Day: February 9, 2021

“Antipas … who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth” (Rev. 2:13).

Who could have predicted on January 1, 2020, that a tiny virus invisible to the human eye would change life for nearly every human on planet Earth and kill more than a million people? The virus was hard to contain and created confusion for epidemiologists from its uncanny persistence and mobility.

The political and economic debates over mandated masks, lockdowns, church closures and fines for churches that would not comply, raised the eyebrows of evangelicals, Catholics, Jews, and American patriots. It looked like the progressive Left had found an ally—a virus. Churches were forced to close down because they were “unessential,” while protests, riots and anti-Trump rallies were considered “constitutional.”

The spring of 2020 still had its blossoms, but no one was smelling the roses. Some were angry, some were depressed. If America thought things couldn’t get any worse, however, May 25 saw another conflagration begin when 46-year-old George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer pinned the African-American to the ground during an arrest. Derek Chauvin’s knee stayed on the neck of a handcuffed Floyd for almost nine minutes, as onlookers and other officers milled around. Floyd was having trouble breathing and soon expired. Neighborhoods burned as Americans again shouted at one another over matters of racial injustice. Despite the growing violence there were those who wanted to defund the police. Patrol cars were torched and protesters carried signs stating “Good Cops Are Dead Cops.” 

While the “progressive” Left grew in number, so did those who supported President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign. Trump’s plain-speaking was lauded as creating a tone of moral clarity for conservatives who were scandalized by America’s sharp turn to the Left and the growing support for “transgender rights” and the LGBTQ+ movement. America was more clearly polarized as President Trump’s strongly pro-life position and support for the Jewish State collided with the views of those who see abortion as “essential health care” and Israel as the oppressor of the Palestinian people. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California publicly tore up a copy of Trump’s State of the Union Address after he delivered it to a joint session of Congress, making Pelosi a goddess of virtue to some, and a foul spirit to others.

More Than What Meets the Eye

I cannot escape the fact that there is a manifestly spiritual dimension to the afflictions that have fallen upon our country. The madness is inexplicable unless we realize that malevolent spirits are piloting our nation into stormy waters.

How about the new politically correct prayer offered by Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO) who offered the opening prayer for the 117th Congress. The prayer was offered in “the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma and ‘god’ known by many names by many different faiths.” And it concluded with “Amen and A-woman.”

House Democrats were even more PC and framed a rule that gendered terms, such as “father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law … will be removed.”

Many evangelicals have been caught up in the madness. Consider how they have changed the meaning of “justice.” The Bible supports “justice,” but not “social justice,” which involves “deconstructing traditional systems and structures deemed to be oppressive, and redistributing power and resources from oppressors to their victims in the pursuit of equality of outcome” (Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice, Scott D. Allen).

However, the purpose of this essay is not to catalog the current insanity, but rather to draw the readers’ attention to a scripture that, I believe, offers us some guidance in dealing biblically with the contemporary scene. After all, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps. 11:3). 

From the Lord’s words to the church at Pergamos (Rev. 2:12–17) we can see that the church there was in a hostile neighborhood. Jesus said, “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is” (vs. 13). The ancient city of Pergamos hosted Satan’s “throne,” the seat of his rule. The word “throne” was also used for a seat in a private residence where the owner of the house sat, and was comfortable in the company of his family and friends. Satan was obviously comfortable, and at home, in Pergamos. 

Satan and his workers are territorial, hence the reference to Pergamos. Daniel 10:13 speaks of “the prince of the kingdom of Persia.” Verse 20 speaks of “the prince of Grecia.” In Mark 5:10, we read of the Gadarene demoniac. “And he [Legion] besought him [Jesus] much that he would not send them away out of the country.” When Satan and his cohorts find that conditions are favorable to their acceptance and activity, they move in and stay. It is in this way that they become territorial. 

This leads me to ask a few questions. Is Satan at home in your city or town? Does he feel comfortable in your own home? Are conditions ripe in your sphere of authority where he finds his work easy because conditions are favorable for him to peddle his lies? Are you responsible for his success?

We Are Responsible For What We Tolerate

In verse 14 we see that the Lord Jesus Christ has a complaint against the church because of what they were tolerating. “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam.” Jesus’ complaint is that they have been tolerating a false teacher. The “doctrine of Balaam” is a reference to Balaam’s advice to King Balak of the Moabites (Num. 22–25). For King Balak, the Hebrews seemed invincible. God was on their side. No one could conquer them. Balak believed that waging war against the Israelites was futile. But Balaam suggested that the Hebrews could be beaten if they sinned and angered their God. So Balaam suggested that Balak tempt the Hebrew men with beautiful Moabite woman. Balaam taught Balak “to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Rev. 2:14). The lesson is clear, and especially relevant in this time of encroaching evil and intense spiritual warfare: We must keep God on our side. He holds us responsible for what we tolerate.

