THE TERRORIST, REVELATION 13, AND THE DEMISE OFRELIGIOUS LIBERTYby Hal Mayer
Dear Friends, Elder Nelson asked me to do the sermon this month in order to give him a short vacation break. As you can imagine, he has much correspondence concerning the monthly messages that he sends out, and is often very heavily loaded indeed. By doing this message for him, he will have an opportunity to visit his wonderful family. I believe that you will find the message this month very compelling and relevant to the close of time and the soon coming time of trouble. God bless you as you listen.
The morning of September 11, 2001 was bright and clear, the nation was quiet for a few hours until four aircraft were highjacked and three of them flown into significant buildings. America went into panic and has never been the same.
As the plans were being laid by those terrorists they likely had no idea that the angels of God were involved. Sometime before September 11 those angels holding back the winds of strife, had to step back a little to allow their plans to succeed. September 11 was critical to the development of the final movements of earth's history. God's people needed to be awakened; the world needed to be awakened and sensitized to ask deeper spiritual questions.
Before we proceed further, let us bow our heads and ask God's guidance. Dear Father in heaven; We are living in dramatic times. Satan is working hard to bring the world under his control so that he can persecute God's people. We need your protection. We need your Spirit. Help us to grasp the significance of the important time in which we live and the important events about to break upon the world. As we look at the effects of the Terrorist attacks on our religious liberties, we pray that you will give us wisdom to understand, and know our duty in these powerful times. In Jesus' name, Amen.
As the world conducts its daily round of toil and labor, most people cannot see beyond the immediate events, and are unaware, and unprepared for the real crisis that is coming upon the world as an almost "overwhelming surprise." Even many, many of God's precious people don't have the mindset to see the deeper issues in the daily news that comes their way because they are not studying God's Word, and the Spirit of Prophecy. Yet God has given us in prophecy all that we need to know. If we really want to understand the amazing events taking place before our eyes, we must develop a prayerful and studious spiritual orientation that will help us discern the important things taking places. Many do not discern rightly. They make things of little prophetic consequence of major importance, and the things that are key to fulfilling prophecy, they almost completely overlook. Let us not be in that category.
Turn with me in your Bibles to Revelation 13. We will read vs. 11-17. "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
As Seventh-day Adventist students of prophecy know, these verses point out that the United States, the lamb-like beast, will become the most powerful nation on earth. It will lead the way to the loss of those precious religious liberties that it was so instrumental in developing. But how? - September 11 was a powerful force, giving America the opportunity to flex its global muscle, and lead a coalition in efforts designed to ultimately effect the personal lives of every Seventh-day Adventist, world-wide. America is going to lead the way in enforcing the Sunday Law and the economic boycott against those who are determined to be obedient to God's law.
Satan's plan was to create an environment in which he can establish the mechanisms to enforce the "no buy, no sell" decree of Revelation 13:17 on all true believers. On September 24, 2001, President Bush made a radio speech in which he announced an executive order freezing the assets (that is: no buy, no sell) of certain organizations connected with the terrorists. In that speech he made it clear that he was establishing global networks and controls to search out and destroy terrorist organizations, and that the US was going to pressure other nations to join in this effort.
I'm quoting now from the President's speech: "This executive order means that the United States banks that have assets of these groups or individuals must freeze their accounts. And United States businesses are prohibited from doing business with them… We're putting banks and financial institutions around the world on notice… If they fail to help us by sharing information or freezing accounts, the Department of the Treasury now has the authority to freeze their bank assets and transactions in the United States… If you do business with the terrorists, if you sponsor or support them, you will not do business with the United States of America… I want to assure the world that we will exercise this power responsibly. But make no mistake about it. We intend to, and we will disrupt terrorist networks… We've established a foreign terrorist asset tracking center at the Department of the Treasury to identify and investigate the financial infrastructure of international terrorist networks… Money is the life blood of terrorist organizations, and today we are asking the world to stop payment."
