Highlights of FOTET’S 2023 “DANIEL UNSEALED” Series, Chapter By Chapter!

Highlights of FOTET’S 2023 “DANIEL UNSEALED” Series, Chapter By Chapter!

 

 

“DANIEL UNSEALED”

Chapter By Chapter Highlights

3/7/23  By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

Thinking DanielIf you spent any time in Sunday School you know about Daniel with the stories of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego escaping the fiery furnace and Daniel escaping the Lion’s den. But Daniel is more than a Bible character on your teacher’s flannelgraph.
 
His book accurately prophesied more than 2500 years of world history with astonishing detail. And in the process, students of prophecy discover something very important. God wants us to use Daniel’s prophecies as the standard for interpreting other prophecies. It’s unique design built into every chapter presents it as God’s blueprint for prophetic interpretation. Here’s the best part.The book holds the key to understanding our history and our tumultuous times today and reassures us of God’s absolute authority over the future.

Overview, All Six Classes!

– 2023 Dates –

Four Beasts, 10 Horns and a Little Horn – Daniel 7 (March 14)

The prophecy that was revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, that there would be four world-ruling empires, was repeated about 50 years later in Daniel 7. This time, however, it was Daniel who had the dream, and there were added details.

In this vision Daniel saw four beasts—representing the same four world-ruling empires described in Daniel 2 that come up out of the sea. The phrase “coming out of the sea” is a purposeful link that coincides with the Beast of Revelation 13 who “comes out of the sea” so we know the four beasts of Daniel 7 are also depicting the final empire of Antichrist.

Daniel noted that there was also a little horn that spoke blasphemous words against God and made war against the saints. God reveals the “little horn” (Antichrist) for the first time in scripture, and dramatic details emerge of the intensity of his war against Israel and the unprecedented evil that will pour out from the empire of Antichrist.

Daniel 7 also gives us a much greater explanation of the fourth beast, which has 10 horns, representing 10 kings that would arise from the fourth kingdom. This prophecy concludes with more details about the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom.

The Ram and the Goat – Daniel 8 (April 18)

One of the unstated themes running throughout Daniel is his search through these empires to identify the bloodline and geographical territory of Antichrist. In the eighth chapter, Daniel begins his journey of narrowing down the search for Antichrist. To accomplish this we are given an expanded vision of just two of the four world-ruling empires, the Persian and Grecian Empires also identified in Daniel 2 and 7. Daniel sees a vision of a ram with two horns (Medes and Persians) and then a male goat with a single notable horn between his eyes (Alexander the Great) conquering the ram.

The historical fulfillment of this vision is Greece under Alexander the Great conquering the Medo-Persian Empire. The search narrows as it then follows the division of Alexander’s kingdom after his untimely death into four new empires ruled by his four generals.

It further narrows with the focus landing on two of the four new Grecian Empires; the Ptolemy and Seleucid empires. In one last twist, Daniel narrows our search for Antichrist down to just one possibility when sees another “little horn,” coming out of one of these two empires but he’s different from the little horn of Antichrist in chapter 7.

This time he’s the rogue and vile Syrian King of the Seleucid Empire who in 167 BC launched severe persecution of the Jewish people in a pattern to be followed by Antichrist. This becomes the model for the rise of Antichrist to emerge from the Middle East land mass of the Seleucid Empire in the territory of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

 

 

 

Israel’s Calendar Revealed, 70 Weeks of Daniel – Chapter 9 (June 20)

The 70-weeks prophecy found in Daniel 9 reveals God’s extensive 490 year calendar that unfolds His plans for Israel. This remarkable prophecy dates the coming of Jesus Christ to earth the first time and also identifies significant aspects of Jesus’ ministry. Israel should have known when their Messiah showed up in Galilee.

We learn that the majority of Israel’s calendar events were fulfilled at the time of Jesus’ death covering 483 years, but that seven years still await fulfillment. These final seven years that remain unfulfilled is the seven-year Tribulation period.

The seven years begins with an international peace treaty or covenant, is disrupted when Antichrist invades Israel and breaks the covenant by committing the abomination of desolation in the middle of the seven years, and ends when the disruptor is soundly defeated at the Second Coming of Jesus.

