This posting isn’t about politics or to claim that the Antichrist is already at our doorstep, but Revelation is in the Bible for a reason. These postings are about current events, and how I see them, even those at our borders, north (oppression against truckers) and south (over 2 million illegal immigrants last year). Why am I taking the time to even post it? It reflects conditions that I believe could, and will at the right time, give rise to the Antichrist. It’s important for me to say, it’s only my opinion of things as I see and interpret them, and certainly not a special revelation from God. If anything, it shows the need of prayer for our nation. Whatever happens is by God’s decree and it’s all in His hands. 

Only God knows the time of his coming, nevertheless, God gave us the Book of Revelation to awaken His Church, so we can be watchful, vigilant and prayerful. The Antichrist’s rise to power will be paved by circumstances, some of which are apparent. We can be certain that those in government who covet power will welcome him if it secures and enhances their own power. Only God knows when he will come. This generation is closer to his coming than any other generation. We don’t know when he will come, but we do know he will come. 

Nevertheless, it isn’t a time for worry or fear, but a time for hope and prayer. Our hope and strength as individuals and as a Nation, come from God. Everyone of us has been given a spiritual gift by God to use for His glory and in His church. Pray to know your gift and then put it to use to make a difference as He would have each one of us do. Ephesians 4:11-17 tells us these gifts are given to prepare God's people for service and for building up the body of Christ. It can make all the difference for tomorrow’s America. 

Our freedom as a Nation began with prayer and devotion to God. Something that too many of our young people are no longer aware of. It will take sincere and heartfelt prayer to retain it. The rise of the Antichrist will be in response to a world that has turned its back on God; and a world that has instead, embraced every form of evil deserving of a Holy God’s wrath.  

Presidential inauguration of George Washington took place on April 30,1789 on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. The inauguration of John Adams as vice president was on April 21, 1789, when he assumed his duties as presiding officer of the United States Senate. President Washington and members of Congress then retired to the Senate Chamber, where Washington delivered the first inaugural address to a joint session of Congress. Washington humbly noted the power of the nation’s call for him to serve as president and the shared responsibility of the president and Congress to preserve "the sacred fire of liberty" and a republican form of government. 

When our government ignores our founding documents, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, it becomes by definition, a police state. All of which leads to an opening for the Antichrist’s influence and power. If you wonder how a European dictator can influence or control the United States, we can be certain, he will win over those in government and other positions of power, who covet power and desire to retain it at all cost, will certainly cooperate with him if it secures their own position. If you doubt that, I would certainly like to hear why. 

An excerpt from George Washington’s Inaugural Address, reminds us, that in the Old Testament, when the Chosen People turned away from God, their freedom and way of life were no longer under God’s grace and protection. It is the very environment in which Satan seeks to instill and encourage the dominance of evil. 

At one time this began a typical school day across America—while professing, “One Nation Under God”. Most of us grew up with a sense of country, God, and what America stood for. Yes, there were problems in our history, including slavery. But our history includes a war that cost the Union Army over 624,511 killed in battle, 224,580 died of disease, 2,226 wounded, 32 generals killed—the price to end slavery and pave the way for racial equality. We’re not perfect as a Nation or as a people, that’s because no human being, except Jesus Christ, is or ever has been perfect from the time of Adam and Eve. Nevertheless, America has done better in regard to individual freedom, than any other nation in the history of mankind. 

The Church is the Body of Christ. Over the last 20 years, church attendance in the USA, has been on a steady decline as shown on the chart. As the Church declines, its influence on the Nation also declines in every area, including governance, education, and culture with a corresponding rise in Satan’s influence and crime.  

The greatest threat facing America and the Western world is a declining Christian faith. Will God abandon His Church? Absolutely not! But the Church might be abandoning our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It certainly is a breach in the door for a dictator to gain power and to rule and rein.

President Ronald Reagan’s words remind us that we are just one generation away from losing our freedom. The loss of America’s freedom will certainly influence the entire Western World and clearly open the door for the rise of the Antichrist. 

Anyone following truthful news has witnessed firsthand, a dark cloud descend over the United States Capitol; a split Congress showing no willingness to reach equitable solutions for national issues. We are also seeing dictatorial policies that have little regard for the well being of the Nation or the people. Some sitting members of Congress have become multimillionaires during their time in Congress. Add to that a weakened military. China now has the largest modern navy in the world, surpassing the USA.  As Abraham Lincoln reminded us, a divided nation cannot stand. And as Jesus said, a house divided against itself, cannot stand. Definitely a wakeup call for every American that cares. There is little doubt that a weakened America will pave the path for the Antichrist’s rise to power. 

