A moment in time
(where are we and where are we going?)
"A prohetic look at past and present events That
will determine our near Future"
This article is based on a seminar given during FOT
2003 at Rocheport, MO
Introduction:
Brethren, we are currently living in some very exciting yet hair-raising times. While many people attribute
not only their lives but also current events to happenstance, what I hope to do through this article is to prove that many, if not most, of the events that occur, have occurred, or will occur, are not based on random chance; or what some people call luck. Our past, current, and future events are merely fulfillments of many things that have already been foretold in the Scriptures.
Now the Bible is composed of so many prophecies that there is no way that we could possibly cover all of them in this article. Not to mention the fact that there are also many prophecies that we don't fully understand yet. Therefore I am limiting the core of this article to only mentioning a few of the current events that I believe have important ties to Yahweh's overall prophecies; largely because, as you will see, these current events are shadowing events that have already occurred in the past.
By reviewing these current events and by comparing them to the events that are mentioned in the Scriptures, this should give us a better understanding of how and why we are now living in the last days. I pray that this knowledge will help us prepare ourselves not just physically but most importantly spiritually in these last days.
Technological advances and the word of Yahweh:
In the early 1900's a British scholar condemned the Bible a hoax because of a verse that gives the idea that the whole world could be watching an event live, as it is happening. He was referring to verse 9 in chapter 11 of the book of Revelation. In referring to the two witnesses it says, "Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb." His argument was that it was impossible for the whole world to be watching this when the whole world could not be in one place at the same time. Perhaps in the 1900's something like this could have seemed impossible but now, in the year 2003, we have witnessed the possibility. How many of you were able to watch the US-Iraq War on your television as it was unfolding? From what I remember, if you had the time, you could have watched it 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Did you ever stop to think that this technology, which by the way, has improved since the end of the war, could possibly be used in the fulfillment of one of Yahweh's prophecies?
Revelation 13:17 gives the idea that the anti-christ will take advantage of a cashless society to force people to take on his "mark". For it says: "and he provides that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name." 25 years ago, a cashless society would have been out of the question and yet today, with all the ATM's, Credit Cards, Electronic Banking etc. we can see that what was once thought of as crazy is now a possibility. Most of us have already found the convenience in using such a system (cashless system), we can order products through the internet and save money, some crimes have been reduced, the hassles that come with using cash have also been reduced. The list goes on and on.
What about the so-called Mark? Could it possibly be a computer chip or laser tattoo? Well as some of
you might know, there are several states in the U.S. who tag animals by injecting a device in them. During the spring of 1998 it was documented that in Singapore a man had a computer chip installed in his forehead. In this same year, Time Magazine also had an article that spoke on the benefits of a cashless society. Imagine going to a grocery/retail store, buying what you need and walking out through a cashier less scanner that can read your hand or forehead. It is said that the military uses this chip technology along with the GPS (Global Positioning System) for their Special Operation Soldiers. It is also common knowledge that the FDA usually takes about 7+ years of testing before they approve a new medicine or technology. So, if this technology was introduced in 1998 that would mean that we should start to hear more about it around the year 2005. Does this mean that the chip could be the mark of the beast? Not necessarily! But it is important to take it into consideration and to keep our eyes and ears opened in case a similar technology is introduced.
The beginning of the end:
It is not surprising that we find a parallel line between what the Scriptures say and what is going on around us. So where did all this begin and how did we get here? And what if any do the world empires or current governments have to do with what is going on? And most importantly, how do we know that we are in fact in the 'Last Days?' I think that it is important to answer those questions before we can begin to compare the past scriptural events to the events of today. We can do just that by reviewing the events that unfolded in the book of Daniel.
King Nebuchadnezzar Dan 2:31-43
In the Book of Daniel, Chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream in which Daniel, a prophet of Yahweh, received permission (from Yahweh) to interpret it. Let's begin by reading verse 31 to verse 38 and as we read we can identify who the interpretation is talking about: Dan 2:31-38
31 "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue-an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in
appearance. 32 The head of the
statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and
thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron,
its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a
rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of
iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the
silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like
chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without
leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and
filled the whole earth. 36 "This
was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 You, O king, are
the king of kings. The Elohim of
heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your
hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the
air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that
head of gold.