President Bush also made it clear that he was going to implement other global strategies to crush the terrorists. That speech is all about the terrorists – on the surface. But the devil has a larger plan; he wants to bring the whole world under his control and use the United States to do it. His plan is to prevent the truth from being heard by those that would not otherwise yield to his control. President Bush may be unaware of it, but the real agenda behind the terrorist attacks was to establish the international systems and mechanisms to be able to eventually enforce similar decrees against God's people. This could not happen without global systems in place, fine tuned and well practiced, with the bugs and kinks worked out of them. The terrorists provided a seemingly genuine excuse to destroy civil liberties with popular support in a prelude to destroying the religious liberties of God's people.
A similar speech has no doubt been made by Satan in the unseen world about God's people. The President's speech sounds like Revelation 13 in modern parlance – though for the moment directed at another target. For a shocking insight into the future for God's people, ask me to send you a free copy of the President's speech and insert the word "Adventist" wherever President Bush uses the word "terrorist." You may get your free copy of the speech by sending me a note requesting it to; Hal Mayer, Hartland, P. O. Box 1, Rapidan, VA 22733.
The attacks and subsequent changes have struck at the heart of the US Constitution. "By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when under the influence of this three-fold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of it's Constitution, as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time is come for the marvelous working of Satan." Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 456.
Every Principle Repudiated.
The September 11 attacks were so horrific that a long-term environment of fear was created that reduced concerns about constitutional rights. Fear of new attacks will keep those concerns from becoming significant. Assurances in the press about maintaining the balance between civil liberties and security, in effect, puts opposition to constitutional overrides to rest. In spite of these assurances, there has been a dramatic shift away from personal liberties. Americans willingly allow the President to assume unprecedented powers over their lives. Every week the media brings news of more and more breath-taking changes in the name of security, but at the expense of civil rights and privacy. Many of them may well be the only thing a human government can do to try to protect its people. But America is now willingly repudiating the principles of its Constitution by leaps and bounds all in the name of defending it?
A Global Infrastructure
The "no buy, no sell" law could not be fulfilled before September 11 on a global scale. The mindset of the people had to be changed about their liberties. Nor could it happen without developing and maturing a global infrastructure to regulate, control and enforce it. President Bush, in his own statement about freezing terrorist assets said that he is developing a global system with the ability to pressure other nations. That's not easy… But they are all getting used to it, and they will ultimately cooperate even though they may not like American attitudes and behavior at times.
Banks worldwide are cooperating. Secure banking places such as the Caribbean islands will no longer be as private. The Germans have cooperated and arrested a number of people with connections to the terrorists. Other nations are cooperating on a new system of global communication now being developed between the CIA, the FBI and their equivalent organizations in other countries to gather and share information. A new TIPS program in America proposed by President Bush will recruit 1 million common people to spy and report on their fellow citizens in a modern version of Nazi Germany. Though that did not get support, it was nevertheless on the agenda, and may return. This will link up with similar international programs. A new total information data base is being developed which is designed to collect all sorts of information on regular citizens to make it easier to spy on people suspected of participating in, or planning a crime. All of this takes time to organize, refine and implement, but Satan cannot enforce the Sunday law, and the "no buy, no sell" decree on Jesus' faithful followers without a well developed global control system.
Law Enforcement Cooperation
International law enforcement cooperation is essential to enforcing the global Sunday Law. Since the attacks, international law enforcement operations are developing and cooperating together. Wiretap rules have been liberalized. Cell phones, the internet, and traditional communications are all subject to new governmental rules effecting private citizens. For example, in November of last year, the council of Europe approved a new section to the computer crime law that criminalizes publishing online anything that, and I quote "advocates, promotes, or incites hatred or discrimination." It also unveiled a special project designed to continuously update a list of "harmful" web sites, and will require search engines, and host ISPs to remove them from the web. It is a safe bet that the online purge will be expanded to include other viewpoints. While it is designed to stop racism, what is to prevent these cyber-cops from using the hate laws against those that teach that the pope is the antichrist, for example? Prior to the terrorists, these things would have been considered extremely offensive and unconstitutional. But now they are not being resisted significantly. But they are all very, very important to making a global system that will ultimately work against God's people.