The comment on the slide was printed by The Washington Post on February 11. Read it carefully. That “freedom” is intertwined with Whiteness and a component of White supremacy. This is the mainstream media. It’s no wonder that people can not believe the media. They are literally advocating that “freedom is racist” and consequently undesirable. Add that to the welcome mat for the Antichrist

Unlike FDR leading America against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, today, as a divided nation and weak president, America will have little influence on the world stage as to who gains power in Europe. We are reminded of Ephesians 6:12 that we are facing the powers of this dark world. 

Ayn Rand’s insight in the 60s applies very much to how today’s government operates at the state and national levels. With all the shutdowns, restrictions and mandates we truly have entered into a dark period, unprecedented in American history.

Wonders and signs will come before his arrival, as we are told in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. And the world will welcome him because of them.

The entire Western world, including the United States, will be readily deceived by his counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders (Revelation 13).

So how is the rest of the world doing? The decline in church attendance isn’t only in America but stretches across the entire Free World, especially Western Europe that once was referred to as Christendom, which historically referred to the “Christian world”. If you have ever visited Europe, the churches are now mostly tourist attractions rather than houses of worship. They were Christian majority countries, in which Christianity was prevalent and culturally intertwined with society’s norms and values. The Antichrist is said to rise in Europe, which has certainly opened the door for him. 

When freedom of speech is stifled in any manner or by any organization, so is liberty. We are seeing that in Ontario, Canada. 

Who would have thought? Canada has literally taken a giant step toward becoming a police state in regard to the truckers’ convoy. Tell me those in power would not cooperate with the Antichrist to enhance and preserve their own power? 

Worth repeating, but yes Canada has taken a step closer to becoming a police state. Truckers’ fuel and wood, to keep warm, were confiscated by police under government orders. Even bank accounts are being frozen, not just for the truckers, but for those donating to them.  

Police arrested an elderly spectator for honking his horn in support of the truckers. He was dragged out of his car and led away in handcuffs. If these tactics of government police powers are taking place in Canada, why wouldn’t such a government cooperate with the Antichrist to consolidate their power even more? Exactly how the Antichrist can and will dominate through governments across the Western world.  Governors on this side of the line and the President expressed support of Canada’s actions against the truckers. 

As noted on the slide, the woman was cautioned that her Facebook posting could be considered a cause for inciting insurrection. Is this really a big deal? Who was monitoring her Facebook page as such? A FB friend? The police? In either case, it shows how the Antichrist will extend his power and control through local governments, police departments and even neighbors. If these tactics of government police powers are taking place in Canada, why wouldn’t such a government cooperate with the Antichrist to consolidate their power even more? An example of exactly how the Antichrist can and will dominate through governments across the Western world.  

Will government heavy-handedness become the new normal? Let’s hope not. 

The Holy Spirit will not hold back Satan and the Antichrist forever. The solution is Jesus Christ through His church and prayer. The state of the church will have an influence on the state of the nation. Sadly, statistics show that the Christian Church is having less and less influence on the culture and national policy. So, what next? We will pick up again next week by following the path being laid…

We will continue our focus on the Antichrist and signs of the End Times next week. 

Based on current events many are beginning to wonder, will the Antichrist rise to power any time soon, and how will we know if or when it happens? “What are the Signs?” That will be the focus of this posting. Some may think it’s too political, but I’ll let former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher answer for me.

Her comment is as appropriate today as when she made it in the early 1980s. The other comment, downloaded from the web, is equally relevant. The Antichrist will be a political leader who becomes a global dictator. When Christians lose interest in the state of the Nation, and its influences on the world scene, evil will prevail, and he will emerge. 

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds us that we are engaged in a spiritual struggle against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms but also against the powers of this dark world. Satan rules through people and institutions, and even certain governments, which we will see shortly. 

In 1 John, the apostle’s letter tells of the coming of the Antichrist. He warns that there have been many antichrists. Nevertheless, we are cautioned to stay alert for the Antichrist’s coming. How will we know? There will be signs. 

In chapter 1, verse 1 of Revelation, John gives us a heads up on “what must soon take place”, being the coming of the Antichrist. How soon? Revelation is not an easy study, and excerpts from it are not any easier, but nevertheless, thought provoking…

Each generation is that much closer to the End Times. John was a prisoner of Rome on the Isle of Patmos, when he received his revelation directly from Jesus Christ, yet it speaks of a reality yet to come. The reality is coming, but how close is it? 

The Book of Daniel also points to the rise of the Antichrist. The great sea as noted—the Mediterranean—was dominated by and situated entirely within the ancient and mighty Roman Empire. 

Daniel’s vision as encompasses these four kingdoms. Interpretation is often a matter of looking back over history and drawing conclusions accordingly. But also using Scripture to interpret Scripture. In general, most agree that it represents the four main empires as noted, ending with Rome. The 70th week of Daniels 70-weeks prophecy takes us to the 7-year Tribulation in Revelation as shown on the next slide.