So here we are told clearly that Yahweh recognized King Nebuchadnezzar as being the leader of the first World Empire. As we read on we will see that there will be 3 more world kingdoms with the 4th one being the last one.
Before we continue let's take a minute to discuss something interesting about the head of gold. Gold, among it being one of the most wanted metals on earth, it is also one of the softest metals and it has excellent qualities for resisting corrosion. That means that it easily forms into any shape and it looks great. It is not surprising that this kingdom is at the top, for as we know if the top was to melt, it would in fact spread itself (flow) right down to the bottom (similar to when wax flows down the shaft of a candle). We find that it is exactly what has happened with the Babylonian religions. They survive to this day because like gold they have been adjusted and/or shaped to fit our society. In fact, most, if not all, religions of today can be directly linked to the Babylonian era. Many Christian ministers, encyclopedias and dictionaries would testify that customs such as Christmas, Easter and others, have direct links to the Babylonian religions. The book of Daniel (Chapter 3: 4-13) tells us about a king that wanted people to bow down to a statute. Do you know of any modern religions that still teach those practices? As you can see, Babylon is alive and well in our society.
Now let's continue reading the first part of verse 39 and since the first part of verse 32 is talking about the same thing, we will review them together:
39 "After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to
yours…
32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest
and arms of silver…
As we
already stated this part of verse 39 refers to the comment stated in verse 32
that describes the chest and arms of the statue being made of silver. The two
kingdoms that had to unite to be able to defeat Babylon were the Medes and
Persian. They, under the command of Cyrus defeated the Babylonia Kingdom by
backing up the Euphrates River and going under the walls of Babylon to open the
gates from within. History shows that shortly after Cyrus took control he
allowed the Captive Jews to return to Jerusalem. Let's continue with the second
part of verse 39 and 32:
39 … Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over
the whole earth.
32 … its belly and thighs of bronze,
This
third kingdom described as the belly and thighs of the statute, turned out to
be the Grecian Empire who was commanded by Alexander the Great. Alexander the
III of Macedonia was the greatest general of the ancient times. Amazingly he
never lost a battle. By 331 B.C. he had completely destroyed the Persians who
had been led by King Darius. In less than 14 years, Alexander had conquered the
world, however, because he didn't have any heirs, his kingdom lasted for only a
short period. Upon his death at the young age of 32, his kingdom was divided
between 4 of generals. It is ironic that the Grecian Empire was partly
represented as a belly and it was the fact that Alexander had overfilled his
belly with alcohol that ultimately killed him. Alexander's divided empire
eventually crumpled into many smaller kingdoms. Out of this smaller kingdoms came the fourth and last kingdom
described in verses 40 and 33:
40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as
iron-for iron breaks and smashes everything-and as iron breaks things to
pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.
33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of
baked clay.
This
fourth and last major kingdom is clearly the Roman Empire, who was led by
Julius Caesar and whose brut force dominated the world for about 450
years. The name of the seventh secular
month, July, was named after this ruler. We can see by continuing to read in
verses 41, 42 and 43 that this kingdom described as being a mixture of iron and
clay, is one that did not stand and eventually split into ten distinct kingdoms
(10 toes). These kingdoms were probably the Alemani (Germany), the Franks
(France), the Burgundians (Switzerland), the Suevi (Portugal), the Anglo-Saxons
(Britain), the Visigoths (Spain), the Lombards (Italy), the Vandals, the
Ostrogoths, and the Heruli. The Pope of Rome destroyed the last three because
they refused to become "Christian." These kingdoms, or the individual
European nations still stand today and amazingly they are looking to unite
under the EEC or the United States of Europe. In 1999 some of those countries
implemented the Euro Dollar so they can have just one currency. We know that
for many years now the United Nations were established as a unity and support
pact for many nations. Just this year we witnessed the birth of turmoil when
France, Germany, Russia and others refused to support the U.S. attack on Iraq.