Spiritual Warfare, Fighting the Prince of Persia, Placing Life in the Larger Story – Chapter 10 (August 8)

In Daniel ten, Gabriel pulls the curtain of the unseen spirit-world aside and reveals the battle of spiritual warfare up close and personal. In addition, Gabriel reveals God’s, “Book of Truth” to Daniel, God’s heavenly record of unrevealed end-time events which is kept in heaven.

The chapter reminds us that until we grasp the spiritual realties at work in this world, we will never truly appraise the things in our lives the way that we should. We learn that behind whatever crises or conflicts the world faces, lies a more potent spiritual conflict. A conflict that requires spiritual weapons, prayer and discernment. The chapter reminds us that we have a God who is more than capable of handling any crises of the past, present and future.
 
Wars of Antichrist – Daniel 11 (September 26)

Of particular interest in this chapter, to students of prophecy is Daniel’s reference to “the abomination of desolation” (Daniel 11:31; 12:11). In Daniel 11 this refers to evil events that the other “little horn,” Antiochus IV Epiphanes did like pouring pig’s broth throughout the Temple and outlawing being Jewish, atrocities he committed in Jerusalem around 167 B.C.

In chapter 12 the abomination is in the context of the “time of the end” (Daniel 12:4) pointing to when Antichrist desolates the temple in the seven-year Tribulation. Jesus later spoke of this same end-time event (Matthew 24:3, 15).

Writing from the location perspective of the land of Israel, Daniel 11 writes of other powers coming into the region he referred to as “the king of the South” and “the king of the North” (Daniel 11:5-6). Of special interest to us, verses 36-45 speak of these same powers becoming the end-time wars of Antichrist (king of the north) as he seeks to conquer all the land of Israel and destroy God’s people. This scenario is rising right before our eyes today as the nations of the Middle East shuffle and are staged for the coming final empire.

Daniel 12 Wrap up!

While previous prophecies in the book of Daniel have touched upon end-time events, the final short chapter gives special emphasis to wrapping up his vision of the Tribulation period. Even though this will be “a time of great trouble” unlike any other, the encouragement for God’s people is that after Christ returns they will receive eternal life and be glorified in the Millennial Kingdom with their beloved King Jesus on the Throne in Jerusalem.

Understanding Daniel’s prophesies is so important today because most interpretation of prophetic events these days, especially on the internet and TV, is based on emotions and current events as opposed to sound doctrine flowing from the study of the Word.
So we invite you to join us for each class this year.

What You Don’t Know About The Second Coming Will Shock You!

What You Don’t Know About The Second Coming Will Shock You!

What You Don’t Know About The Return of Jesus May Shock You!

Petra, Part 3

9/26/22 – by Tim Buck
Fotet.org

“God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise.”
Habakkuk 3:3

Where On Earth Will Jesus Return?

It’s been taught by prophecy teachers (including me) that Jesus will land on the Mount of Olives when He first returns at His Second Coming.

But from recent studies, I no longer feel that accurately
reflects the proper sequence of events that we read about in the Prophets showing where Jesus first arrives on earth.

There’s more to the story…

Buried in the short book of Habakkuk is the most interesting prophecy outlined above.

This prophecy deals with Christ’s Second Coming in the “Day of the Lord” and His arrival on earth at the end of the 7-Year Tribulation.
 
What’s fascinating is the reference to “God coming from Teman.” Teman was the capital of Edom, which is today in the southwest part of Jordan around the area of Petra. What’s that about? Why is God coming from Edom and the region of Petra?
 
The next line in the verse says “the Holy One came from Mount Paran,” a reference to the place close to Petra where God moved to from Mt. Sinai so the Israelites could see His glory from a distance.
 

“The LORD came from Sinai and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran.
Deut. 33:2

So Habakkuk recorded a vision of the last days regarding the Lord arriving and coming from Teman (Edom) and Paran (area of Petra). But why is the Lord coming from Edom and the mountainous region of Petra? What’s that all about?

Isaiah sheds more light on this:

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
 Isaiah 63:1

 
Similar to the vision of John in Revelation 19:13 where Jesus is “clothed with a robe dipped in blood”, Isaiah also sees the robe of Jesus splattered with the blood of His enemies. Where did the blood come from?