A Global "Justice" System
Based in the Netherlands, but run by an increasingly powerful and demanding UN, an International Criminal Court (ICC) has been established. The ICC is now open for business and is ready to assume control, or at least supercede the court systems of the world. Even though the US has not joined in the ICC treaty, it does not object to the court in principle, but only as it would be applied to US soldiers on peacekeeping missions. And it is evident from media reports that the US will quietly cooperate with, if not eventually join the ICC system.
The ICC is founded on the principle of a secret tribunal, not a jury of peers open and public such as we have in America and many other countries. The public will only know what the court or the UN wants them to know. If you are convicted of a crime you can be sent anywhere to prison, not necessarily in your home country. Appeals are made to the same body that originally convicted you. How easy do you think it would be to extradite and arraign people before the ICC for violating blasphemy laws of Great Britain, Europe or the Vatican though the "crime" was committed in America? The ICC is being modeled on nearly the same principles as the old Inquisition. The treaty, interestingly enough, was originally signed in Rome with many countries signing on later. Once 60 nations signed on (which was achieved last July), the court claims jurisdiction over all countries, not just the signers.
Military tribunals are also secret; they do not have the same restrictions as do civil courts. These courts are being restructured to be used whenever prisoners need to be construed as part of a military operation. The original intention is to arraign those involved in international terrorism. But governments are expanding definitions dramatically, and it isn't impossible to imagine that some of God's people at least, could be tried in some of these courts. Military tribunals now have a loosened attorney-client privilege. Conversations between alleged "enemy combatants" and their lawyers can now be monitored. These prisoners, whether foreigners or Americans, are not given the same rights given to criminals, or even the limited rights permitted in military courts. This is not planned for civil courts – yet – at least not publicly. Nor is it planned for American citizens – yet. First the American public must be tested to see if they will tolerate it, at least at some level, before it is tried it on citizens, or in the civil courts. On August 8, 2002 the Wall Street Journal reported on a comment by a "senior Bush administration official," that, and I quote: "there's a different legal regime we're developing" to deal with the war on terrorism. The Journal commented that the new regime would blend, quote "the once-separate realms of civilian law and the law of war," which gives the government wide latitude to detain people it thinks, or imagines are a threat to national security.
Suppose that national security interests began to include church activities. Certain church groups and their members could potentially be defined as military combatants even though they are merely church members. Does that sound far-fetched? - Not in the wake of the use of Mosques to organize terrorist cells. When military policy and domestic criminal definitions are expanded making certain religious ideas or practices illegal, these tribunals are likely to be used in ways originally thought impossible. The system being established can be easily manipulated and eventually transformed and used against God's faithful people.
Homeland Security
Last July, President Bush and Tom Ridge, the chief of the new Homeland Security Department of the Federal Government, argued in favor of reviewing and revising a law known as "posse comitatus," that prevents the U.S. Military from assisting in domestic law enforcement. If this law is changed it could lead to unprecedented use of military power against U. S. citizens, a typical tactic used in military dictatorships. This would greatly assist in dealing with the chaos of a huge disaster. But it would also greatly assist the government in pressing the "no buy, no sell" law of Revelation 13 on God's people.
Immigration
Immigration law in America is dramatically changing to adjust the way immigration issues are handled, including student visas. A tracking system is being developed, because many students drop out of school and remain in America illegally. Some of them were part of the Al-Qaeda. That will probably affect the liberty of Hartland College to train students from other countries. It already has in some ways by restricting student visas from certain countries.
Security of Major Target Areas.
