Being Prepared

Living through the Christchurch earthquake I have learned one thing about preparing for troubled times. We had no electricity, no reticulated water and sewerage for sixteen days. This is not very long in the overall scheme of things. If Western culture collapses, the disaster will last much longer and more painful, but the lesson is still relevant.

During the days following a disaster, the only people who can help you are the neighbours living close to you.

• The government will be too busy trying to restore its operations to care about helping individuals. In a big crisis, it might be broke, anyway.

• They city council will be too busy trying to get roads open and infrastructure restored to worry about ordinary people. They will look after the important people anyway.

• The modern church cannot help. The leaders will be focussed on sorting out the problems with their builds and getting their church services restored.

• The people you meet when you drive to church will be too far away to provide assistance. They will have their own set of problems and will be too busy to worry about you.

Ideally, Christians should be able to support each other in times of distress. However, they will only be able to do that if they live within easy walking distance of each other. If Christians lived close together, they would be able to support each other in times of distress. They would be able to reach out together and effectively support other struggling people around them. The body of Christ could be a great blessing to the world. Unfortunately the modern petrol-driven church is so dispersed that this could not happen.

A distinctive thing about my book Being Church Where Live is that it explains how this could change.

Time of Distress (23) - Christian Prophets

At the peak of the big battle, God will intervene and bring it to an end.

The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God (Is 52:10).

His arm will be released by his prophets. When Israel is besieged and the people are full over fear, Christian prophets living in Jerusalem will speak out prophetically and warn the nations gathered for battle that they will be destroyed. They will speak judgment in Jesus name. Their prayers will release God’s hand (Is 67:6-7).

Christian prophets will speak to the Jewish people and encourage then to trust in God for their deliverance. They will warn them note to hope in military deliverance. This prophetic message was foreshadowed by Isaiah.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins (Is 40:1-2).

The Christian prophets will announce that Israel spiritual exile has ended. They will promise that Israel will be delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit, not my military force (Zeph 3:14-16). The people of Israel will not believe the prophets, but when deliverance that was prophesied becomes a reality, they will remember their words. They will bless those who prophesied in the name of Jesus. This is the true sign that the Times of the Gentiles has ended.

Look, your house is left to you desolate… until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Matt 23:38-39).

These prophets will have to be scrupulous about timing. They must not announce Israel’s return to blessing, until God gives the word. Some Christian prophets have already disqualified themselves for this role by announcing the end of Israel’s desolation, when God had not spoken. These prophets would have no credibility if they were required to promise deliverance for Israel during a time of great disaster, because they have promised this before and been proved wrong by events.

The prayers and declarations of the Christian prophets will release the power of the Holy Spirit. He will bring the destruction of the political and military powers of the world by causing their weapons to fall back on themselves. There are several reasons ways that he might achieve this goal.

• Atmospheric conditions might make remote controlled weapons go haywire.

• Computers viruses and worms might sabotage the control of weapons.

• The people controlling the weapons might fall into confusion and turn the weapons on themselves.

Every man’s sword will be against his brother (Ezek 38:21).

On that day people will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another (Zech 14:13).

The outcome will be amazing.

• The military forces that are besieging Israel will totally destroy themselves. Their destruction is described in Zechariah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 39:3-5.

• This military destruction will back fire on the headquarters of these nations as well. Their leaders will be destroyed by their own weapons.

The cities of the nations collapsed (Rev 16:19).

The declarations and prayers of the prophets will save Israel from terror.

Time of Distress (22) - Epochal Non Event

One key epochal event does not occur at end the Time of Distress. Jesus does not return at the end of the Time of Distress. He will not return to deliver Israel, as many Christians expect.

• The Time of Distress brings the end of the Times of the Gentiles, not the end of history.

• The next season is the Kingdom of God, which is the work of the Holy Spirit.

• Israel’s greatest need is not military deliverance, but a spiritual awakening. Spirit awakening is the forte of the Holy Spirit.

• Christians hoping to be rescued by the second coming will be disappointed.

• Jesus returns at the end of history to wind up life on earth. He does not return to Jerusalem to reign over a Jewish empire called the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit will bring in the Kingdom of God.

Time of Distress (21) - Valley of Decision

The global struggle between big powers will spill over into Israel. This is often called the battle of Armageddon, but that is a misunderstanding of a single verse in Revelation.

Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon (Rev 16:16).

