SIGNS OF THE TIMES: by Patrick Russell

Since we have entered the Third Millennium, it becomes apparent that we have moved into a season of time unparalleled in human history. There are numerous signs that the new millennium is bringing with it many challenges to the human spirit. There are so many forces aligned against the Christian walk that it will be impossible for the Bible believing Christian to stand without the intervention of the Almighty. The purpose of the article is to identify some of these challenges and examine them in light of the Scriptures.

The first 2000 years of Christianity have been marked by continuous expansion, from the land of Israel to the remotest regions of the earth. No matter what land one goes to, the dauntless Apostles of yesteryear have already presented the Gospel. Whether Phillip in India, Patrick in Ireland, or Billy Graham of our nation, we find those called out by God to bring the matchless grace of God to a lost and dying world.

The Bible has been translated in nearly 1400 languages so that the local nationals could read the Scriptures for themselves, and bring the Gospel to their own people, and even send missionaries to other nations. Consider the worldwide evangelism accomplished by the American Church, the Irish, or the remarkable accomplishments of the Korean church in sending out faithful workers into the harvest field. Truly, the Gospel has been, and is being preached worldwide, and at an increasing pace.

At the same time, the antichrist spirit has risen with a new vengeance against these same workers. Unseen malevolent forces have moved with a new level of intensity, especially in the political and financial spectrums, with the ultimate aim of destroying the Church, along with the Jews. The Lord told me that the same spirit which motivated Adolph Hitler in Nazi Germany has now moved into the United Nations. The ultimate goal of the United Nations is to raise up a One-World Government, with a New World order. This New World order will be under the leadership of Satan for a brief period of time, and then we will see the coming of Jesus Christ.

2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2:2 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. 2:3 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; 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2Thes. 2:1-4

Obviously, from this scripture, Christ will not come before the revelation of the Antichrist, and the great falling away of the Church. The Antichrist will not be revealed until he is fully empowered by Satan. In the Book of Daniel, Chapter 8, verse 22 this is clearly seen. The purpose of this empowerment is to wage war on the saints of God. The LORD warns us that he will prosper for a season, and then he will be destroyed by the LORD Himself.

Danial 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 8:20 The ram, which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 8:25 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.

In truth, many Christians have been led out of "The Way." They have gone down the path of deception and been captured by the lies of the devil. Orthodox Christianity simply does not teach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. The true Gospel has been watered down, and lies are being taught as truth. Among these are the man made doctrines of the "last days," the concepts of heaven and hell, the true purpose for which Jesus Christ came, and the fallacious doctrine of the "Rapture." Many erroneously believe that healing has passed away, that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased, and that those who speak in "tongues" are of the devil. They stand firm against those who do manifest the power of the Holy Spirit.

The enemy has carefully laid many foundations for deception in the Church during the 20th century in an effort to render it powerless, and to lead the faithful into captivity. Deception leads to doubt and unbelief. Doubt and unbelief destroy the power of faith. A deceived church is therefore a powerless church. A powerless church is simply another religious institution, which can never reach a lost and dying world. The power of the Gospel must be demonstrated for souls to be converted to Christ.

The turn of the millennium has caused a general sense of the jitters. We know that we have come to the end of the "Second day" since Christ came. Peter tells us that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years:
"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." 2Peter 3:8 KJV
The third day is also the day of revival. Jesus arose from the dead on the third day. In Hosea, the prophet admonishes us that: "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." (Hosea 6:2, KJV)
It remains therefore that we shall be coming to a place of rest and restoration. Christ has continually made intercession for us over these past two thousand years. There is a new day dawning, the likes of which the world has never seen. The new day is just ahead, and oh, what a day that will be, when Christ pierces the heavenlies with the brightness of His coming. However, the world will not see this coming, or appearing. It is reserved "in the heavenlies" for those who are looking for it. Where is the Kingdom of heaven? It is within YOU! Christ will not come to you from outside you. Rather, He will appear to you from within you! The mystery that has been hid from the world is this, "Christ within you, the hope of glory."