Isaiah, like Habakkuk, says at the end of the Tribulation God comes from Edom—but more specifically from “Bozrah.”
 
There’s an important geographic clue in the meaning of the word “Teman” in Habakkuk 3:3. Teman means “South,” as in reference to Jerusalem.

Isaiah sees a vision of Jesus, after He returns, heading toward Jerusalem from the southern area of Bozrah. This indicates that Jesus must have arrived in the Judean desert somewhere around the area of Petra. He doesn’t arrive at Jerusalem first and then go to Petra, He first goes to Petra to free the remnant and then leads His entire procession up to Jerusalem.
 
So if you face Edom from Jerusalem looking south is Bozrah and the mountains of Seir. And guess what is located in the middle of those mountains—the empty city today known as Petra, Jordan.
 
Petra, of course, means “rock” and is located in the rugged mountains southeast of the Dead Sea and near Israel’s eastern border.
 
Petra was the capital city of the Nabateans. This nation seems to have come out of thin air, living for a couple hundred years around the time of Christ on the earth. Then, just as mysteriously, they disappear with no trace of what happened or where they went. The Nabateans were known for their carvings into sandstone. The area where Petra is located is full of sandstone mountains with thousands of carvings straight into the soft rock in the high sandstone walls.

Is it possible that God had this city built and then permanently vacated just so it would be available as the emergency refuge for Jews escaping genocide during the second half of the Tribulation? Yes!

Is it possible that we serve such a God? Yes and Amen!
 
Today you can see houses with several rooms carved deep into the sandstone walls. They even carved graves, tombs, water channels and animal mangers into these walls.

After carving all this for 200+ years, it left the area dotted with thousands of caves. It’s been estimated that when fully excavated, the city could hold up to 5 million people.

So let’s tie all this together…

In Matthew 24 Jesus describes an event at the middle of the 7-Year Tribulation when the West Bank Jews must flee for their lives.

They are warned that when they see the “abomination of desolation” standing in their Temple, that’s the sign to run or be killed.

Much like God provided water and food to the Israelites who wandered in the same desert for 40 years after the Egyptian Exodus, God will similarly provide for the surviving Jews who heeded Biblical warnings to flee when they saw the Abomination of Desolation.

Isaiah again fills in some details about the area to which they fled:

Enter the rock and hide in the dust… Is. 2:10

Men will go into caves of the rocks and into holes of the ground… Is. 2:19    

In order to go into the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs… Is. 2:21   

This further confirms that the holes, caves and large caverns that we see today in Petra are where the Jews end up living for the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation, protected and provided for by God.

It’s during this time when they have come with nothing but the clothes on their backs, that they begin to lose their pride, repent, and begin understanding their Biblical roots and that they crucified Jesus their Messiah!

When Jesus returns to earth He first shows up in the area of Petra. It’s in this battle where he gets His blood stained cloak (Isaiah 63; Rev. 19) from defeating the southern armies of Antichrist who have besieged Petra. In a great battle, Jesus comes with “lightening in His hands” (Hab. 3:4) to defeat Israel’s enemies and personally free His remnant. It is likely that it’s on this occasion when “they see Him whom they pierced” (Zech. 12:10) and repent and are saved. 

Then from Petra, Jesus the “Cloud Rider” becomes Jesus the “Desert Marcher” as He leads His entourage of freed Jewish believers through the Judean desert toward Jerusalem.

Upon arriving and ascending the Mount of Olives the mountain splits in half making a sudden way of escape through a newly formed valley like the miracle of the Red Sea. The remaining Jews in Jerusalem who have been besieged by Antichrist’s forces will flee through the mountain valley to escape death just in time!

Antichrist and his army then make the same mistake that Pharaoh and his army made giving chase into the mountain valley and the lights go out! When God turns the lights back on, the Tribulation is over and the Millennial Kingdom begins (Zech. 14:5-8).

For more study, read Isaiah 63:1-6; Habakkuk 3; Zechariah 14; Mt. 24:15-21; Revelation 12:6, 13-17 and 19.

Petra, Israel’s Secret Hiding Place In The Tribulation – Part 2!