John did not intend to indicate the site of the big battle, but to explain why it affects Israel. The Hebrew words transliterated as Armageddon refers to the Mount of Meggido, which was seared in Jewish memories as the place where King Josiah died. He was one of Judah’s best kings, but at the peak of his career, he was drawn into in a battle between Egypt and Assyria, and was killed by a random arrow. Jeremiah composed a lament, because his pointless death was a tragic waste for Judah, as it never had a good king again (2 Chron 35:20-25).

The same thing will happen in the big battle. The western Beast and the Islamic powers will be continuing their posturing and Israel will get drawn in. The Islamic nations will decide to invade Israel to gain control of resources (Ezek 38,39). The Beast of the West will already be there (Dan 11:40-45). Significant numbers of mounted infantry will join this battle.

Joel says that will be gathered in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:12). This is not a place but an explanation of what happens. The word Jehoshaphat means “God judges”. This event will bring judgement on the powerful nations.

Joel also refers to the valley of decision

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision (Joel 2:14).
The people of the world will make a decisions about their political and military leaders. The people of Israel will make a decision about Jesus.

Time of Distress (20) - Different Battle

This battle will be different from previous world wars. It will often be a personal struggle between political leaders.

For most of history, war was a personal struggle between one king and another, with each being supported by a small retinue of followers. Most kings could not afford a large number of troops, so the armies involved were quite small. Battles could last for several years, but were usually quite localised. Ordinary people did not get involved in war, unless they lived close to the battlefield. The greatest threat to their lives came from looting soldiers who had not been paid or supplied with provisions.

The nature of warfare changed dramatically during the nineteenth century with the development of total war. The emergence of nationalism changed war from a contest between two kings into a struggle between nations. Kings fought over territory. Nations tend to fight over causes, and everyone in the nation is drawn into the war effort by reducing their consumption and manufacturing equipment for the army. Civilians became the target for artillery and bombs. In total war, civilian casualties often exceed the number of military casualties.

As the Time of Distress gets underway, wars between nations will morph into personal struggles between political and military leaders (Dan 11). Assassinating evil political and military leaders will be morally acceptable. Personal attacks against undesirable political leaders will be an effective tool for projecting the Beast’s power in the world. The fear of a personal strike will cause many hostile leaders to submit to the Beast.

The weapons of war will change.

• Concentrating large numbers of infantry in one place will be superfluous.

• Sophisticated military weapons will have made personal warfare viable.

• Unmanned predator drones will intimidate the people by reminding them that they are under surveillance and under threat of attack. They will only kill a few people, but will torment many (Rev 9:1-6).

• Independent mobile strike teams will be efficient tools for strategic assassinations.

• Remotely controlled weapons will project power of across great distance.

• Many military engagements take place been combatants on different continents.

• Targeted missiles will strike against military targets and strategic assets.

Time of Distress (19) - ►The Big Battle

The epochal event that marks the end of the Time of the Distress is a Big Battle.

When the Time of Distress is getting very distressing, the last remaining political powers in the world will engage in a battle to the death.

• The Battle will emerge out of series of skirmishes between the Western beast and the Islamic powers.

• Trade wars will break out in various places.

• Control of oil fields will become a big issue.

• Minor military powers will try to gain control of local trade routes and shipping lanes.

• China will take advantage of the situation and push into Central Asia to secure control of minerals and oil.

• The Western beast will be used to getting its own way. It will begin a series of confrontations, assuming that it old enemies will be intimidated and back down, as in the past. This time their enemies will push back.

• The Islamic nations will want to punish the Beast for its policies while controlling the Promised Land. They will believe it has not gone far enough, so they will attack the Beast where it is exposed in Israel (Dan 11:40-45).

• The Eastern powers will be tired of being pushed around by the Western Beast and will decide to have a go at the Beast too (Rev 16:12-14).

• The Islamic nations will attack Israel to plunder and loot the precious metals that were stored there during earlier economic crises (Ezek 38:12-13).

• The major players in the big battle will be the Beast, representing the Western powers, the Islamic nations inspire by the Prince of Persia, and the powers from the East. Russia is too weak to be more than a bit player in these struggles.

The Old Testament prophets focus on the combat that occurs in Israel, because that was their interest, but the battle will take place on a much broader scale. It will affect many of the cities in the world (Rev 16:19). The confrontation in Israel will be a small part of a much larger battle.