During the Christmas holidays, I was driving and listening to Christian radio. A ministry was airing Christmas speeches by some of America’s presidents—Truman, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Trump, and also the Apollo 8 transmission from space that gave a reading of Genesis 1. Each president gave a clear presentation of the Gospel. Truman called communism “godless.” Reagan spoke about how Christianity has brought peace and respect wherever it has been accepted. I realized that in just a few years our country has been hijacked by God-haters and historical revisionists. How could that happen? Because of what we have tolerated. We have tolerated socialist teachers in public schools. We have ignored the warnings that globalists are seeking to capture the hearts of our kids by turning them against America. I have been at Southwest Radio Church for 22 years. Even before that, on WHCB radio in the Tri-Cities of Tennessee I had sounded the warning repeatedly. And many other pastors and radio hosts had faithfully done the same thing. Now we are facing the downfall of the America we have always known. The lesson is shouting at us: “Be careful what you tolerate.” One Chinese asylum-seeker told me recently, “We thought China would become like America, but America is becoming like China!”

A Faithful Remnant In Pergamos

However, there were some in Pergamos who continued to be faithful despite the circumstances. “I know thy works … and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr” (vs. 13).

Jesus doesn’t say, “Antipas was a faithful martyr,” but rather “Antipas was my faithful martyr.” Biblical Christianity drives all potential followers away except those who are ready to face death for the cause. Are we those who have been driven away by fear? Have we lost our courage? Are even those supposedly fundamental pastors who rail at the evils of modern America nothing more than gutless entertainers whose convictions are not really convictions at all? Are these pastors infatuated by post-modernity where comfort and ease are worshipped? Being ready to take up our cross is not just a suggestion or just a possible lifestyle choice for “super-Christians,” but the command and call of our Lord (Matt. 16:24–26).

There are many stories about Antipas from antiquity. Though they are not in canonic Scripture, they are ancient. One of the stories says Antipas was martyred because he was casting out so many demons the pagans were in a rage. At any rate, his name Antipas literally means “against all.” He took an uncompromising stand for truth in a time of compromise. May we follow his example.

The controversy over the November 3 presidential election will continue. One side or the other is going to feel disenfranchised. If your candidate ultimately comes out on top, there will be protests, violence, and riots.

There are some things, however, that will not change whoever is president. The intensity of spiritual warfare will not change, nor will the urgency of preaching the Gospel change. Day by day, we will get closer to the heralded time when the trumpet will sound. Obedient, Spirit-filled living is always in order. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21).

The identity and nationality of the Antichrist has long been the subject of many discussions. Some believe that he must be a Jew; some believe he will be a Muslim; and some believe he will be produced by the European Union because of his identity with the Revived Roman Empire. Certainly, he will not be a false Christ, but rather he will be totally against Christ as a representative of Satan. This man must attack Christians and Christianity and attempt to destroy their faith in the Bible. He must be in a position to begin his rule immediately after the Rapture. If we are in the last days, then he must be alive today and we would probably recognize him or his name. However, he will not be identifiable until the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period. 

Prophecy teachers for centuries have studied to identity both the origin and person of the Antichrist. Most teachers fall in line with one of the aforementioned studies. However, we are obviously missing some important clues or the identity would have been revealed long ago, or at least the origin. These clues were evidently left out on purpose to keep us studying the Word. Like the United States, China cannot be dogmatically identified in Bible prophecy. However, there are scriptures that could possibly be construed to mean either of the two. 

In the case of China, the word Sinim is called a Hapax legomenon because it only appears once in the entire King James Bible. It appears in Isaiah 49:12, “Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west: and these from the land of Sinim.” Does Sinim refer to China or some other area such as southern Egypt or Sudan? Strong’s Concordance refers to Sinim in Hebrew #5515 as “see-neem; plural of an otherwise unknown name; Sinim, a distant Oriental region:—Sinim”. 

In Daniel 11:37–39, we read a description of the Antichrist’s traits: “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.” Just a few years ago, Islam was considered the greatest threat to the free world, especially Christianity. Even though Islam is a threat, it has been overshadowed and subdued by the persistence of President Donald Trump. 

The threat of Islam has given way to China, which is involved in almost every aspect of society in most countries on the globe. Today, the People’s Republic of China is led by a Christian-hating leader, Xi Jinping. Xi can easily fit the description of Daniel 11. He became the current president in 2012, and is given the distinction of being allowed the office beyond the term limits set in their constitution. This was done by removing the clause that limits the office to two five-year terms. He is the son of the revolutionary veteran Xi Zhongxun, one of the Communist Party’s founders. He is called a “princeling,” a child of an elite senior official. “And in a clear sign of Mr Xi’s influence, the Communist Party voted in 2017 to write his philosophy, called “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era,” in its constitution” (www.bbc.com). 