Petra, Israel’s Secret Hiding Place In The Tribulation – Part 2!

Israel’s Escape To Petra,
Mountain Stronghold
Part 2
9/15/22 – by Tim Buck
Fotet.orgThen let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days! But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath;
Matthew 24:16-20

Petra, meaning “Rock” in Greek, is a deserted city south of the Dead Sea in Jordan. In the past it was also known as Seir, capital of the Edomites. In later times, the Nabateans settled in the mountain stronghold and called their capital Petra.

The city is situated about 120 miles southeast of Jerusalem. Indications are that an earthquake and volcanic activity occurred, forming a big canyon with rocky ravines and steep cliffs.

The remains of the spectacular city that could hold up to 5 million people consist of temples, tombs and thousands of dwellings carved out of the sandstone cliffs. The only entrance to the city is through a narrow gorge over a mile long, which can easily be guarded and even blocked if necessary, thus rendering Petra a very safe refuge.

An impressive scene greets you when the multi-colored
sandstone formations of the this famous ghost town looms up before you. Added to this is the expectation that, according to Revelation 12:6, it will probably serve as the refuge to a remnant in Israel when Antichrist orders the genocide of the West Bank Jews, lasting for the last 3½ years of the tribulation period.

South of the narrow gorge that offers access to Petra is a valley several miles wide. A few miles south of the entrance to Petra is the Fountain of Moses and his split rock where Moses struck the rock and water gushed forth. During their journey through the wilderness Moses led the Israelites along this valley to the gates of Petra. From that point, they intended passing through Edom’s territory on their way to the Promised Land, but the hostile and vindictive Edomites twice refused their request.

God’s plans for the remnant of Israel when attacked by Antichrist in the middle of the Tribulation is to bring them back to this familiar location to protect them and care for them during the second half of the Tribulation.

Then the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should be nourished there 1260 days. 
Revelation 12:6

The Command To Flee

Matthew 24:15-20 is saying that the moment the Jewish remnant sees the abomination of Israel’s Temple they are to flee to the Judean hills. Why are they to flee instantly? It is because with the event of Antichrist defiling Israel’s temple he goes from protecting Israel to persecuting her.

Therefore, the sooner that the remnant can get out of town, then the less likely it will be that Antichrist and his forces will be able to persecute the Jews. Another reason why they will be able to flee instantly is because they will be miraculously provided for and protected as they make their way to Petra for three and a half years of safekeeping.

Special Instructions

Matthew 24:15-20 also provides a set of instructions for the remnant. Christ tells them where to go: the Judean mountains. Jesus says to flee instantly. Don’t even take a few minutes to collect personal belongings like your cloak in the field or a few items from your house for the journey. That could cost you your life.

He warns that it will be difficult to navigate the mountainous terrain if pregnant or nursing a newborn. Jesus does not say that it will be impossible, but it will be difficult. Difficulty will be compounded if this event occurs in winter or on a Sabbath, because of the added restrictions that these times pose.

The winter in Israel is the rainy season which increases the hazards of travel in the Judean hills because the creeks and rivers provide an obstacle not there during other seasons. The mountainous region around Petra can also get snow making travel in the winter more difficult. The Sabbath imposes a travel restriction that is not in force on the other six days of the week that poses a real problem to the observant Jew.

So why are the Jewish remnant supposed to be aware of a special event which triggers their escape into the Judea wilderness, yet they are not told to make any preparations for that day?

Miraculous Provision

While Matthew 24:16-20 focuses upon the remnant’s response to the abomination, other passages provide a more complete picture of their wilderness sojourn. The parallel passage of Revelation 12:6 says Israel will be “nourished for 1260 days.”

The key word in this verse is “nourished.” This explains why the remnant is told to flee without consideration for any provisions, because God has prepared a place where Israel will be nourished and taken care of just like when He sent manna and provided water for ancient Israel.

More about Petra and Israel’s flight into the mountains coming in Part 3.

For more study, read Isaiah 63:1-6; Zechariah 14:1-2; Mt. 24:15-21; Revelation 12:6, 13-17.