Time of Distress (18) - Not the Tribulation

This Time of Distress and trouble will be a time of persecution for Christians. As the earth will be thrown into chaos, political power will be consolidated in a desperate attempt to hold back that chaos. One mighty nation will gain influence over a large part of the earth by promising to bring back peace and prosperity. Christians will see through the promises and stand against them. The Beast will use its power to annihilate any opposition, so it will be very painful for many believers. However, because it opposes God, the situation will deteriorate even more.

God will allow this persecution to purify and strengthen the church and make it ready to receive the Kingdom. Christians who are not fully devoted to the Lord will fall away, but those who stay true will be strengthened by the refining process.

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end,
I will give authority over the nations (Rev 2:26).

Christians who suffer through this season will inherit the Kingdom of God

This Time of Distress should not be called "The Tribulation". Many Christians will experience terrible trials, but this will be no different from the experience of many Christians down through the ages. Describing it as something unique is unfair to Christians in other times who have often suffered terribly for the Lord.

Being under pressure is a normal for Christians. We are taught that we should always expect tribulation.

In the world you have tribulation, but take courage,
I have overcome the world (John 16:33)

We must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

Christians should always expect tribulation. Whenever they are true to Christ, they will be a threat to the world, and this will always bring opposition. The Greek word "thlipsis", which is translated as tribulation, affliction or trouble, literally means pressure. Our word tribulation comes from the Latin word for threshing sledge. It often refers to trouble in a spiritual sense, and describes the pressure that all Christians will experience if they live in obedience to Jesus.

The Time of Distress will be a very painful season, but Christians can take comfort from knowing that God is merciful, so this terrible season will be cut short. They should rejoice in these trials, as they will soon see the Kingdom of God springing forth on earth.

Time of Distress (17) - Suffering

During the Time of Distress, the church will suffer for Jesus. The letter to the Hebrews describes what it will be like.

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions (Heb 10:32-34).

This season will really tough for Christians, so they should be prepared to suffer. Those who follow Jesus will have to turn the other cheek again and again.

• Many will be ripped off by violent and ruthless men.

• Some who have prepared will have all their resources stolen.

• Many will starve because they have been robbed.

• Justice will be rare.

• People will be killed, because they have food, and someone stronger wants it.

• Human life will be cheap and the protection of the state will disappear.

• Suffering will lead to victory.

Prepare
Looking for the Second Coming or rapture during the Time of Distress will lead to disappointment. Instead of seeking to escape, Christians should:

• prepare for a tough time, as Satan will not give up without a fight;

• prepare for persecution;

• build strong communities where Christians will be safe;

• raise up a prophetic voice that understands the times;

• speak prophetically to the nations;

• pray for the real salvation of Israel;

• speak prophetically to the people of Israel to prepare them for faith in Jesus.

During a time of trouble, the safest place is a strong Christian community. Paul insists that we should counter evil by doing good.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21).

In the same letter, he gives instructions about building strong relationships with other Christians.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Live in harmony with one another (Rom 12:10,13,16).

The best antidote to evil is strong communities where Christians can stand together to protect those coming under attack. Those standing alone will be vulnerable.

Faithful prayer during affliction produces joyful hope.
Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer (Rom 12:12).

Time of Distress (16) - The Church

The Time of Distress will be a huge disappointment for many Christians, especially for those have believed false doctrines.

• People who trust the prosperity gospel will find themselves suffering.

• Many hoping for a rapture rescue will find themselves living through tribulation.

• Those who see the state of Israel as proof of God’s faithfulness will be disillusioned when Israel is invaded by a western nation (not Iran or Russia).

• Those who believe in democracy will be shattered when their governments begin to persecute them.

• Christians who trust the power of the state will be shocked when they collapse.

Most Christians will be unprepared for the Time of Distress and will be thrown into confusion and despair. Many will fall from the faith and the church will appear to die.

John saw the truncated church being persecuted severely.

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them (Rev 11:7).

The people of the world will celebrate joyously, because the church that has cramped their style is gone (Rev 11:10). But just when it seems to be totally dead, God will raise it up again.

The breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them (Rev 11:11).

A radical church that has survived below the radar will burst onto the world stage. The people of the world will be amazed and shocked when see what God has done.

