Open Your Eyes

Only Jesus Can Change The World

Global Wars, 2012, Bible Prophecy, Mass Corruption, Coming of a New Age and much more. Where are we going and why?

Glenn Beck and John Hagee Bible Prophecy

Historians can only record what has already happened. They cannot see into the future. Yet, one full third of the Bible is prophecy—history written in advance! God foretells major events before they happen. He wants you to know what the future holds—

Conditions in Europe and around the world will soon dictate that a single great authority must be given power for a short time. Much is written of the beast, and events surrounding its appearance, but little is understood of what the Bible actually reveals about this powerful, dominant governing system, eventually united under two men.

Behind the scenes, enormous events are now taking shape. Prophesied world trouble will culminate in events terrifying beyond description. They will soon stun—and shake—every nation on the planet.

Christ’s Warning

Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are parallel accounts of Christ’s greatest prophecy. In these chapters (including Matthew 25), Christ gives a detailed description of events that will precede His Second Coming. Each of these chapters adds additional details, completing the picture of what will happen from here on.

Luke’s account contains a strong warning to all who live at the end of the age. Christ explains that those who serve God must be careful not to be swept away by conditions that give a false impression of what is happening—or coming. Here is how He began: “And take heed [be careful!] to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting[indulgence], and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day [terrible, world-shaking events] come upon you unawares” (21:34).

This passage tells the values and lifestyle of most people. Almost no one is “taking heed,” and “that day” will come on them “unawares.” Here is how Christ describes the sudden arrival of worldwide cataclysms: “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (vs. 35).

Christ carefully chose this analogy. Snares catch unsuspecting victims, who carelessly step into them—and find themselves suddenly trapped, often hanging upside-down, completely disoriented.

But this snare need not catch you—or anyone who heeds Christ’s words. Calamity will not come without notice to those who are vigilant. Here is what Christ said to do: “Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (vs. 36).

The snare that Christ spoke of will entrap the entire world. Despite His warning, almost no one is preparing for what lies ahead. But by following His instructions, you can escape horrific events prophesied to soon slam into civilization like a speeding freight train!

Matthew 24:28-39 38"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,39and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Reality

To “watch,” you must know what to watch for. Otherwise, such watching is useless—it has no value. Many will be deceived, fooled—because they will be watching in the wrong places for the wrong things, or expecting events to occur in a wrong timeframe.

The Bible is: (1) A history book, (2) a prophecy book and (3) a book about essential, revealed knowledge that man could not otherwise discover for himself. If world history is the study of the rise and fall of past empires, then prophecy is primarily the study of the rise and fall of world empires before they appear. Men cannot discover what the future holds without God revealing it!

Early world history records little about nations, kingdoms and empires that may have existed prior to the great Flood of Noah’s time. However, the Bible does discuss the empires of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and various other nations as they came into contact with His people, the nation of Israel, after the Flood.

The first great empire that God focuses on, both through history and Bible prophecy, is Babylon. It was founded by Nebuchadnezzar in the 600s B.C., and consisted of multiple nations and regions unified under his leadership. King Nebuchadnezzar was perhaps the first great gentile leader—and Scripture focuses on this man and his system all the way to the Return of Christ.

Paralleling this prophecy of the rise and fall of great gentile empires are prophecies describing the nation of Israel—both ancient Israel and the modern-day nations populated by its descendants.

The role of the symbolic beast of Revelation has everything to do with world empires. Many know that it represents “babylon the great” (Rev. 17:5) in some way, but are unsure how. And the nature and identity of this “wild beast” remains hidden in mystery, even for those who profess to and think that they understand who or what it is. Yet, the real truth of how the beast will eventually affect and change the earth will shock you beyond belief!

Terrible plagues will strike the disbelieving and unprepared. Notice this blunt, stark warning to all: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of god, which is poured out without mixture[Greek: undiluted]” (Rev. 14:9-10).

So then, the following questions must be answered:

Who or what is the beast of Revelation 13 and 17? Is it a man?—a church?—a government?—an empire?

• Who is the “woman” of Revelation 17 who rides it?

• What is the “mark of the beast”?

• What is the “image of the beast”?

• Who is the “false prophet” often spoken of in conjunction with the beast?

• When will these things occur—how long must we wait to see these figures appear?

• How will world trends, conditions and events spawn the beast’s arrival?

• Why is it so important to correctly identify it, with all related prophecies?

• How will it affect you?

The world does not know God. It is unaware of the plan and purpose that He is working out “here below.” Worldwide disobedience to His laws, and rejection of His truths, will cause horrible—stupefying!—plagues to be poured out on a God-hating humanity. But the God of the Bible is a loving God. Before punishment takes place, He always makes certain His “watchman” (Ezek. 33:7) sounds the alarm to those in harm’s way. He wants no one to have an excuse, saying, “I didn’t know” or “Why didn’t you tell me?”

The Bible speaks of several different beasts. To understand them all, each must be explained separately. Revelation 13 speaks of a beast in its first 7 verses. Another beast, ridden by a woman, is described in Revelation 17. Daniel 7 speaks of four separate beasts, with a reference to a “little horn” that appears during the time of the fourth beast. Revelation 13describes a second “two-horned beast,” beginning in verse 11. Daniel 2 describes a giant image of a man composed of four separate metals. Relative to most of these descriptions, a specific number of heads, horns and toes are mentioned.

