day fighting anything that has to do with Almighty God. They’re not just the political, judicial, and entertainment crowd, but all who oppose Jesus Christ and hate His message of salvation.

Their hearts have been cauterized with the precision of Satan’s lying tongue. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:18-32 exactly what they would be like and God’s judgment against them. Three times in these verses, it is stated that God gave them up. Without question, these verses fit this generation to a T. There could not be a better fit than what we see today.

These folks laugh God off and hate His bride, the true Church, but one day soon Jesus will call us upward, and they will be left behind. I dare say they will rejoice when the Church is gone, but quickly the judgment of the God they mocked will fall.

We may get very irritated at the actions of these people who are so blatant in their hatred for Jesus Christ, but we need to remember one thing. We know what is ahead. They do not. We must pray for them that somehow they open their eyes before it is too late.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Did you ever stop to think that regardless of what is happening in the world, nothing really changes? For every generation the stage is the same. Only the actors change.

While I was out driving earlier this year, it dawned on me that the land and trees would soon be turning green. At that time they just looked dead and dull, but whether they had that blah look of winter or the lush beauty of summer, they were the same lands and the same trees that God created for us to enjoy.

Yes, the oldest trees eventually die, but then they are replaced by their own kind. The land the trees grow from may also grow weeds, flowers and a mixture of both. It is plowed for gardening and mowed by homeowners. The covering may vary, but it is still the earth God created.

Each year the flowers bloom in spring, and then die toward winter, but they always return. Fruit can be picked from the trees and vines, but then die away after a while to return next season.

It is all a stage that changes seasonally, but yet it remains the same. Man ages and his appearance changes, but he remains the same. He is still the same person. I started out in this world as an infant named ‘Grant.’ I am still ‘Grant,’ just a lot older.

God provided our stage and told us the appearance and function would change with the seasons, but the structure He initiated will not change. You guessed it. It hasn’t changed.

“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth’; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day” (Genesis 1:14-19).

The sun in the heavens provides the light and warmth we must have. The moon is seen in different stages and provides its reflection from the sun for our nights. The stars continue to shine.

“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).

“That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Concerning man, we really are not much different than those who lived hundreds or several thousand years ago. We sin. They sinned. We build homes and businesses. They did the same, even though they were not as elaborate as ours today. They built relationships through friends and enemies. We do the same. We raise our families, and our children grow up to step in our shoes. Those long ago did the same thing. We all die and face the judgment, which brings me to: We worship. They worshipped.

The question now is, “Who or what do we worship?” God said He does not change … ever.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

During the days of the Old Testament, some worshipped the one and only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Many others worshipped idols.

In the Church age some worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is also the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Many others today worship idols.

Most folks today believe the Bible is outdated, so they have changed it to suit their whims, BUT God made it clear … HE DOES NOT CHANGE.

The wise will read His Word and change their false thinking. The unwise will suffer mightily in the end.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html