from Middle East-Anti-Christ?
Could the Antichrist come from the Middle East?
The prophetic link to the method used to execute hostages taken by Islamic terrorists.
More than one Left Behind reader has noted how the use of the guillotine in the series seemed out of place in a futuristic setting filled with all kinds of advanced technology—until the recent use of beheading by Islamic terrorists. Contributing editor Mark Hitchcock comments on this use of an ancient method of execution in modern times.
Unfortunately, an old method of execution has made a sobering comeback. Beheading. This grisly, gory, terrifying practice is being talked about and sometimes even shown all over the newspapers and television news channels.
Islamic terrorists are doing what they do best – terrifying people with the threat of death by a barbaric means. Over and over again we see the images of masked terrorists with swords standing over a defenseless, blindfolded victim threatening beheading if there irrational demands are not met in a certain time.
While most of the world marks this off as just the action of a few lunatic fringe Islamists, could this fearsome practice be setting the stage for the coming of the ultimate terrorist, the Antichrist?
Revelation 20:4 refers to believers who are killed during the tribulation for failing to bow to the beast and take his identifying mark on the right hand or forehead. The verse says, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
The verb “beheaded” is pelikizo in the original Greek and it means “I behead.” It comes from pelekys which means “axe.” This was the traditional weapon for execution in the Roman empire. So the word really means “I cut off with an axe.” However, the sword later replaced the axe as the chief instrument of execution in the Roman Empire. [Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8—22 (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), 415)].
It’s possible that the mention of “beheading” by the Antichrist may just mean “put to death” or “executed” since this was the ancient method of capital punishment in the Roman Empire at the time John wrote. However, it seems more likely to me that this is the means of execution the Antichrist will implement for all who refuse to worship him as god.
It’s quick, simple, and easy to adapt to mass executions. Also, what better way to terrify people into submission?
Does this mean as some have suggested recently that the Antichrist may come from the Middle East and/or an Islamic background? While this is possible since much of the modern Middle East was once part of the ancient Roman Empire from which Antichrist will rise, I believe the Antichrist will rise from the heart of the reunited Roman Empire, probably Italy. He is identified as a descendant of the people who destroyed the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 – the Romans (Daniel 9:26).
While it would be unwise to maintain that a few beheadings by Islamic thugs is a major sign of Antichrist’s coming and the end times, I do find it interesting that the whole idea of beheading is featured so prominently in the news today. If the Antichrist is alive, we can be sure that he is watching what’s happening in the world today and taking note of the fear that the threat of beheading strikes in people’s hearts. He could use this as a tool to rid the world of all who challenge his authority by accepting Christ. Beheading would be a vivid expression of his total disdain and hatred for those who follow the Lord Jesus.
This could be another small piece of the puzzle fitting into place to pave the way for Antichrist’s 3 ½ years worldwide reign of terror that Jesus called the “great tribulation.”
5 signs of THE END
1) Arafat’s death causes upheaval in Middle East peace process.
A fully restored Israel with the return of the Jewish people is the “super-sign” of prophecy. The Bible predicts over and over again that Israel must be restored to its biblical borders and the Jews must be back in their homeland – for the events of the end times to unfold… (Jeremiah 30:1-3; Ezekiel 34:11-24; Zechariah 10:6-10).
The death of Yasser Arafat has important bearing on the peace process in the Middle East and the restoration of Israel. Some believe that his removal from the process will make peace more achievable and potentially allow the prophecy of Israel to be fulfilled. Others fear that his demise will throw the region into chaos if a struggle for Palestinian power ensues. Palestinian infighting could deadlock progress of the Middle East peace talks. Regardless of the impact, his death has refocused the world’s attention on Israel and peace in the Middle East. And as the Bible predicts that Israel will be the battleground for all great end-time conflicts and wars – this is exactly what we should expect if the end is drawing near.
2) Islamic rebellion terrorizes “Ancient Babylon.”
The city of Babylon, located on the Euphrates River in modern Iraq, is mentioned almost 300 times in the Bible. It is consistently portrayed as a place of rebellion and pride. Scripture informs us that in the end times, Babylon will be rebuilt into a great city that will serve as a commercial and religious capital for the Antichrist.