Major "target" areas such as large cities are the subject of "anti-terror" measures. The terrorist attacks have created the "need" to be able to "lock down" cities. Imagine what New York City or San Francisco are like when in lock down. There are only so many ways to access them or leave them. During lock down, every vehicle is observed as it leaves or enters the city. The National Guard or Reserves have the authority to search any vehicle. It is very easy for the government to lock down a city or a community so that everyone coming in and going out is searched or their IDs checked. Sound ominous? Recently I was in NY City during a lock down. The police and bomb squads were everywhere, including bridges major buildings, and other target areas. Some vehicles were not allowed over bridges, or through tunnels unless they were checked first.
National Identification Cards
Recently the airlines have been required to provide very detailed information to the authorities about passengers leaving and arriving in the country. This can easily be expanded to include domestic passengers as well when opportunity presents itself. Also, all baggage is now being searched by one of several methods. What happens when certain books are banned, like Great Controversy, or other important message books?
Technology is even available for a national ID card, or a coordinated driver's license program. President Bush is proposing an obligatory system. The ID system could be used to authorize (or deny) any and all banking transactions, including supermarket and gasoline sales. It is only a matter of getting the people to accept the idea. Early this year, a "no fly order" was imposed on certain individuals who were suspected of terrorism, but not actually accused or charged of any criminal act. Do you think that travel for God's people could well be very difficult one day? A national ID system could easily be implemented over time without much protest from the people. Just scare them enough, and then implement the new measures.
Food sources
There has also been talk about the vulnerability of food sources. Is it possible that food will become so controlled that it will be possible to prevent God's people from obtaining it? Certainly it will be difficult for them to obtain food from the usual sources. Is Ellen White's counsel concerning country living relevant for us today? The last 18 months of national and global events are a serious warning to God's people.
Religious Extremists
Did you notice that most of the military action in Afghanistan has been focused on a few isolated religious "extremists." The Taliban is considered to be extremist. Osama bin Laden is considered to be an extremist. Hamas is considered to be an extremist organization. And there are many others. Regardless of the fact that the Koran advocates the violent destruction of anyone that refuses to become Muslim, a media distinction is being made between "tolerant moderates" and "extremists." Islam we are told, is peace-loving except for these extremists. But the military has been spending time practicing their skills in hunting down people considered to be religious extremists from cave to cave. When you have to flee to the rocks and the mountains, the military will have the skills and the equipment to rout you out. Although Osama's been a little elusive, the military is developing systems, probably unknowingly, so that they can be used against God's people. You and I are going to be more helpless than Bin Laden, unless you have the angels of God to make you invisible.
Consider this interesting statement from Maranatha p. 270. "During the night a very impressive scene passed before me. There seemed to be great confusion and the conflict of armies. A messenger from the Lord stood before me, and said, 'Call your household. I will lead you; follow me.' He led me down a dark passage, through a forest, then through the clefts of the mountains, and said, 'here you are safe.' There were others who had been led to this retreat. The heavenly messenger said, "The time of trouble has come as a thief in the night, as the Lord warned it would come." Manuscript 153, 1905.
"In the time of trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels…" Prophets and Kings p. 513. Remember that the scriptures teach that of the faithful, their bread and water shall be sure. God is going to do some miracles for His people isn't He? We have no need to fear if we are overcomers and learn to live like Jesus.
But we are to be watching, as the scripture says. Think about how things could develop under the new models of government. At first there will be attempts to curtail the operation of extremist groups operating under cover of religion. Do you think it is possible that Adventists will be divided into "mainline" and "extreme" groups? Mainline Adventists will be considered balanced and acceptable, like most Muslims. Those who love the truth enough to die for it; those who have high standards and are unwilling to compromise; those are the kind of people that will get profiled as extreme. If you are faithful to Christ you will be painted into the extremist camp, and treated differently then mainline Adventists.
Police agencies have admitted that they are carefully monitoring and gathering intelligence on what they perceive to be extremist Islamic groups. What is an extremist group? Isn't that a group that has beliefs that are not within the normal mainstream of their religion or society?