Time of Distress (15) - Israel Humbled

In subsequent decades, several external rulers will control the people of Israel. They will continue to be trampled by the Gentiles as Jesus had warned (Luke 21:24). This will be a huge disappointment for those who have come to Israel looking for peace.

John warned that the Jewish people would be in exile for a time, times and half a time. Daniel gave a similar prophecy, but adds an extra warning.

The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed" (Dan 12:7).

Daniel had seen a vision that described the manoeuvrings of powerful nations, so he asked the angel how long these events last. The angel explained the vision. The “holy people” is Israel. The angel declares that the power of Israel will be broken after a “time, times and half a times”, ie at the end of the Times of the Gentiles.

The Zionist movement used the manoeuvrings of powerful nations to achieve a return to their land. This has placed the Jewish people at enormous risk. The Israeli government has mitigated this risk by accumulating massive military force, and the Israeli people now trust this for their security. This false trust will have to be broken before the people of Israel come to faith in Jesus. Military defeat will break Israeli faith in their political leaders and military power, opening the way for faith in Jesus.

When several nations are attacking Israel and there is great trauma in the land, the Holy Spirit is poured out on Israel.

There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. (Dan 12:1).

The trauma that climaxes the Times of Distress leads to the Fullness of the Jews.

Time of Distress (14) - Rash Action

The Times of Distress will go to a new level when violent leaders in Israel take rash actions in an attempt to force things to happen.

Sons of the destroyers among your own people will rebel in fulfilment of the vision, but without success (Dan 11:14).

When the nations are distracted by a disturbance elsewhere in the Middle East, violent people will use force to push their agenda for the dominance of Israel. Their strategy will fail, because they are rushing ahead of God’s plan. Their failure will bring the wrath of the nations down on Israel.

This disaster will end with Israel being invaded. An army led by a powerful Western nation will invade the nation of Israel from bases in the Middle East.

The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it (Dan 11:16).

The expression "power to destroy" literally means "destruction in his hand". The invading army will have weapons of mass destruction. It will be so powerful that resistance is impossible.

And he shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions; and he shall perform them (Dan 11:17).

This powerful Western nation will take control of Israel an attempt to impose a solution for the last outstanding problem in the Middle East. The President will use military power to force Israel into a more equitable solution to the Palestinian problem. Israel might be forced to accept an independent Palestinian state. Ironically, Israel will find the security it seeks while trampled by a powerful nation.

Time of Distress (13) - Israel

Daniel prophesied that multitudes from his nation would receive salvation after a Time of Distress. It would be a time of trouble for his people.

There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered (Dan 12:1).

Perhaps because the Times of the Gentiles are drawing to an end, the leaders of Jewish people rushed ahead of God plan and use political manipulation and military power to establish a Jewish state in the land of Palestine. Ezekiel speaks of people who have returned to the land by the power of the sword.

A land that is restored by the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel who had long been desolate… and now all of them live in safety (Ez 38:8).

The Jewish people responded to the trauma of their holocaust in Europe, by seeking security in their own land. Over the last sixty years, they have established a nation state for themselves that is now providing relatively security.

Security in a homeland will prove to be a false hope, because during the Times of the Gentiles, their security comes from being scattered them among the nations.

The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach (Rev 12:14).

God kept the Jewish people alive among the nations for two thousand years. Gathering in one place leaves them vulnerable to the powers of evil and trusting political manoeuvrings and military power. This is a lose-lose combination. The Jewish people will only be safe in their land, when they trust in God through Jesus. Trusting in a homeland will prove to be a disaster.

Time of Distress (12) - Democratic Beast

The Beast emerges during the time of distress in a form that is totally different from previous empires. The people of the world will be amazed when they see it.

The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast (Rev 17:8).

This is a different type of empire. The key to why it is so different is that it seemed to have died and then come back to life again. When it came back to life, the entire world follows it.

One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast (Rev 13:3).

The beast is a form of government that once existed, was destroyed, but will come back in a way that will dazzle the world.

The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction (Rev 17:8).

This form of human government existed before John’s time, but had come such a violent end, that no one expected to see it again. It once existed, in John’s time it did not exist, but in the future it will come back into existence.

They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while… The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction (Rev 17:9,10).

Rome had a number of different types of government. The key is a form of human government that did not exit during his lifetime, but did exist previously. It is different from the sixth king, which exists at the time when John received his vision. When John was alive, Rome was the ultimate empire controlling a large part of the ancient world. This means that the Roman Empire is the sixth king. The key to identifying the awful beast is to identify the different form of human government that was brought to a violent by the Roman Empire.