In November U.S. troops pounded Fallujah. The intent for this assault on the Sunni terrorist hotbed was clear. Bring peace to Iraq so the elections can proceed in January. The U.S. and its coalition are trying to bring peace and stability to Iraq. This seems to be setting the stage for the rebuilding of Babylon – another sign that the coming of Christ may be very soon.
3) Europe unites as a powerful empire.
The prophet Daniel predicted a reunited Roman Empire in the End Times. According to the Bible, at the middle of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist will take over and rule the world for the final three and a half years of this age. To do this, he will need an army and advanced weaponry.
What we have seen developing in Europe the last 45 years – and particularly in the last year – looks strikingly similar to what the Bible predicts for the End Times. In May, the European Union added 10 more nations to its empire – bringing the total to 25. In October the EU’s constitution was signed on Capitoline Hill in Rome – the ancient center of religious life in the Roman Empire. And in November, Great Britain announced that it had committed 2,000 troops to a new 18,000 strong EU army. The Roman Empire is reuniting right before eyes just as the prophet Daniel predicted over 2,500 years ago.
The basic governmental and economic components are in place for one man to come on the scene in the EU and ascend to tremendous power. That man will be the Antichrist – he will rule over the final form of the Roman Empire and ultimately the whole world.
4) Strong Islamic presence emerges from Russia.
The prophet Ezekiel predicted that the Great Russian Bear will rise in the last days to mount a furious invasion of Israel (37-38). Ezekiel also predicted that in the latter times, Israel would be invaded by a people “from remote parts of the north” (38:6, 15). The nation that is most distantly north from Israel is Russia.
In August and September, Islamic Chechen rebels were behind three catastrophic terrorist attacks: two Russian plane crashes, an attack against a Moscow metro station, and a siege over a school in Beslan, Russia. The terror, catastrophic events, and frightening Islamic presence now in Russia foreshadows a future time of trouble that is coming on the whole world. The fulfillment of God’s prophecies seems closer than ever before.
5) Indonesian earthquake foreshadows the devastation of the End Times.
Two days before He died on the cross, Jesus said that one of the signs of His Second Coming to earth would be “great earthquakes,” (Luke 21:11). The prophet Ezekiel also predicted a great earthquake in the end times ( Ezekiel 38:19-20). And the apostle John was transported in a kind of spiritual time machine to the end times where he witnessed great disasters by deadly earthquakes.
What we have just witnessed in Asia is frightening. The Indonesian earthquake was the most powerful recorded in 40 years. And the deadly tsunamis it produced have taken over 100,000 lives. The tsunamis traveled at speeds up to 500 miles per hour and towered to heights of 30 feet. This catastrophic natural disaster could foreshadow the devastation that will wrack the earth when it begins to shake during the tribulation.
ARE THESE THE END TIMES?
Could the fearsome practice of beheading be setting the stage for the coming of the ultimate terrorist – the Antichrist? Beheading is mentioned in the End Times – and the whole idea of it is being featured so prominently in the news today.
This could be another small piece of the puzzle, fitting into place to pave the way for Antichrist’s 3 ½-year worldwide reign of terror that Jesus called the “great tribulation.”
The Store, Whiting, VT
Before I worked at Simmonds in Vergennes, VT, I worked at Standard Register, in Middlebury, Vt. Standard Register was a company that published all types of printed material. My position was a close out clerk. What that entailed was proofreading the finished products for any mistakes or errors. The job was boring, but it brought money in. I had quite a few friends there, Bill Taylor was one of them. I think he was in some sort of sales position for the company. He lived in the same town as me, so we would ride together occasionally when the need arose. I didn’t care to ride with him after I discovered how fast of a driver he was. Bill was a character, he had been from Hawaii, after meeting a Vermont girl who was living over there. He married her and as the usual course of events occurred, she wanted to return to her home state, and poor Bill followed her back. I believe they had 3 girls together. Bill had been an acting double for the character of Dano, on the Hawaii FIVE-O TV show. He always wore some loud and crazy tie to work. My stay at Standard Register wasn’t that long and I moved on to buy my own business in Whiting, VT. Bill Taylor and his family lived in that town, so although I no longer worked with Bill, I still saw him quite often when he would get gas, and or, other items from my store.
This little Amoco gas station had a convenience store attached to it along with an apartment overhead. The Store had one picture window in the front on the left side of the front door. To the left of the window was the two bay garage. Out in front where the two Amoco gas pumps. The place looked a lot like a regular home with an addition added to the top, where my apartment was. Behind the picture window inside, stood a big old wooden office desk where the cash register sat. Behind the desk I had bought a love seat where my girlfriend and I often sat.