Americans are being cultivated to fear those labeled as religious extremists which are generally those with deep religious convictions. In the past Americans were willing to tolerate more religious diversity and even religious exclusivity. But not any more! The Taliban, and other religious extremists of the Islamic world are giving the US plenty opportunity to develop public hostility to religious extremism. Just being labeled extremist makes people cringe these days.
Religious Profiling
In Germany dramatic changes are talking place beneath the surface. Germans are quietly acquiescing to government intrusion and restrictions on their lives that previously would have been un-thinkable. Many of Germany's colleges and universities for example, have begun to open their file cabinets and computer hard drives to criminal investigators, who are seeking financial, educational and travel information that fit a profile they have developed of the typical terrorist. Profiles of religious extremists are being developed in America too.
Suppose a profile of an Seventh-day Adventist extremist is developed. What would it include? Home schooled children; belief that the end of the world is at hand; belief in extreme religious views, such as the Pope as the Biblical Antichrist, willingness to be martyred over keeping the Sabbath, etc? An Seventh-day Adventist extremist knows his Bible very well. He subscribes to certain kinds of magazines and literature? He goes to certain types of places. He buys only certain kinds of foods. It's not that difficult to develop a profile. Just follow credit card transactions. The concept of profiling coupled with other surveillance and control systems will make it easy for faithful Seventh-day Adventists to be tracked and eventually hunted down.
"Detainees"
Notice also how Taliban captives are treated. They were given a unique legal description. They are not Prisoners of War, but "detainees." Under the Geneva Convention POWs have certain rights. But detainees have no rights. American leaders tried to assure the people that these detainees are being treated with rights compatible with the Geneva Convention. Using the term "detainees" however, gives the government much more latitude. There is no legal reason why they can't be pressured, or tortured, in ways forbidden under the Geneva Convention. Think how faithful souls, "detained" on one pretext or another, are likely to be treated. The American people are getting familiar with and used to the idea. Who is going to question the treatment of Adventist "detainees" under the chaos and awesome conflict over which the coming Sunday Laws will be enacted? The Taliban are being used to condition Americans to not question matters of "national security." Incidentally, being "detained" was a much dreaded feature of the Nazi regime.
How Soon?
I had a friend of mine who said to me; "Yeah, but this all can't happen very fast, it's gonna take a while." How long did it take America to react to the spectacular terrorist attacks? In just a year and a half, dramatic changes revolutionized America and the free western world, and is opening the way for oppression of God's people eventually. The terrorist attacks were obviously a humanly orchestrated event. It's easy to point the finger. What happens when natural disasters of gargantuan magnitude wreak devastation on the cities of the earth by earthquakes, hurricanes, huge tornadoes, etc? To whom then do you point the finger?
Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson pointed the finger. They said that the reason for the terrorist attacks was the homosexuals, the pornography purveyors and the abortionists. There was a media outcry against this supposedly illogical conclusion and these men withdrew their statement. In actuality they are right. "Righteousness exalteth a nation," (Proverbs 14:34) and when the nation separates itself from righteousness, the angels of God withdraw their protection. So when there is one successive natural disaster after another, who's then going to get the blame?
"We got to get America back to God," will be the cry. And the conclusion will be that there are a few people that are preventing it from happening. "They are not going along with the new Sunday law and they are jeopardizing national security. We've got to freeze their assets. We've got to prevent them from doing what they are doing." How easy will it be for Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders to distance themselves from anything that might be considered extreme instead of defending the religious liberty of all? It will be quite a temptation. All it takes is fear. It can happen very quickly, as did the national changes after the terrorist attacks.