The precursor to that day is "judgment." There is much judgment in the earth today. The plethora of natural disasters, which the world is currently experiencing are but a trumpeting of the nearness of that day. God is calling man to repentance, and we are the vessels He has chosen to reconcile man back to Himself.

Are you pressing into the Lord for His anointing? Are you purifying yourself from your dead works. Are you doing the work of the kingdom? Are you the spotless bride that Christ is returning for? I speak to myself as I write this.

Be comforted knowing that: "O he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 KJV

The whole world mocks Christ, and us, His loyal followers. They hate Christ, not understanding the dark condition of their soul.
Paul tells us: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2Peter 2:3-13, KJV

The New World Order:

America is being shaken at its very foundations. The New Age Soothsayers predicted that a "bolide" (huge meteor) would strike the earth in June of 1999. They were false prophets. The "Third Message of Fatima" is reported to declare that all life would end in 1999. Obviously this is contrary to Scripture, so the message was obviously false. However, many Catholics, who follow after The Virgin Mary, instead of Jesus, do believe it. In addition, Pope John xxiiii is reported to have had a "visitation" of Jesus, wherein Jesus told him that Mary would appear to him with some important announcements. Then the Marion Apparitions began, and she is reported to have told him that "saviors would appear from outer space," but they would be rejected because they would look so different." They were supposed to have appeared in 1990. This information is reportedly gleaned from the now deceased (1963) pope's lost, (but now found) diary.

The lord Matreiya, a messianic want-to-be, has reemerged in the press, after taking out full-page ads in 100 newspapers around the world in 1980. He went back underground, and his false prophet, Benjamin Crème is announcing again Matreiya's coming out again.

Persecution is raising its ugly, fierce head again, with fresh martyrdom's happening daily in some parts of the world including the Sudan, Indonesia, and Lebanon. Two Christians will killed by the Catholics in Baja, California in January 1999. The Hindus are launching fresh attacks against Believers in India and Indonesia. Islam is persecuting Christians in all nations where it is the prevalent religion. It is impossible for Islam and Christianity to peacefully coexist. The very nature of both require making converts. In Islam's law, converting to another religion demands the death of the one departing the "faith."

The US having already ceded its sovereignty, guaranteed by the Constitution, to the United Nations Charter, which does not recognize the same rights. Our President, without the consent of the people has unilaterally signed certain "Presidential Orders" binding the citizens of the United States, including our military personnel to the dictates of the charter of the United Nations. The charter of the UN makes the US nothing but a mere vassal state to the UN. It totally over rules the Constitutional rights won by the blood of our forefathers.

It is my opinion that the United Nations, which is swiftly coming into maturity, is the "Fourth Beast" spoken of by Daniel the prophet. It is "exceeding fearful" and wondrous to behold. Its power to dominate and control the whole world is without question.
The angel Gabriel told Daniel: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Daniel 7:25 KJV
Very soon the world will be called upon to take a certain "mark" without which, no one will be able to either buy or sell. The only way to get this mark is by bowing down and worshiping the beast. It would seem that this day will soon by upon us, and the ultimate challenge will be given to each of us. Take the mark and you doom your own soul. Refuse the mark and guarantee your own separation from the world's system. It's a tough call, but I will take my chances with Jesus. His name is higher than any other name. Even if we are beheaded for Christ's sake, we win. Death has no power over us. We will rise again to be with Him forever.

THE GLORY OF THE LORD:

In spite of the overwhelming evidence of judgments in the earth, the imminent prospect of the beast system rising to power, and the gloomy outlook for the world, there is a bright side to all of these. There is a remnant who will not only survive the onslaught of the wicked one, but will shine with the glory of God. These overcomers will be endued with such power from On High that they will shake the earth. Consider further the words of the angel Gabriel spoken to Daniel:

"But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Daniel 7:26,27

Saints of God, the day of this transformation will suddenly explode upon us. It won't be a gradual transformation, but a sudden change. The Lord will "suddenly" come to His temple, and when God comes on the scene, changes are with Him. "The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High." This is what I am looking for with a sense of expectancy. Our God will not let us down! He said it and it's going to happen! We shall rule and reign with Christ Jesus forever.

Patrick Russell
PO Box 1958
Milton, Washington 98354

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