One snowy, stormy night I was sitting in the middle of the store, wondering if any customers would ever come, I was, humming, singing a popular song of the day that had as one of its lyric, “Fred is dead.” Sitting in the middle of the store, on a stool, not feeling that well, I was coming down with a cold, who walks in, but my friend from Standard Register days, Bill Taylor. He was wearing his greenish parka, which was open, and he had on a pair of galoshes which were unzipped. I said, “Hi, Fred, How’s it going?” Bill and I exchanged some small talk, he paid for his gas and left the store to go pick up Judy, his wife, who was at some kind of women’s party. Not feeling that well, I got Holly to come down from the apartment overhead and take over running the store while I went and laid down upstairs.
Later in the evening, when it was time to close and take Holly home, she came upstairs to wake me. Upon awakening she told me what had happened. After Bill had left my store, he had gone down the road, around the corner, lost control of his car, slid down the road sideways and hit a tree, with the driver’s side of the car striking a tree and killing him almost instantly! Was my calling him “Fred” when he entered my store earlier some sort of premonition of what was to come?
Do we have ESP, or do you?
When I was a young man I experienced some forms of clairvoyant experience, if that’s what you want to call it. The first of which was while I was living at my cousins home in Monkton, VT and I was working at a place called Simmons Precision in Vergennes. Before that time I had lived at home with my parents along with a newly acquired pet cat. The cat was young and playful and my parents enjoy the company of it especially after I had moved out. My parents were sleeping on the foldaway living room couch, I can’t remember why, but they would pull it out every night and close it up in the morning.
My cousin’s house was a big white two story house that looked like most New England farm houses. It was a nice place, but cold in the winter. I had a double bed in my room, bureau, a little portable TV and that was about it. If it was a particular cold evening, I wouldn’t stay up too late out in the living room, rather I would go to my room, hop into bed and cover up with a big old quilt. I watched TV for a while and then doze off. When I woke up, usually about 5 AM, I would make a mad dash to the bathroom and get the hot water running before becoming too cold. Up north in the winter it is dark most of the time, especially early in the morning and there wasn’t that much light in my room, even with my light on.
On this one morning when I went rushing to the bathroom to get ready for work, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a cat run behind the bathroom door, I looked, but of course there was no cat because my cousin didn’t have a cat. So I thought I was seeing things and finished cleaning up and went off to work. Later that day, I’d called my folks to find out how they were doing and my father told me how upset they were. When they had gotten out of bed (the folding couch) that morning they had closed up the couch like they usually do. After about an hour they began to look for their cat and couldn’t find it. They were heartbroken to discover that the kitten had been in the couch when it was folded up and had not survived! So how was it that I had seen a cat run behind the bathroom door when I had gotten ready for work that day and there was no cat in that house?
Biography of Nostradamus
The renowned prophet Nostradamus (Michel de Nostradame) was born on December 14, 1503 in St. Remy, Provence, France. Nostradamus came from a long line of Jewish doctors and scholars. His family had converted from Judaism to Christianity in 1502, as a result of persecution on the ascension of Louis the XII. After a classical education he studied medicine, herbalism and astrology.
During Nostradamus’ lifetime the Black Death (today known as the bubonic plague) wiped out over a quarter of Europe. It is no wonder that a sense of apocalyptic terror fills Nostradamus’ quatrains.
Nostradamus can indisputably be said to have been ahead of his time, at least in terms of medical practice. His treatment of the Black Death involved removal of the infected corpses, fresh air and unpolluted water for the healthy, a herbal preparation rich in Vitamin C, and (in contravention of contemporary medical practise) not bleeding his patients.
Nostradamus was successful in lessening the impact of the Black Death in the capital of Provence, Aix. The grateful citizens gave him a stipend for life.
Nostradamus began to write his prophetic verses in the city of Salon, in 1554. They are divided into ten sections called Centuries (which refers to the number of verses in each section, not to a unit of 100 years). The Centuries were published in 1555 and 1558, and have been in print continuously ever since.