The Terrorists and the Papacy
Many wonder how the September 11 attacks fit into the prophetic role of the Papacy. The greatest terrorist organization in history is the Papacy. Think how the Waldenses, Huguenots, and other religious dissenters were assaulted by the Roman Popes. Their treatment was nothing short of terrorism. And Satan is planning it again. While the Pope is apologizing for the atrocities that the "sons of the church" committed, it is apparently only political. Rome is even courting Islam. Consider the Pope's May 2001 visit to one of Islam's holiest sites, the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria. Here he worshipped and led in Christian prayers, while his Moslem counterpart led in Moslem Prayers. The Pope however, has never repudiated the dogma that justified the inquisition, the crusades and the extermination of heretics and infidels. And there is still intolerance where ever Rome can get away with it. Half a world away from Damascus, Protestant Evangelicals are persecuted in Mexico by their Catholic neighbors. Ultimately, it will only be a small group of Sabbath keepers that are the real objects of all these political, economic and ecumenical preparations.
Even the term "religious intolerance" is being redefined. It no longer refers to the intolerance of Rome. In this age of ecumenism, in which even Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders participate, it now refers to anyone who speaks the truth about apostate churches, including Rome. The new concept of intolerance is labeled "bigotry" or "religious extremism," and is as bad as the terrorists.
God has told us in His Word that the United States and the Papacy will, "causes all, both great and small, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads that no man might buy or sell, save he that hath the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name." Revelation 13:17. Do you think we are getting close to that time? The September 11 attacks created the environment for a giant step forward in the fulfillment of prophecy. But future terrorist attacks will make the controls, surveillance and restrictions even more compelling while Satan does a parallel maneuver to isolate and restrict God's people.
How soon will these new global systems be expanded from their original purpose and oppress God's remnant people? No one can really say, but how easy would it be, once America is used to the new systems, and once people are familiar with how they work, to make the shift, and start using it on United-Stated citizens accused of a crime.
Advance Knowledge of 9-11
Mounting evidence continues to come in that the highest echelons of the United States government knew that a terror attack involving passenger airplanes was likely. A year ago (spring 2002), a special FBI agent testified before a congressional committee that FBI headquarters repeatedly tried to prevent her Minnesota field office from investigating Zacarias Moussaoui who is now being detained and is alleged to be part of the terrorist conspiracy. Another FBI agent testified before congress recently that he begged his superiors to authorize the arrest of one of the hijackers two weeks before the attacks, but was ignored. Even the day before the attack, an Arabic language message authorizing the attack was passed on to intelligence agencies but wasn't even translated until September 12. Why were the efforts hindered and the warnings ignored? Could it have been that it was seen as a necessary step to allow the attacks in order to have an excuse to take control of the lives of freedom loving Americans and others in the name of protecting them? Let us remember that the real target is not the terrorists. That is only the excuse to develop the systems needed to enforce the "no buy, no sell" decree that supports the Sunday law of Revelation 13.
War with Iraq
Before we close, I want to share with you something that I think is very important but has had little if any media coverage. Yet it is full of prophetic significance. Revelation 13:12 says that the lamb-like beast, exercises all the power of the first beast (the Papacy). What power did the papacy wield for 1000 years? The papacy enforced her dogmas on the consciences of millions by developing a coalition of nations to use their military power and collective legislative power to support her goals and aims. I want to point out that this is exactly what the United States is attempting to do today through the UN.
The UN was established in order to work for peace among nations to prevent another world war. But in the last 20 years we have seen a dramatic gradual change in the role and function of the UN. At the end of the cold war, there was a dramatic shift in military and political influence. America was the only super power left. And it had all the weapons, and the economy to support it. But also after the end of the cold war, the UN has more peacekeeping missions than ever, and America has led out in coordinating those efforts. Actually the last two decades have been dedicated to increasing the power of the UN (not the US), and establishing the UN as a global government. Ultimately, the UN will serve the interests of the United States as the main driving force in the coalition of nations that the UN represents. Of course there are those that don't appreciate the American use of power (often called hegemony), but Revelation 13 tells us that America will rise to great and DISPROPORTIONATE power. And the UN is simply the tool of the US in developing this type of power globally through its member nations.
In order for a government to function properly, there has to be three legs of power - legislative, military and judicial systems. The UN cannot enforce legislative action without a military, and it cannot enforce its will on the rest of the world without a court system to administer its version of justice.
