Are we laying the foundation for the AntiChrist?

In his apocalyptic vision in the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John introduces the “beast,” also called the Antichrist (Revelation 13:1). John describes him as the ruler of a vast empire, with power & authority given to him by Satan (Revelation 13:2), receiving worship from all the world (13:3-4), and ruling every tribe, people, language and nation (13:7). Combining his vision with Daniel’s (7:16-24), scholars of biblical eschatology conclude that some sort of world system will be inaugurated by the AntiChrist.

In 2011, the world’s national economies are more interdependent than any other time in history. And no place on earth will be untouched by the coming financial tsunami. Increasingly, economists are suggesting that the only solution to this crisis is the establishment of a one-world banking system and currency. And when that happens, isn’t it logical that a one-world government cannot be far behind?

Daniel and John didn’t say why people will accept the total authority of a single man in the last days. Indeed, it’s hard (especially for democratic citizens like us) to imagine how the world’s nations would subjugate themselves to a single authority.  A logical conclusion is that the disasters described in Revelation 6-11 will create such a monumental global crisis that people will embrace anything and anyone who promises to give them relief. The time has arrived for God's watchmen to speak out (Ezekiel 33:6).

Contentment in Chaos

The number 11 in Bible numerology means disorder and chaos (as in “9/11”). Not to spook you out, but less than four months into 2011, the world has already witnessed unprecedented chaos in North Africa, the Middle East, and extreme natural catastrophes, including of course, the devastating earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan—the latter followed by a tsunami that killed 25,000 and damaged several of Japan’s nuclear reactors with as yet unknown consequence.

According to Shaddy Soliman, pastor of Every Nation Church in Florida and co-author of “Islam and Terrorism,” the symbol of 11 is beginning to manifest: “We’re seeing history-making events unfold before our eyes… Fasten your seat belts, because we haven’t seen the best of it yet. But the good news is that 12 is the number of order and perfection.”

While I can’t be sure “order” is around the corner, of this I am sure. The good news for believers is that even in difficult times we can be safe, blessed, content and full of peace by trusting that God is good, and has good things planned for us. "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome" (Jeremiah 29:11).

"UNPRECEDENTED"

If you could invest in a ‘word’ that would increase in value and demand the way you buy ‘commodities,’ I would have become wealthy had I bought a copyright on the word “unprecedented.” In the last three years, the word has rapidly increased in frequency. From extreme weather to global financial disasters to geopolitical crises, the escalation of “unprecedented” events is almost exponential.

The 2008 financial meltdown was a global catastrophe of unprecedented proportion. The radical Islamic movement terrorizing the world’s nations has no precedent in history. The citizen protest movement in the Arab world has resulted in unprecedented ousting of wealthy monarchs and corrupt dictators—all fueled by unprecedented world-wide wireless access to new ideas. Even as I write this, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami is creating an unprecedented nuclear disaster which has North Americans stock-piling iodine pills.

Unprecedented happenings make predicting the future on past experience untenable. The world is frightened by the unprecedented. But we are not. Because we know that our God precedes everything. The Alpha and Omega, He knows the end of a matter before its beginning. God has a cosmic plan to redeem the world—and it is both timeless and timely. “The LORD Almighty says: I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who else can tell you what is going to happen in the days ahead? ... Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Have I not proclaimed from ages past what my purposes are for you? … is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!” (Is. 44:7)… “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.” (Is. 41:10).