Nostradamus had the visions which he later recorded in verse while staring into water or flame late at night, sometimes aided by herbal stimulants, while sitting on a brass tripod. The resulting quatrains (four line verses) are oblique and elliptical, and use puns, anagrams and allegorical imagery. Most of the quatrains are open to multiple interpretations, and some make no sense whatsoever. Some of them are chilling, literal descriptions of events, giving specific or near-specific names, geographic locations, astrological configurations, and sometimes actual dates. It is this quality of both vagueness and specificity which allows each new generation to reinterpret Nostradamus.
Nostradamus is said to have predicted his own death. When his assistant wished him goodnight on July 1, 1566, Nostradamus reputedly pronounced, “You will not find me alive at sunrise.” He was found dead on July 2, 1566.
Nostradamus was interred standing upright in the Church of the Cordeliers of Salon. However, his story does not end there; he was disinterred twice, once on purpose and once maliciously.
In 1700, his body was moved by the city to a more prominent crypt. When a necklace was found on his skeleton bearing the date ‘1700′, his body was hurriedly reinterred.
During the French Revolution, in 1791, some drunken soldiers broke into his tomb. The mayor quickly placated the mob by describing how Nostradamus had predicted the revolution, and they replaced the bones in the crypt.
However, Nostradamus had the last laugh. In Century 9, Quatrain 7, he had written:
The man who opens the tomb when it is found
And who does not close it immediately,
Evil will come to him
That no one will be able to prove.
Reputedly, the soldiers who desecrated his tomb for the final time were ambushed on their way back to base and killed to the last man.
New Pope fullfills Prophecy?
By Phil Stewart Thu Apr 28, 9:33 AM ET
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Benedict’s ascent to the papacy took a conclave of 115 cardinals, four rounds of voting and followed a lifetime of service to the Vatican.
But ask Internet doomsayers eyeing a 12th century Catholic prophecy and they’ll tell you it was all stitched up more than eight centuries ago and that judgment day is nigh.
The prophecy — widely dismissed by scholars as a hoax — is attributed to St. Malachy, an Irish archbishop recognized by members of the Church for his ability to read the future.
Benedict, believers say, fits the description of the second-to-last pope listed under the prophecy before the Last Judgment, when the bible says God separates the wicked from the righteous at the end of time.
“The Old Testament states: ‘believe his prophets and you will prosper’ — so believe it. We are close to the return of the Judge of the nations. Christ is coming,” wrote one Internet post by the Reverend Pat Reynolds.
“Thank God for the witness of St. Malachy.”
St. Malachy was said to have had a vision during a trip to Rome around 1139 of the remaining 112 Popes. The new pope would be number 111 on that list, and is described in a text attributed to St. Malachy as the “Glory of the Olive”.
To connect Benedict, a pale, bookish German, to anything olive takes some imagination. But Malachy-watchers point to the choice of the name Benedict — an allusion to the Order of Saint Benedict, a branch of which is known as the Olivetans.
“When (he) chose the name Benedict XVI, this was seen as fulfilling the prophecy for this pope,” wrote one entry on www.wikipedia.org.
Benedict said that he chose the name partly in honour of Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922), calling him a “courageous prophet of peace”. On Wednesday, Benedict dedicated his papacy to “the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples”.
“Perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the world, and thus carry the olive branch,” speculated www.catholic-pages.com.
Another site, www.bibleprobe.com, went even further, showing a picture of Benedict holding olive branches in March during Palm Sunday celebrations.
“Is this the Pope of Peace (olive)?” it asked in the caption.
Critics widely dismiss the Malachy prophecy as a forgery and possible propaganda meant to influence a 16th century conclave. Doses of scepticism even appear on the most energetic Malachy web pages.
But believers point out similarities between the prophecy’s descriptions and past pontificates.
Pope John Paul II, number 110, was described in the prophecy as “de labore solis” — or “of the labour of the sun”.
He was born on May 18, 1920, the same day as a solar eclipse. The pontiff was buried on April 8, 2005 — the same day as a partial eclipse, visible in the Americas.
More pressing for doomsayers are the prophecy’s references to the last Pope on the list, Peter the Roman, who will lead the Church before “the formidable judge will judge his people”.
Since Benedict is already 78 years old, they say Peter the Roman must be coming soon, and with him, the end of the world.
“His reign will only last a few years at most. This signals that we are living in what may be the end of days as we know it,” said one website entry by someone calling himself SmartBob.