For nearly the first decade after the end of the cold war, the emphasis of the US and the UN was on building UN legislative systems with global reach. The United States worked multi-laterally to cooperate with other nations to strengthen the UN power. Toward the beginning of the second decade of the post-cold war era, the UN constructed a military, made up of personnel from member nations, and used it for peacekeeping missions here and there. This was a giant step in strengthening the UN. Then last year, July 1 the ICC court was opened for business (as I've already described) giving the UN the final leg of authority and power it needs. Now America is in a position to take the next step in exercising its own power. You see, America intends to use the UN to enforce its dictates on the rest of the world. Remember "He exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him." That means that America will have much more power than it does now. Why? - Because America will be able to cause "the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast." Without a coalition of nations doing its will (similar to what the papacy did in the Dark Ages), America will never be able to be the force that it is destined to be – able to force the world to worship the beast (the Papacy).
But as we think about this more deeply, we can see that there is a spiritual element here. America is going to change its agenda, dramatically, and surprisingly. Why?- Revelation 13:11 tells us that the lamb becomes a dragon. Christ is the Lamb, Satan is the dragon. Here a "Christ-like nation" as America started out to be, that will end up acting like Satan and instead of guaranteeing religious liberty to its citizens, will remove it from them and also force the whole world to worship Satan through the Papacy.
Up until the UN had established its three main legs of government, the United States worked cooperatively with many nations to coordinate UN efforts to deal with issues in various parts of the world.
But consider this: eleven years ago, there was a dramatic effort to establish an international coalition to deal with Iraq and liberate Kuwait. When the first President Bush floated the idea of getting Saddam Hussein out of power, it failed to gain support of the other coalition members and Saddam Hussein remained in power. All through the Clinton Presidency, the emphasis was on building UN power, so the US continued its cooperative approach with other nations. When the UN systems were all in place as they are since 2002, the United States has no further need of working so dedicatedly to cooperate with other nations.
The second President Bush has a new tactic now that it will not ultimately endanger the UN. Now America is willing to begin to dictate to the world what is going to happen. And it is doing so unashamedly. Just listen to Bush as he talks about Saddam Hussein. Essentially he says "We are going after him, whether you other nations are willing to help or not." Of course America will use any nation that wants to help, such as Britain. But America will go it alone if it has now. This unilateralism is really going to eventually give America the kind of dictatorial power that Revelation 13 describes.
Of course America wants to have more political influence in the Gulf. So, if America would get rid of Saddam Hussein, Bush and future presidents would likely send US troops to occupy that country indefinitely, giving the United States significant and potentially permanent influence in the oil-rich region. Accusations against Iran and other countries (as already floated in the media) will dramatically increase America's influence in the region, and may eventually give the President an excuse to occupy other nations.
This influence could also then be used to further the ends of the world powers seeking to bring the whole world under the control of the prophetic beasts of Revelation 13 (the United States and the Papacy) and ultimately oppress God's faithful people. Though President Bush's war on terror may be seen as necessary now, it is clear if you are a student of prophecy, that it is part of a general escalation of the tension between huge portions of the human race, eventually dragging the nations into a cataclysmic war. "Wars and rumors of wars" as predicted in scripture, will lead to great destruction on the earth before the end of time as predicted in prophecy. The general chaos will open the way no doubt, for global Sunday laws and enforced worship of the Beast and his image.
But remember that Revelation 13 tells us that America causes "the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the beast." How are the non-Christian nations of the world, like Hindus, Bhuddists, and especially Islam going to come into line with American power and authority? Many nations controlled by Islam, for example, are hostile to American interests and principles. These will have to come into line in order for this prophecy to be fulfilled.
Here is a very interesting statement by Malachi Martin in his book called The Keys of This Blood. I quote "There will come a day, John Paul believes, when the heart of Islam—already attuned to the figures of Christ and of Christ's mother Mary—will receive the illumination it needs." p. 285.