Petra, Israel’s Secret Hiding Place In The Tribulation

Petra, Israel’s Secret Hiding Place In The Tribulation

Petra:
Israel’s Secret Hiding Place
In The Tribulation – Part 1

9/13/22 – by Tim Buck
Fotet.org

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days! But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath;
Matthew 24:16-20

One of the greatest miracles yet to happen for the Jewish people is when the remnant of Judean Jews (West Bank Jews) will be rescued by God and supernaturally protected for 3.5 years during the second half of the Tribulation. This event will be no less of a miracle then when Jehovah God protected the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. That ancient care for Israel in the wilderness occurred at the same place as God’s future intervention for Israel in the area of Petra also known as Bozrah southeast of the Dead Sea.

With its birth in 1948 and after winning a series of modern wars, Israel will come under intense pressure by the international community to divide the land along the lines of the 2-State Solution (Joel 3:2; Zech. 12:2-3; Mt. 24:15-16). Under pressure, Israel will unwisely enter into a 7-year peace agreement with Antichrist that the prophet Daniel says will trigger the start of the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27).

After 3.5 years of peace and coinciding with Satan’s eviction from the 2nd heaven (Rev. 12:7-12), Antichrist dramatically breaks his peace covenant with Israel in the middle of the Tribulation by launching an unexpected invasion of the Jewish State. The blitzkrieg-like invasion and sordid details are described in Zech. 14:1-2. As a result, Antichrist and his 10-king empire recapture most of the “Greenline” land which Israel won from Jordan in the 1967, 6 DAY WAR which includes the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, taking possession of Israel’s temple.

Jesus warns the Jews who get caught up in this mid-trib nightmare that there is a specific sign they can look for, to identify precisely when this event occurs. The sign He gives them is when they see the temple defiled by Antichrist which is also called the “Abomination of Desolation” –  Mt. 24:15.

15 So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:15-16
When Israel sees the abomination, Jesus tells them to immediately “flee to the mountains.”  So what is the ‘abomination?’ The simple explanation for the defilement of Israel’s temple is the act of the Muslim Antichrist redesigning the temple with minarets and converting it into a mosque for the worship of Allah! Jesus is saying don’t wait around any longer when you begin seeing the conversion of the temple… run and run fast into the mountains!

The conversion of Israel’s temple into a mosque is not unfamiliar to those paying attention to the holy land over the last half of a century. The haters of Israel in the epicenter like the Palestinian’s and the Muslim’s are notorious for stealing Israel’s holy sites and converting them into mosques! And of course, everything is always stolen on the up and up with the backing of the Israel-hating U.N.

Today, dozens of biblical towns have been renamed to fit the Quran and places like Israel’s famous Tomb of the Patriarch’s in Hebron and even Rachael’s Tomb in Bethlehem are now declared “holy mosques” because Satan stole those characters and reengineered them to fit Islam. These special Jewish sites, thousands of years old, are now declared Muslim holy sites by UNESCO. Satan is the great thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy – Jn. 10:10.

The biggest prize in Satan’s career will be the day he steals Israel’s Temple. Once the beautiful, new, Jewish Temple falls into the hands of Antichrist and the Islamic Empire it will become a mosque and Satan’s plan to exterminate the Jews will commence without delay!

More about this amazing sequence of events, the location of the mountains where the West Bank Jews are told to “flee to” and the trauma involved while being chased by Satan will be picked up in Part 2.

For more study, read Isaiah 63:1-6; Zechariah 14:1-2; Mt. 24:15-21; Revelation 12:6, 13-17.

Is A New World Order Coming?  Both Biden and Putin have evoked a “New World Order” in the context of the Ukraine War. Should we be worried?

Is A New World Order Coming? Both Biden and Putin have evoked a “New World Order” in the context of the Ukraine War. Should we be worried?

For Christians who believe that truth matters, I’d like to offer my opinion on what I perceive are the widely misused terms of the New World Order, Globalists and the Great Reset. These hot button phrases are misleading and confusing and are western ideals but not biblical concepts. I’d like to encourage serious students of the Bible to rethink the topic of a one-world government in the last days!

The throwback conspiracy theory known as the “New World Order” is enjoying a renaissance.
 