The President's disregard for the United Nations seems to go inline with the
fulfillment of prophecy, stating that they will not remain united for long
(verse 43).
41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of
baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will
have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay.
42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly
strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked
clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than
iron mixes with clay.
We will
cover the next part of Daniel's prophecy later, but for now let us move on to
the current events that are in question. It is important that we compare the
events that have occurred in the past and see how they are being replicated in
the events of today. By reviewing past events that caused Yahweh to become
angry and to cause destruction and by comparing them to the events of today we
can clearly understand how and why Yahweh will soon send his anger upon this
world. We are reminded of Malachi 3:6, which tells us that Yahweh does not
change. So we can assume that if Yahweh hated certain events in the past then
he continues to hate them to this day. Let us begin by noticing the events that
led to the Great Flood mentioned in Genesis.
11 Now the earth was corrupt [OT:7843 shachath (shaw-khath'); a primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)] in Elohim's sight and was full of violence. 12 Elohim saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So Elohim said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.
In view of our horrifying trends of our day, we can see how Yahweh would be displeased with the violence and sexual immorality that affect many people throughout the world. The following events could definitely qualify as reasons that Yahweh should send a flood upon the earth.
·In one year Americans spend more than $4 billion dollars on pornography.
·3 out 4 marriages end in divorce wrecking lives-and breaking homes.
·Mass murders, neglect of the aged, abuse of women and babies, children killing children, etc.
·Millions of people hooked on marijuana, "crack," heroin, and other chemicals will ruin their lives
by detaching themselves from society and their maker.
·Many third world countries, the most recent one being Liberia, are experiencing mass killings of
human beings. Many more will die in Civil Wars in the coming years.
·The Federal Communications commission has stated that children between the ages of 5 to 14, will
witnesses the violent destruction of more than thirteen thousand human beings on television. Many
more are being witnessed in computer games.
·A U.S. Senate subcommittee revealed in 1999 that in one decade, just as violence had increased in
T.V., delinquency in real life grew nearly 200%.
Looking at this statistic's, the Master's words spoken in Matthew 24:12 certainly ring true!
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
11:1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." 5 But Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 Yahweh said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." 8 So Yahweh scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel--because there Yahweh confused the language of the whole world. From there Yahweh scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
So we can clearly see in verse 6 that the reason that Yahweh dispersed them is due to the fact that by banning together nothing that they would have wanted to do would be impossible for them. So what kind of things would they have wanted to do? Well, we don't know but we are told that they would have been able to do anything. We can see what Yahweh meant when we take into account some of the events that are now taking place. Although the headlines listed below sound like science fiction, they are very real. You should and could educate yourself on these topics by spending some research time on the Internet. As you read the headlines you should consider how they affect Yahweh's overall creation.
·How Human Cloning Will Work.
·Dozens of Human Embryos Cloned in China.
·Mini-Pig Clone Raises Transplant Hope.
·Dolly Lab To Create 'Virgin' Birth Embryos.
·Second Cloned Baby Claim.
·What Are Genetically Modified Foods?
·Concern Grows Over Genetically Modified Food.
Gen 3:13 says:
13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against Yahweh.
As we continue reading in Gen 19 verses 1-5 we are given the reason that the men were sinning against Yahweh:
19:1 The two angels arrived at
Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he
saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2
"My Masters," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house.
You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the
morning." "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in
the square." 3 But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and
entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and
they ate. 4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the
city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot,
"Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that
we can have sex with them."
By reading the rest of the story we are told that the angels that Yahweh had sent destroyed both the cities and their inhabitants. The sins that they were committing were so grand that Yahweh could not allow them to continue living. Their homosexual activities threatened Yahweh's established natural order of marriage and the ability to procreate. Genesis 2:24 makes it clear that a marriage is between a man and a woman, not a man and a man or a woman and a woman!