Notice Revelation 13:13. "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." Some people think this refers to smart bombs and missiles, and other military weapons. But to my mind that is no great wonder. Many nations have bombs, even nuclear bombs. And that wouldn't be amazing to anyone for America to drop smart bombs or fire satellite guided precision missiles around. It seems to me that it has to be more spiritualistic in nature. Notice vs. 14. "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth." Notice that there is an element of deception. Smart weapons don't spiritually deceive anyone. They are clearly powerful, but not deceptive. Even Stealth technology isn't very deceptive in its power to do damage.
What is being discussed here is a spiritual deception. Read on: The deception is "by the means of those MIRACLES which he had power to do in the sight of the beast." What is a miracle? A miracle is a supernatural event that cannot be explained by science or human reason. America at some time in the future is going to have amazing spiritual power to deceive the whole world, based on supernatural power to do miracles given to it by Satan.
Suppose for instance, that in the chaos of some cataclysmic terrorist attack, America makes decisions to use the nuclear bomb against its enemies. Suppose this decision was buttressed by Apparitions of Mary in Mecca and other Holy Islamic sites telling the Islamic world that America is right and that they should listen to the Pope and seek peace with America. Of course this is one of a 1000 possible scenarios, but it isn't difficult to see how supernaturally, Islam could be "illuminated" giving America considerable influence even with its enemies, at a time when the whole world is on the brink of destruction.
Right now is the time for America to take the next step to increase its power. The conditions are right for it. The elements are in place that are necessary for it to happen. Isn't wonderful how God has given us prophecy so that we can see more deeply into the daily news. Isn't it wonderful how God has given us His word to guide His people through the times ahead, and so we can watch and be ready?
Are you ready my friend? The future is ominous. Satan is going through very large and expensive maneuvers just so he can control and oppress a small group of God's true people. He is building a global economic, police, and justice system just for you and me. He's pretty serious. As you contemplate the news in the future, pay attention to the underlying principles behind it. Develop a prophetic mindset. Realize that there are unseen agencies with an agenda that are beneath the surface. Because of prophecy we can understand the long-range purpose of God and we can foresee those things that tell us the end is near. God is bigger than all these systems of the world. He can, and will protect His people according to His purpose. Now is the time to get ready. Now is the time to move to the country. Now is the time to win souls, for the night is coming when no man can work.
How is it with you friend? Has Jesus become so much the center of your life, that you will have the angels to protect and guide you in the time of trouble? Are you in such a relationship with Christ that you will be ready for the crisis that is approaching? Can you hear the distant thunder? Oh, now is the time to get ready. Don't brush off the terrorist attacks as if they had no significance in prophecy like some are doing. Let us watch, for the end is near. Let us be on our knees and learn from Christ what changes we need to do in order to get ready.
Just before we pray; if you would like a free copy of President Bush's speech please mail a request to me. My address again is Hal Mayer, Hartland, P. O. Box 1 Rapidan, VA 22733. You may also contact me by email at the following email address: Hmayer@hartland.edu. Also, if you would like a copy of the book called "The Pope's Letters" which reviews Pope John Paul II's encyclical letter calling for Sunday legislation, or if you would like the brand new book called The Lord's Day which is designed to show how faulty the arguments are against the seventh day Sabbath, both of which are by Colin and Russell Standish, just contact Hartland Publications at the same address.
Now let us pray together. Dear Heavenly Father; how thankful we are for the wonderful truth you have given us. Thank you for Bible prophecy that tells us what is coming upon the world. And thank you for the Spirit of Prophecy that tells us more detail about the future. Please give us discernment. Let us watch the events in our world with understanding of the times. And most of all help us get ready for the crisis… the time of trouble and the close of probation. Thank you for Jesus who is pleading for us in the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary. And thank you for the Holy Spirit that is working to reach us with the truth. May we help others, under His guidance to be ready. In Jesus name, Amen.
God bless you my friends, as we enter near the greatest crisis in history.
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