President Biden mentioned the “new world order” in mid-March at a Business Roundtable meeting, “Now is a time when things are shifting,” Biden said when asked about the United States’ response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “There’s going to be a new world order out there, and we’ve got to lead it.”
 
Biden’s comments came not long after conspiracy theorists pounced on a remark by a Ukrainian MP during a recent interview with Fox News. “We not only fight for Ukraine; we fight for this new world order for the democratic countries,” Kira Rudyk said in the interview.
 
Due to the proliferation of fringe narratives on social media that cast Ukraine as a pawn in a supposed nefarious scheme by global elites, the new world order conspiracy has gained new lifeblood.
 
Whenever “new world order” is mentioned by a world leader it seems like American Christians and prophecy social media circles, go wild with claims that, “this is It,” and the “one-world movement” is finally here.”
 
When President George Bush used the phrase New World Order in his speech in 1990, those in the Bible prophecy community went bonkers. This was IT. This was the Beast of Revelation 13 which means the reign of Antichrist and the return of Jesus was right around the corner!

Ignored was the context of Bush’s statement which only reflected a post-Soviet Union, post-Cold War era where there were no more competing superpowers, but a flexible realignment of military power to address things like Saddam Hussein’s recent invasion of Kuwait.

But as is always the case with conspiracy theories, the lack of a full context feeds the deception. Christian Bible prophecy folks had already made up their minds that the “New World Order” or “Globalism” WAS what the Bible was referring to in Revelation – it HAD to be. But the context of Bush’s words (or Biden’s for that matter) are not what the Bible describes.

For 30+ years since then, Bible prophecy teachers have been filling up YouTube and Telegram with “Globalists” this and “Globalism” that, as if it’s a biblical concept and you MUST agree or you are… wait for it… one of “THEM.”
 
And now we can add “The Great Reset” to the list… thanks a lot COVID. Yet another nothingburger. The Great Reset is allegedly about the “global elite” using COVID to dismantle capitalism and enforce radical social change to make way in America for something like communism. There are certainly many who would like to see America turned into a communist state but that isn’t proof we’re on the verge of a one-world government taking over.
 
Instead of an articulate study of biblical end-time events, conservative Christians just keep getting stuck on the latest one worldism news and keep driving up book sales with scary titles. Instead, we would do well to remember that Satan’s deceptions and man’s inventions are always shiny objects appealing to the flesh.
 
One World Government, the New World Order and the Great Reset are in reality, non-biblical, western concepts. This is not to say there is no such thing as “globalism” or that many leftist politicians do not seek to advance a “post-Christian” worldview. It exists and so do they, but it’s the assumptions to shoehorn their beliefs into Bible prophecy that confuses many.
 
These catch-all phrases may be a path that some western elites would like to see prevail but the concepts bely the reality of our world today. One-worldism is not taught in Bible prophecy and Christians should not assume it’s coming! Yet most do. Although taught by many, a one-world government doesn’t align with the scripture about Israel, the nations and the world in the last days.
 
Any discussion about a “great reset” or “new world order” must consider two crucial factors.

Non-Western Nations

First, consider the other half of the world before jumping to conclusions. Non-western countries, anti-American and anti-Israel countries who are difficult for the west to engage with will never surrender their autonomy for a western globalist agenda.
 
That would be the unpardonable sin for Muslim nations who make up one-quarter of the world’s population. Islam’s footprint includes 57 countries dedicated to the demise of the west and the fulfillment of the Quran. If you think they’re locking arms with the great reset you are badly mistaken! If given the opportunity (which comes during the Tribulation) they would choose Jihad over appeasing anything that has to do with western ideals. A host of a hundred terror groups and bad actors like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey and others are fully dedicated to the notion of destroying Israel, America, the west in general and Christianity in particular.
 
And what about nuclear equipped China with another 25% of earth’s population? They’re not about to renounce their communist dreams and eastern hegemony for the western myth of a New World Order. The same could be said about nuclear armed North Korea and Pakistan.
 
And what about Israel who now sees itself positioned as one of the top nuclear and technological nations in the world? Despite Israel’s close relationship with the U.S. she will never forfeit control or capitulate to western political influence that would limit her self-reliance. That would be irresponsible because she made that mistake once too often.