The major form of human government that existed prior to the Roman Empire was the Roman republic. It was a copy of the democratic republic had begun in Greece much earlier. The Roman Republic began in 500 BC and lasted for nearly five centuries. Consuls were elected for a year. An elected Senate was responsible for passing laws and appointing government officials. Not everyone had the right to vote, but the Roman Republic was based on the principle of democracy.

Democracy in Rome came to a violent end about thirty years before Jesus was born. Julius Caesar and then his successor Caesar Augustus turned the Roman armies against Rome and destroyed the Republic. By the time Jesus was born, the Empire was fully entrenched in power. Ironically, Christianity began and democracy died at about the same.

Having received a fatal blow when Caesar August took control of Rome, the democratic republic appeared to be gone forever “The beast that once was, now is not” is the democratic republican form of Government. The beast with the “fatal wound had been healed’ and the “beast who was wounded by the sword and lived” represent the restoration of democratic government in a republic.

The idea that the beast of Revelation represents restored democracy is confirmed by John’ statement that the beast comes out of the sea (Rev 13:1). Throughout Revelation, the sea represents the people of the world.

Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw…. are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages” (Rev 17:15).

Most empires come into being when a few men seize control. This beast is emerges as the people govern themselves. The only way a great multitude of people can govern themselves through democracy.

This concept will be difficult for many Christians to get, because they have been taught that democracy is a Christian form of government. This is not true, as democracy is the opposite of the Kingdom of God. In democracy, authority resides with the people. In the Kingdom of God, authority resides with God. This makes them opposites.

If a group of people choose to obey God, they will not find his will by voting. They will find his will be listening to the Holy Spirit. They many even need prophets to declare his will. Democracy does not lead to the will of God, so it cannot produce his kingdom. There is plenty of evidence in scriptures that when the people got to vote with their feet, they walked away from God’s will.

Democracy is a form of adultery. People freely surrender to a democratically elected ruler, who is not their true king Jesusm in return for the pleasure and security. This adulterous relationship makes the Beast that exists in the time of distress totally different. Earlier empires mostly killed and stole to provide wealth for the emperor and his elite. A democratic empire has to provide benefits to everyone in order to keep getting their votes.

Time of Distress (11) - Role of the Beast

The book of Revelation describes the emergence of the Beast and explains that it will do four things. They are quite different from what many Christians expect.

1. Blasphemy

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies…. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven (Rev 13:5-6).

A person blaspheming usually speaks against God to mock him. The Beast is different, as it speaks “proud words” not rude word. It insults God by claiming his place and offering salvation that is better than the salvation offered through Jesus. This is the blasphemy of the Beast.

He will speak against the Most High and…try to change the set times and the laws (Dan 7:25).

Political messiahs will promise complete human salvation using political power. Most people believe there is no God, so human government is the only hope for salvation. The Beast is an attempt to create a better world by applying human wisdom to government. It is not established by evil men to do evil, but is established by good men to do good.

2. Economic Control
The Beast will control the economic system to prevent economic collapse.

It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave (Rev 13:16).

Political powers have always manipulated the little people who are poor. Their misery does not change. The big difference is that the Beast controls the rich and the powerful. It will even control those who are too big to fail (the big and the free). These activities will make preferred merchants and traders very rich (Rev 18:11-20).

3. Worldwide Influence
Authority and influence will be surrendered to this dominant nation by governments all over the world (Rev 13:5).

And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation (Rev 13:7).

For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled (Rev 17:17).

The nations do not disappear during this period. They carry on, but give some of their sovereignty to the dominant nation, so it can deal with crises sweeping across the earth.

John calls this behaviour adultery and names the beast as a prostitute.

The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries (Rev 18:3).

The nations belong to God, so they should have been loyal to him. Instead they surrender to a power nation for pleasure and prosperity. They compromise to get what they want

Daniel suggested that some nations would be broken up under the Beasts influence (Dan 7:7). This has already happened in Yugoslavia, Somalia and Sudan, and may possible happen in Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan.

4. Christians Persecuted
Christians who cannot accept the authority and the provision of the Beast will experience terrible persecution.

It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them (Rev 13:7).

If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed (Rev 13:7).

As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them (Dan 7:21).

