December 23, 2008
Steven Collins
As many readers no doubt realize from emails pouring into your inboxes, there are those who think President-Elect Obama will be the “beast” or “anti-christ,” while others expect him to be kind of “messiah” who will solve the world’s many problems. While those alternatives are not mutually-exclusive, I think we should wait and see how events unfold before we make snap judgments on Obama’s role in prophecy. At the beginning of his administration, Obama will have many problems to grapple with as President Bush has very likely left the nation in worse shape than any previous president has bequeathed to his successor.
There are many Christians who also are convinced that the prophesied “false prophet” of the book of Revelation will “have to be” a Catholic Pope. I also think that we need to wait and see who will be the unfortunate one who will step into this prophesied role. When Christians think that they “have it all figured out,”‘ I always think of Christ’s warning about how deceptive and confusing the latter-day world situation will become. Matthew 24:24 warns that “false Christs” and “false prophets” will arise who will perform “great signs and wonders.” Notice that Christ prophesied that there will be more than one false Christ and more than one false prophet on the world scene, and, apparently, more than one of them will be performing signs and wonders before the age is over. Christ solemnly warns us that “if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
That is a warning we need to take very seriously. The situation will become so muddled at the end of our age that even the “very elect” would be deceived by what happens…”if it were possible.” The very elect will see through the deceptions only because of a very close relationship with the Savior and a keen understanding of world events in light of Bible prophecy.
Those who think Obama will be the beast and a Catholic Pope will be the false prophet may soon be confronted by a problem. The attached link from the Washington Times comments on a tremendous battle that could soon take place between President Obama and Pope Benedict over the issue of abortion. Obama promised to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act” when speaking to Planned Parenthood. This act would put the federal government strongly behind the abortion industry which has already murdered approximately 50,000,000 unborn babies in the USA since Roe v. Wade gave the green light to pre-born infanticide. The link notes Obama has favored partial-birth abortion, late-term abortions, etc.
A senior Vatican official is quoted as saying that Obama’s signing of this radically pro-abortion act “would be the equivalent of war” as far as the Roman Catholic Church is concerned. This columnist (who may be “sending a message” in behalf of the Catholic Church) calls for “pro-choice Catholics in the Obama administration” to be “refused communion” and “face excommunication.” The columnist equates abortion with the “monstrous barbarism” of the Holocaust and slavery, and calls on moral people to oppose it vigorously. I agree with the columnist that abortion is state-sponsored murder, and if Obama signs this radical pro-abortion bill, it may lead to an open religious/political war between the US President and the Catholic church. This has the potential to tear the nation apart at a time when it is already teetering on the edge of economic ruin.
In biblical times, God condemned the practice of infant sacrifice by the ancient Israelites in both the northern kingdom of Israel (inhabited by the ten tribes of Israel) and the southern kingdom of Judah (inhabited by the Jews). Both nations eventually were allowed to fall before their enemies for committing such heinous national sins as infanticide (Jeremiah 19:3-5, Ezekiel 23:36-39 and many other passages). We tend to overlook how great an issue killing innocent babies was in the eyes of God in biblical times. This (and other) “abominations” led to God withdrawing his protection from both the ancient Israelites and Jews and their nations fell before their enemies. God “does not change” (Malachi 3:6) so he hates infanticide as much today as he did in ancient times. Our society is more “high-tech” than the ancient cultures so our society murders babies just before they are born instead of just after they are born. Based on the scriptures, I don’t see that God sees an iota of difference between our modern baby-killing industry and the ancient baby-killing industry sponsored by the false religions of Baal, Moloch, etc.
When God sent two powerful prophets (Elijah and Elisha) to warn the Israelites of their growing national sins, one of Elijah’s miracles was to call down fire from heaven (I Kings 18:20-40). This confrontation between Elijah, God’s prophet, and 450 prophets of Baal resulted in the people spontaneously backing Elijah and helping him to execute the 450 prophets of Baal who were there. These “prophets of Baal”‘ were all very likely guilty of killing innocent babies in the grisly murder-rites of Baal worship. At a minimum, they all supported the infanticide practices of their ancient idolatrous religion. The execution of Baal’s prophets by Elijah offers a very sobering warning that when God really gets angry, the practitioners of evil can die quickly without any “due process.”
While Matthew 24:24 warns that “false prophets” and “false Christs” will come on the world scene doing signs and wonders, Revelation 11:3-6 prophesies that God will send two extremely powerful prophets who will be able to wield Divinely-delegated power as instruments of God’s wrath on sinful nations. It will get more than a little confusing just who is speaking for God when several competing “prophets” are doing miracles.
Perhaps Elijah and Elisha (who performed mighty miracles) are a type of these pending Two Witnesses. In both our time and the time of Elijah/Elisha, the killing of innocent babies to get rid of the results of lustful sexual relationships is a huge national issue. In Elijah/Elisha’s times, the government of the northern kingdom sponsored the murder of innocent babies. Now we learn that a President Obama might also formally put state-backing behind the baby-killing industry in our time. Hmmm. Do we see some parallels about to occur between ancient Israel’s internal situation and that of modern America? The link below serves notice that the Roman Catholic Pope may be leading “a war” vs. America’s abortion industry soon. If he calls on American bishops to excommunicate all Catholics who will not oppose abortion and vote for pro-Life candidates in the next election, he will be adopting a “take no prisoners” approach in this battle. The Pope lives in Italy. He has no obligation to abide by any American election laws.
If the Pope declares a “war” against abortion in America, millions of non-Catholic Christians and believers will also be on the pro-Life side. If a great social upheaval occurs in this nation over the national sin of abortion, I’ll be found on the side of the pro-Life forces. Where will you stand? God will be very interested in your choice when it comes time for you to make the decision where you will stand on this issue.
Elsewhere at my website at the Articles tab is an in-depth issue on the subject of the prophesied Two Witnesses, which I urge you to read if you have not done so. I’ve also done at least one update to that article in a blog available in the archives of this website. Revelation 11:6 prophesies that the Two Witnesses will be able to “smite the earth with all plagues as often as they wish.” That’s unprecedented power folks! Given God’s fury at the state-sponsored murdering of infants in ancient biblical times, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if we see a repeat of the incident on Mt. Carmel between at least one of the Two Witnesses and modern “prophets of Baal” who endorse/practice abortion.
Please understand I’m most definitely NOT calling for or endorsing vigilante action! It is not your right to vandalize or harm abortion clinics or take the law into your own hands! Please see my article at this website on Christian Citizenship which calls for Christians to be obedient to all government laws which do not directly order them to disobey God. However, the Two Witnesses will not be subject to any human laws. Revelation 11:5 says that the forces of evil will surely try to harm/arrest/execute the Two Witnesses, but for three and one-half years, those attempting to harm the Two Witnesses will themselves be executed by Divine fire (see II Kings 1:9-15 for another possible parallel between the prophet Elijah and the power of the prophesied Two Witnesses in the latter days). God will be personally empowering the Two Witnesses during the time of their ministry. No one will be able to control or restrain them during their ministry.
When/if I see two mighty prophets come on the scene in the future who call fire down from heaven which consumes abortion clinics and everyone and everything in them, I think I’ll have a pretty good idea of who the genuine Two Witnesses are.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/30/obama-vs-pope-benedict/