And let’s not forget Russia. How can we forget Russia? Russia and her allies have never had an interest in western ideals and especially not something like Biden’s new world order or the western notion of some “great reset.” Here come the nuclear bombs!
 
So when you think about it, over half the world holds an anti-western viewpoint. Get the picture here?
 
How is it possible then to look at the world condition and conclude we’re on the verge of a one-world government?
 
 

What Does Bible Prophecy Say

 
Secondly, does Bible prophecy teach we should anticipate a one-world government?

Jesus removed the possibility of a one-world government when he prophesied that there would be “wars and rumors of wars… and nations will rise against nations” (Mt. 24:6-7).

This prophecy would not make sense if there was only one government in the Tribulation. How could that work? How can there be war with only one government that is supposedly ruled by Antichrist? If the supposed “one-world” government controls everything and everyone, and if it controls 100% of earth’s economy, where do the military’s and finances come from for the outbreak of wars described all throughout the Tribulation?
 
At the outset of the Tribulation, God sends forth the “Four Horses of the Apocalypse” and the second horse is the red horse of war,

“And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.”

Revelation 6:4

The red horse prophecy announces that God is removing peace from the earth and replacing it with the continual spirit of war. The prophet Daniel adds, “wars are decreed unto the end” (Dan. 9:26) which in context points to the end of the Tribulation. War after war after war means lots of nations opposing Antichrist and trying to fend off the Caliphate from conquering them.
 
This may come as a surprise but, although he tries, Antichrist never has dominion over the whole world. You can read more about this HERE.

China In Bible Prophecy: The Rise of the Red Star and the Crescent.

China In Bible Prophecy: The Rise of the Red Star and the Crescent.

 

 

 

 

The Olympic Games in China are bringing athletes from five continents together to show sportsmanship, athleticism, friendship and respect to supposedly promote a better world. Unfortunately, behind the scenes China is reaching its tentacles into the Middle East through partnerships with anti-Western nations that will affect the outworking of end time events. So with the Red Star in the news so much, what does the Bible say about China’s role in Bible Prophecy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A demonstrator wearing a mask painted with the colors of the flag of East Turkestan (Muslim-majority area of Western China) and a hand bearing the colors of the Chinese flag attends a protest in the mostly Muslim Uighur minority on July 5, 2018 (Ozan Kose, AFP, Getty)

China in Bible Prophecy
The Rise of the Red Star and the Crescent

by Tim Buck

Since 2001, China (Red Star) has been mostly content to exploit diplomatic and economic opportunities in the Middle East (Crescent), while leaving military ventures to the United States, EU, and Russia. However, as the United States and its Coalition partners gradually draw down their military presence in the region, and as Chinese investment continues to increase across the Middle East’s volatile landscape, Beijing has subtly begun to assert itself into the Middle East.

Most recently, Iran and China have signed a 25-year agreement (June 24, 2020 in Beijing) for China to invest $400 billion in Iran’s economy over that time period in exchange for a steady and heavily discounted supply of oil from Iran. From a prophetic perspective, this likely will end up increasing the stability of the Caliphate and help bolster the Caliphate coffers!

Although Chinese state military expenditures have increased 800% in the last three decades to $245 billion US dollars in 2020, far above the Russian defense budget of $67 billion, China still lags far behind the US government’s $767 billion defense budget. Therefore, rather than engage its military directly in Mideast conflicts, the Chinese government prefers “lead from behind” partnerships, including arms sales, joint defense projects, security consulting, and intelligence sharing, as a means of buttressing existing regimes and maintaining the status quo.

Last month, China joined Russia in conducting a second round of joint naval drills with Iran in the Indian Ocean. The drills included the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducting naval interdiction exercises, at a time when the Iranian regime has repeatedly threatened to block Western commercial shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, and after repeated incidents of “close contact” between the US and Iranian navies.

As Western nations increasingly disengage from the Middle East, and as Chinese investment in the region continues to grow on all fronts, a question arises regarding the long-term consequences and prophetic implications of China’s Middle East trending in the end times.

If anything, the last two decades since 9/11 have shown that the Middle East is anything but predictable, and there is no biblically prophetic role for China by name.