Some Christians will understand that the Beast is a false messiah offering a false hope. Those who warn of the dangers of trusting this dominant nation for salvation will be persecuted savagely.

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people (Rev 13:7).

The main role of the Beast is to persecute Christians to create the suffering church that will be ready to receive the kingdom.

This powerful nation does not engage in blatant evil. It controls trade and puts big business back in its place. It puts uncooperative Christians back in their place, too. It promises to bring peace and prosperity to the people of the world. These are things that all good governments are expected to do. Many Christians will applaud this nation when it begins to exercise greater influence in the world.

The book of Revelation warns that this Beast will collapse and fail eventually when the next season emerges. This is a positive message for Christians, as the church is guaranteed to endure and outlast the Beast.

Time of Distress (10) - Terrible Beast

A few powerful nations will begin to dominate the nations of the earth. They will be given permission to intervene is horrible situations all over the world to try and bring control. One powerful nation will rise above the rest and dominate the world. At the beginning of the Times of Distress, this nation will be celebrated as a force for good in the world. The people of the world will welcome its greater involvement, as it rolls back some of the distress. It will receive widespread democratic support.

As the Times of Distress progress, the true character of this political power will be revealed and people will realise that it is opposed to God. Many Christians will wake up and realise that the mighty empire they trust has morphed into the Terrible Beast of Revelation and Daniel.

The king will do as he pleases… He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place (Dan 11:36).

The Terrible Beast will be different from those the empires that have gone before. They were established by military power and anyone who opposed their rule was forced to submit with ruthless violence. The new empire will get its power in a different way. Instead of being conquered by force, the people of the world will be deceived into offering voluntary submission to it.

He deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived (Rev 13:14).

The people of the world will be deceived into supporting the Terrible Beast. Many national leaders will freely submit to this new empire, because it offers military and financial support. This Beast will not rule the world directly, but the influence of its power will extend further than any previous empires.

This Beast will be a democratic empire.

The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast (Rev 17:8).

People will be impressed with the democratic form of government, because it seems to give them control over the power of the state. A democratic republic will seem like the best form of government ever. (Its true nature will eventually be revealed). People longing for peace and prosperity will support any government power that promises to fulfil their dreams.

The only challenge to this aggregation of political power will come from Christians who understand the signs of the time. When most people are calling on the political powers to do more to turn back the overwhelming crisis, they will expose the real character of the “best government ever”. Suggesting that this democratic republic is just another manifestation of the beast will make them unpopular. Opposition to the Beast will lead to the persecution of the God’s people (Rev 6:9-11).

Many Christians will miss the emergence of the Beast, because they are looking for a wicked man, who will gain control by devious means and then wreak evil on the world. This is a mistake. The Terrible Beast is not a manifestation of evil and wickedness, as is often assumed. This view has been spread by movies and books, but it is not based on the scriptures.

Time of Distress (9) - Political Messiahs

As the Time of Distress progresses, smaller governments will collapse under the strain. The governments of some small nations will not be able to cope with the pressure and will go broke. Politicians will be so overwhelmed by these situations and and flee from office. Many smaller nations will fall into anarchy, because no one is willing to take the risk of running for office and there is no money to maintain the structures of government. Jeremiah described what it will be like.

“In that day,” declares the LORD,
“the king and the officials will lose heart,
the priests will be horrified,
and the prophets will be appalled” (Jer 4:9).

This will produce huge disappointment and political leaders will be cursed.

Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness (Is 8:21-22).

The situation will be slightly different in larger nations. Local councils and regional governments will grind to a halt, as revenues disappear and politicians flee from power. People will look to national and federal governments for deliverance from trouble. Political power will shift from the local to the center in a last desperate attempt to bring order in the emerging chaos. The larger the nation, the longer political messiahs will be hold out by promising deliverance and hope.

We live in a very materialistic age, where people are obsessed with their physical comfort. When difficult times come, the majority of people will submit to political messiahs who promise to restore their affluence. If even if they are uneasy about losing their freedom, the will not do anything about it, because they believe in peace and security, even though it is disappearing. Whereas previous dictators gained power by military force and police power, the people of the world will welcome political messiahs, because they promise to deliver them from distress.

These political messiahs will not succeed, because they are working without God. Things will get worse and worse, despite their best efforts. They will demand more and more power in order hold things together, but will usually make the situation worse.