Xi has effectively graduated from president to a powerful dictator in charge of the world’s second largest economy. Recently, he advised his military to prepare for war. He has become a threat to the other communist leaders in China. The regime has tried to delete (or at least obscure) from sight the treatment of political activists and opponents under Xi’s direction, even the 1989 massacre where possible millions were murdered, and the gruesome selling of body parts to whoever has the need and the money. Many if not most are from the political and religious organization, the Fulun Gong. 

“It sounds too unbelievable to be true, but dozens of highly respected investigators, scholars and government officials around the world claim the Chinese government is harvesting organs from groups considered to be political or cultural enemies of the regime currently in power. It’s no secret that there is a shortage of desperately needed organs in China (and around the world), and with tens of thousands of healthy Chinese prisoners locked away for all sorts of absurdities, experts say the government has secretly turned to the prison population as its source to fill the growing demand for organs and to provide “organ tourists” from Western nations with potentially life-saving treatments” (www.newsweek.com).

The practice of organ harvesting by the Chinese government has been reported by many other organizations. If a wealthy or influential person needs an organ transplant, they can order it from Beijing and receive a match from their countless prisoners. Only a country that endorses a leader such as Xi could be more fitted to fill the ungodly order of the Antichrist. 

The Epoch Times newspaper has dedicated much of its resources to the exposure of Chinese influence in the United States. They exposed TikTok as spyware for the Chinese government. That is why President Trump ordered the company to sell out to an American company, such as Microsoft, or be banned in the United States. In 2008, the Chinese continued to hire overseas talents to fill their “Thousand Talents Plan,” perceived as a national threat to not only the United States but also Central and South America. Xi and the communist government are dedicated to destroying the U.S. with cash obtained from the Mexican and Columbian drug cartels.

The infiltration into the espionage business has been exposed by the association of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Chinese spy Christia Fang, a student at California State University. Furthermore, it is known that the Chinese are stealing U.S. technology by engaging university students. “Newt says China will dominate the world if tech theft isn’t stopped, ‘it’s a matter of life and death’” (www.FoxNews.com, June 22, 2020).

China is also in the U.S. real estate business even getting tax incentives. They are purchasing large parts of Detroit, getting their mitts on the auto industry. “Near Milan, Michigan, a Chinese company, ‘Sino-Michigan Properties LLC’ is planning an entire Chinese City with artificial lakes, a Chinese cultural center and hundreds of housing units for Chinese citizens” (www.freedomoutpost.com). China is buying land all over the globe and staffing it with Chinese citizens, and no one sees the danger of a global takeover. It is sad to say, but many politicians are resigned to the fact that China will eventually become the dominant world power.

The latest assault on the United States and the remaining world is China’s unleashing of COVID-19 on an unsuspecting population. In a pre-recorded speech, President Trump told the General Assembly that China must be held responsible: “We are once again engaged in a global struggle. We have waged a fierce battle against an invisible enemy, the China virus, which has claimed lives in 188 nations.” Even now, many political figures in our own Congress support naturalizing relations with our greatest enemy. We wonder what hold Beijing has on them! China produced the virus and then produced the safety products to combat it. In the process, they have shoveled billions of U.S. dollars into the Beijing treasury. 

It is certain that China had a hand in the illegal voting practices of the presidential election. Chinese president Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to president-elect Joe Biden more than two weeks after the Democratic candidate was projected the winner of the U.S. presidential election. He stated, “Promoting the healthy and stable development of China–U.S. relations is not only in the fundamental interests of both peoples, but also meets the common expectation of the international community,” state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying in the message.

“I hope to see both sides uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and focus on cooperation while managing and controlling disputes,” Xi added, according to Xinhua. Xi has stated that he and Biden would work well together. The Chinese media stated that Biden would be “smoother” to deal with than Trump. 

The list of Chinese encroachments on the U.S. alone are too numerous to list in this short report, but make no mistake, without intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ we are only 20–25 years away from becoming a feudal state to China.

China has also waged a war on the Bible itself in order to re-educated the young people before they are introduced to Christ. “The Chinese government is supervising a five-year plan to make Christianity more compatible with socialism in which there will be a ‘rewrite’ of the Bible, a prominent religious freedom activist has told Congress” (www.christianpost.com). “… Some Three-Self churches have been shut down for not implementing the rule, while other congregations have been threatened to be blacklisted by the government, an anonymous source told the magazine. … The biblical commandments given to Moses, which include ‘You shall have no other gods before Me’ and ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image,’ have been replaced with quotes from Xi, The core socialist values and Chinese culture will help to immerse various religions of China.” 

Can China produce the Antichrist in a man such as Xi Jinping? I believe it’s possible. Only the oriental part of the globe could produce a 200 million-man army. “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared” (Rev. 16:12).