However, we do know the general contours of the Mideast prophetic landscape at the end of the age, and there are at least three ways that China’s increasing engagement in the region may enable the biblical nations of the last-days to play out.

1. The substantial injection of Chinese wealth into the Middle East, which will only continue to increase in the coming decade, creates the economic means by which Antichrist, the “contemptible person” in Daniel 11 can eventually arise in the region “without warning” and “come into the richest parts of the province” before conducting the most successful and devastating military campaign in human history with a “great army” (revived Ottoman Caliphate). Economic partnerships between China and key Middle East players are bringing billions of dollars of military hardware, nuclear expertise and training in trade for China receiving oil, gas and natural resources to maintain their massive needs.

2. The Chinese effort to interlink Central Asia (the “Stans”) and the northern nations of the Middle East via the BRI lays the economic groundwork for an eventual “King of the North” politico-military alliance of 10 kings. The Belt and Road Initiative is a development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to invest in countries and international organizations. If that alliance encompasses the historical territory of the Greek Seleucid dynasty described in Daniel 11 and Revelation 13, it will stretch from Turkey to Pakistan, and align with the territory of the beast empire. Thus improving infrastructure like roads, bridges, etc. ahead of the rise of the ten Caliphate nations.

3. The post-WWII order in the Middle East, which had previously fixed the position of Western powers in the region, and which was tied to diplomacy, has been gradually replaced by an amoral and self-serving Chinese form of politics. Unconcerned with modern notions of freedom and human rights, this new Sino-Mideast dynamic allows for the rise of Antichrist and the expression of his power, as long as it is good for business.

We know that Western nations, are represented by the “Ships of Kittim” in Daniel 11 and will not be completely impotent against the invasions of Antichrist, the King of the North. But according to Daniel 11, their intervention will only be a temporary check on his power, before his “rage” and demonic empowerment enable him to “do as he wills” (Dan. 11:36) in the nations at-large and inside the “Beautiful Land” of Israel when he invades at the mid-point of the Tribulation (Dan. 11:39, 45).

Ironically, it seems China will eventually have one of the most important roles to play in opposing Antichrist and his apocalyptic Jihad campaigns, before he brings the world to the brink of collapse. Just before the mid-point of the Tribulation, as Antichrist is returning from his successful African victories (Dan. 11:42-43) the angel speaking to Daniel says, “news from the East and North will alarm him” at the height of his reign.
But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain (set up his HQ on the Temple Mount). Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Daniel 11:44-45

The prophecy shows the last two superpowers, China, and Russia (“east and north”) trying to stop Antichrist, the madman of the Caliphate one final time. This may be the last opportunity any nations on earth can possibly prevent world-wide collapse brought on by the tyrant.

What’s clear is that the two great powers have joined forces in a two-pronged assault and are heading into the Middle East theatre to try to end the madness of the Hitler-like invader. By now the economy has collapsed, food is scarce and resources are low so Russia and China launch WW3 in a last-ditch effort to prevent total collapse before it’s too late. It doesn’t work.
And he (Antichrist) will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many (defeat Russia and China). 

Daniel 11:44

From day one of the Tribulation, the “man of sin” will bat 1000% because his authority comes from the Lord to “go forth and conquer” (Rev. 6:1-2). He cannot and will not be stopped until God’s purposes for Israel are fulfilled.

Therefore the only direct, Chinese military engagement in the Bible will end in failure as what’s left of the red army marches back home on the silk road in defeat. And ditto for Russia… it’s annihilated also.
 
Despite the uptick of prophetic interest for China these days, China’s role is very limited in Bible prophecy as even the “kings of the east” point to the 10-King Caliphate nations that are located east of the Euphrates and have nothing to do with oriental countries.
 
What we see in these matters is that the role of China (the red star) in the Middle East (the crescent) is prearranged by our Lord who continues to arrange the pieces of the eschatological chessboard.
 
Despite the aspirations and financial efforts of China, Russia, the E.U. or the USA, the Lord’s endgame is already decided, as He prepares to gather the nations to the Valley of Megiddo for the Day of the Lord’s judgment on the nations and His promised redemption of Israel!
 
Even so come, Lord Jesus