Gen 2:24
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Today's headlines indicate that both man and women are attempting to change the ordained union between a man and a woman. The current set of events that are being discussed in Canada with reference to homosexuals and lesbians being able to marry, is just a small glimpse of what is coming to the U.S. It is clear that homosexuality and lesbianism is no longer taboo when it comes to prime time television. Many church ministers are afraid to speak out against these things because of the labels that accompany their criticism.
As you can see by the few examples that we covered, Yahweh definitely has a reason to put an end to this world. It is no wonder that it will be during this times that he will send his Son, Yahshua, to crush this evil and sinister world and to establish his everlasting Kingdom.
Yahshua the Rock:
So now that we have seen the relationship between what happened in the past and what is going on in our present times and since we have seen that we are in the last days. Let us now regress back to Daniel Chapter 2 and discuss the Rock that is thrown at this statute, or what we now know to be world empires. We will begin by reviewing verses 34-35 and 44- 45 because they covert the same topic:
34 While you were
watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on
its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the
bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and
became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away
without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge
mountain and filled the whole earth.
44 "In the time of those kings, the Elohim of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands-a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
It should be noted that although the NIV uses the work Rock in these verses. The actual Hebrew word 'eben, indicates that the word could also be read as Stone. So then, it should be clear to all of us that this Stone that is made without hands actually refers to Yahshua the Messiah. There are many verses in the New Testament that refer to Yahshua as being the Chief Cornerstone here are just a few:
4 As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by men but chosen by Elohim and precious to him- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Elohim through Yahshua Messiah. 6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
There is one verse about Yahshua that I would like to single out because it rhymes so close to the events mentioned in Daniel Chapter 2 verse 35; this refers to the stone being thrown to the statute and it turning to powder "like chaff on a threshing floor." In Luke 20:17-18 Yahshua had just spoken a parable about the husbandman or caretakers of the Vineyard that belonged to the master. In this parable he basically describes the fact that he will ultimately be killed and that Yahweh will look to give other people (the Gentiles) the Kingdom. Some of the people became angry because of this but notice what Yahshua said when referring to himself and notice that it really does rhyme with what is written in the book of Daniel:
17 And he beheld them, and said,
What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the
same is become the head of the corner?18 Whosoever shall fall upon that
stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to
powder.
The rest of the verses in question in the book of Daniel explain the fact that the 5th or last world empire will be the one in which Yahshua the Messiah is King. It is described as a Mountain that will be established forever. Verse 44 of Chapter 2 says that in the time of the kings, which we have already defined as the current world governmental systems, he will set up his Kingdom that will never be destroyed. This Kingdom will bring an end to every worldly kingdom. And just like powder that is carried away by the wind, no trace will be left behind.
44
"In the time of those kings, the Elohim of heaven will set up a kingdom
that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will
crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure
forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a
mountain, but not by human hands-a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the
clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
Summary:
In summary, I pray that if nothing else, this article has opened your eyes and made you more aware of some of the techniques that Satan uses to fool the world. If we as believers don't keep our eyes and ears opened, he will assuredly fool us too!
It is amazing but not surprising that he can introduce technologies that contradict Yahweh's very creation, in a subtle and seemingly harmless way. Amazing also but not surprising is the fact that most people do not realize what is going on. They fail to see the seriousness of what these current events represent. In Matt 16:2-4 Yahshua said:
2 ….."When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
Notice here that Yahshua didn't say that it was impossible to determine the signs of the times. He is simply admonishing these people because they have not taken the time to do so. We have but to read the book of knowledge, the Scriptures, to learn and understand where the world is heading next. Many of the things mentioned in the book of Revelation that haven't yet occurred are moving in the direction of fulfillment. Brethren we must prepare ourselves!
I believe that our current level of social degradation, world violence, cloning, genetically mixing vegetables or fruits with animal genes, the advent of homosexuality and the destruction of the marriage are a sign of the times because they challenge the one and only True Creator Yahweh and our Redeemer Yahshua. When it comes to these topics and others that we didn't mention here, we should follow the suggestion given to the disciples by Yahshua in Matt 10:16:
"be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
Deacon Hector Castillo