Time of Distress (8) - Power and Persecution

The season begins with trouble and disaster spreading throughout the world. Unprecedented terror and dread terror will abound on earth as a spirit of fear take hold of human lives. This will culminate with human governments accruing enormous powers. The season will climax with political power concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people, but being dramatically expanded in scope.

The principalities and powers will use the times of distress to soften the world up for their power play. When people will see their political leaders on television declaring peace and promising to restore broken dreams, their faith in political power will be boosted. Fear of the future and faith in the state are a dangerous mix. When fear and dread are pervasive and faith and trust inhuman government is widespread, accumulation and concentration of political power is easy.

The Time of Distress will be the last hurrah for Human Political Power. At the season begins, governments everywhere take up emergency powers, as people cry out for relief from their troubles. Most people will support their leaders, as they attempt to turn back the tide of evil, so those with power will deal ruthlessly with those who oppose them. In many places governments will be successful in turning back the worst evil, at least for a while.

A few Christians will see where the accumulation of political power is leading and speak against it. This will lead to the persecution represented by the fifth seal of Revelation.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained (Rev 6:9).

Christians who expose their political leaders as human messiahs will face terrible persecution.

Many more Christians will welcome the expansion of political power as a solution to the problems that they care about. They will be immune from persecution and life will go on in some sort of normality until the political powers fail.

Time of Distress (7) - World

The season that ends the times of the Gentiles is called the Time of Distress. This is the third season since the ministry of Jesus. It will affect different groups of people in different ways.

This season of transition will be painful for the world. Troubles and tribulations will breakout everywhere. The devil will be angry at losing power, so evil will eventually go rampant.

• Economies will collapse.
• Global trade will contract.
• Wealth will disappear as the division of labour shrinks.
• Wars increase in intensity.
• Famine and disaster will be widespread.
• Sickness and disease will be unstoppable.
• Security structures will fall apart.
• Concentration of political power
• Police and defence forces may not be paid, so many will desert their posts.
• Some military leaders will morph into warlords.
• Groups of police will morph into armed gangs controlling a patch of territory.
• Violent gangs of youths may rampage through towns and cities.
• Fear and dread will be pervasive.

The distress will build slowly. Initially, governments will hold back the worst of these effects, so most people will be confident that the good times will return.

Time of Distress (6) - Four

Four is the number that represents the earth, so these events will reach to the four corners of the earth.

God promises that he will protect his people through this season.

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you (Ps 91:5-7).

This psalm is a wonderful promise of hope for those who are faithful to the Lord.

A natural connection links the events symbolised by the four horsemen. The first two horsemen open the way for the third and the fourth horsemen. A decline in faith, leads to an increased warfare. The wasting of war tends to produce death and famine. Shortages of food cause sickness and death. We are seeing beginnings of these events, but we have certainly not seen their complete fulfilment. Before the first four seals are fulfilled, trouble and distress will sweep the earth on an unprecedented scale.

The Four Horsemen mark the beginning of the Time of Distress. Their activities release the conditions that allow a huge concentration of political and military powers. The fear and uncertainty brings human poltical power to a climax, as people give their freedom over to human governments in the hope of finding peace in a troubled world. This is has to happen, so faith in human government can be totally broken at the end of the season. For example, the advance of Islam will fail in its attempts to expand westward, but has already led to a big increase in state power and loss of freedom throughout the western world.

Time of Distress (5) - Pale Horse

The Pale Horse represents epidemic disease and death.

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him (Rev 6:7).

The Greek word is “Thanatos”. This word does mean death, but in the Greek version of the Old Testament (Septuagint) it is used more than thirty times to translate the Hebrew word for “pestilence” (deber), so “pestilence” is probably a better translation in this context. This horseman is a symbol of deadly disease spreading over the earth. John saw widespread sickness and disease killing people over all the earth. During 1348-9 over a third of the population of England succumbed to this disease.

This horseman had power to kill people in four ways.

They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill in sword, famine and plague, and by the beasts of the earth (Rev 6:8).

In Revelation, the beasts from the earth represent human political powers. This suggests that the wars, famines and disease will be caused by the actions of human governments.

This horseman was called Pestilence, and Hades follows him. This suggests that those who have rejected the gospel will be more vulnerable to this pestilence. Zechariah saw the pale horse moving south. This suggests that the impact will be worse in the poorer parts of the world.