No wonder this subject is so confusing. It does require thorough explanation, and God must supply the clues—the critical knowledge to unlocking all of the above terms.

What Are the Plagues?

The Bible foretells a series of catastrophic events, which involve seven trumpets, to occur immediately prior to Christ’s Return. The seventh trumpet “fills up” what the Bible calls “the wrath of God.” This last trumpet is comprised of the seven last plagues (also called bowls, orvials), which punish a rebellious, sinning mankind.

Seven angels “pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth” (Rev. 16:1). The seven trumpet plagues are not to be confused with the “seven last plagues.” These two sets of plagues are separate.

The Bible depiction of how this occurs is most graphic. This last generation is so vile, so corrupt and contemptuous, that God will subject them to the worst punishment of all time. Christ compared these days to that of Noah’s time: “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark” (Matt. 24:37-38).

How did God view Noah’s time? “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” (Gen. 6:5).

We are very close to that time again!

When the first vial is poured out upon the earth, the Bible states, “there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the BEAST, and upon them which worshipped his image” (Rev. 16:2). All those who receive this plague belong to a universal, false church-state system.

The second plague is equally terrible: “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea” (vs. 3).

In the next three plagues, the rivers and fountains will turn to blood, the sun will become so hot that men are scorched with fire, and darkness and pain will become unbearable. Yet, even after these plagues, men will continue to “blaspheme the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”

Revelation 13 and Two Beasts

Comparing Revelation 13, 17 and Daniel 7, with Daniel 2, brings full understanding of the scope and magnitude of the beasts, and the system they represent. Numerous Old Testament scriptures also refer to them, but these chapters are the most critical to understand.

Revelation 17:8 describes a “beast” that ascends out of a “bottomless pit” and is ridden by a “woman.” Verse 12 shows that this beast involves ten kings who shall receive power and unite to bequeath it to a leader who will take the role of the final beast.

In Revelation 13, the apostle John describes a beast with seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns.

Revelation 13 contains a symbolic description of the “beast”—and a description of a second beast with “two horns” (vs. 11). The first beast represents the Roman Empire—a political kingdom. The two-horned beast represents the headquartersof an influential, false prophetic “woman” that controls the first beast. This chapter also describes both the image and the mark of the beast.

The apostle John recorded the book of Revelation during his exile on the Island of Patmos. But it is actually the Revelation of Jesus Christ, not of John. He wrote what he saw in vision, offering significant detail in his description of the beast: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion” (13:1-2).

These first one and a half verses of chapter 13 contain a physical description of what the beast looks like. This will be important to remember. But the next three and a half verses tell more about the nature—the source of power, size, scope and conduct or behavior—of the beast. The following verses give important clues for later examination. These clues go far in telling us exactly who or what the beast is.

Now read: “And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months” (vs. 2-5).

Notice that the question was asked, “Who is able to make war with him?” It would not be difficult to make war with the papacy, because they only have a tiny group of guards around the Vatican. But making war with the Roman Empire was always most difficult. Also, the papacy, as an institution, has lasted far longer than 42 months, or the prophetic fulfillment of this period—1,260 years (Ezek. 4:4-6; Num. 14:34).

John’s description of the beast’s appearance leaves many questions. Perhaps the three biggest are: (1) Is John’s description that of a literal creature? (2) Does it represent a single individual—a kind of anti-Christ, superman, world dictator? (3) Or does it picture something else?

Bible Symbols Understood

It must be symbolic. Many recognize this, so it has produced an endless stream of human interpretations for what the beast, and other descriptions in Revelation, represent.

What John records in Revelation is written in symbol. While he speaks in plain language, it is impossible to understand his symbols by merely re-reading various passages again and again until their meaning suddenly “comes clear.” Since John uses many symbols, we need to be able to understand the many actual events that these symbols represent. Otherwise, we will not know what is being described. Therefore, John’s description must contain sufficient clues that can be deciphered by examining other verses in the Bible.

Only God can interpret what He inspired John to record. One of the basic rules of Bible study is to always let the Bible interpret the Bible. This is most true of the book of Revelation. Since it is God who inspired Scripture, He must always interpret its meaning.

Now let’s understand another related principle. Two New Testament passages, Mark 4:10-12and Matthew 13:10-15, hold the all-important key to understanding how Christ teaches and interprets. In both passages, He explained that He spoke in parables so that His true servants would understand Him—but others would not!

Carefully read: “And when He was alone, they that were about Him with the twelve asked of Him the parable. And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them” (Mark 4:10-12).

Note exactly what Christ said! Only His followers can understand His real meaning. Others might think they do—but they cannot! Christ never leaves His servants in the dark about matters He wants them to understand. But He does record them in ways that keep them hidden from the view of all others. God wants you to understand—but you must be willing to accept His interpretation.

So let’s understand!

Current Prophecy Events

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.

We were born under the power of sin's control.

- Admit that you are a sinner.

Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."

Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.

- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.

Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal

life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't

earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.

- Ask God to forgive you and save you.

Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in

that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"

When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life. He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!

- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change. His love bought you out of being a slave to sin. His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership. God loves you!

Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"

- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!

Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door,

ask Him to come into your heart.

Jesus said,

Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."

- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?