Sixty-nine of Daniel’s 70-weeks prophecy, applies to O.T. Israel, up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; with the 70th week pointing to the Antichrist and Tribulation (each week is equal to 7 years). The Antichrist rises to power in the start of the Tribulation period with full dominance during the second half, as a time of Great Tribulation with God’s wrath pouring out on a sinful rebellious world. If you never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, you may want to think and pray about it. It will make all the difference. 

Another view of Daniel’s prophetic timeline with related Bible verses, interpreting Scripture with Scripture. It’s a Bible study in and of itself.  

Map shows the Roman Empire at the time the Apostle John wrote Revelation. The Isle of Patmos is a tiny Greek island off the coast of the Roman province of Asia (modern day Turkey). Why is this relevant? The next slide explains…

Bible commentaries, such as this one, believe the Antichrist will arise out of the remnants of the former Roman Empire in accordance with Daniel’s prophecy, which would place him in Western Europe, the remnant of ancient Rome.

If he does rise in Europe, how will he also dominate the United States? 

1 John 2:18-22 tells us there have been many antichrist, with the Antichrist yet to come. To help understand how one person can rise to power over a nation and the world system, we will turn to world history for clues. 

Where do we start? We begin looking at the remnants of the Roman Empire, once mighty and powerful, when John wrote Revelation as revealed to him by Jesus Christ, from where Daniel’s prophecy shows the Antichrist will rise. 

We look back on history at circumstances that gave rise to such a dictator, and at the appointed time, another will rise as we are told in Revelation. We begin by looking at Europe at the close of WWI, which became a harvest ground for Satan to recruit his evil followers. 

Post WWI Germany was burdened with paying war reparations to the victorious Allies, beyond their ability to pay, along with the added burden of the 1929 Great Depression. Riots broke out in the street between opposing political factions. All of which left a divided and discouraged people seeking a leader who would restore their Nation and civil order. The government printed money without any backing for it, which created enormous inflation that even a wheel barrel of currency (photo) had little value. People lined up for handouts just to survive. Out of the chaos one man rose, not just to lead, but to rule. 

That man was Adolf Hitler. He very well was one of the antichrist written about in 1 John. Hitler’s systematic murder of six million Jews is confirmation of satanic evil. Hitler’s rise to power began in politics with the vote of the German people. Only a couple of years after assuming office, he declared himself Fuhrer, total dictator of Germany.  He rose out of the turmoil and chaos of a downtrodden people and nation. 

In Hitler’s long-range plans for world conquest, he looked across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. What stopped him? If the U.S.A had not entered the war, Germany would have been assured victory over the European nations. American aid kept both Great Britain and Russia from collapsing under the German Blitzkrieg, “lightening war”. Ultimately, America would have faced a threat from both Germany on the East and Japan on the West. But it wasn’t time, and Hitler and Nazi Germany were defeated by God‘s grace. 

Few realized there were undercurrents in America in the 1930s. A pro-German movement had taken root, consisting mostly of American citizens, who supported Hitler and Nazi Germany (slide). 

In the 1930s a vast majority of Americans opposed intervention in another European war. One of the outspoken leaders against intervention was Charles Lindbergh (slide).  He even made several visits to Germany, and in 1938 considered moving his family to Berlin. Of course, the attack on Pearl Harbor changed all that.

Photo shows Nazi sympathizers marching in NYC in 1939 and holding pro-Nazi public rallies such as the one at Madison Square Garden. Youth camps, similar to those formed in Germany, were established across the United States. You reach a nation by first reaching its youth, which is exactly what was done in Nazi Germany. 

History does repeat itself, for many reasons, especially when average people ignore the facts and do nothing. We see it today, with people turning against each other over Covid-vaccinations and masks, even to the point of violence. 

In 2020, the United States underwent unprecedented government-imposed lockdowns, that impacted small businesses, church attendance, and everyday life for all Americans. For the first time in American history, it gave governments direct and unprecedented control over its citizens. This is exactly the kind of power Adolf Hitler held over Germany, and the Antichrist will have over Western governments. He will rule through governments! Which is when politics becomes a spiritual battlefield. 

Parents speaking out at school board meetings, to protest questionable school curriculum, were labeled as possible terrorists by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), even arresting a parent. A level of government intervention and censorship previously unheard of in America. Certainly a warning that should concern everyone, especially parents and grandparents. 

Thank God for schools like Covenant Christian School, that make all the difference in shaping young minds to believe the truth, and placing their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

It would be hard to deny that today’s America is “deeply divided” and weakened on the international stage. Just one week of TV news will reflect the division that exists, along with defunding of police and a corresponding rise in crime. A weakened America is not, nor can it be, a deterrent to the rise of a global dictator. One of Satan’s tools is to remove any potential deterrent to the rise of the Antichrist. He has been prevented from doing so, only because the Holy Spirit has restrained him, until now perhaps!

If America becomes a permanently divided Nation, it will not be able to restrain the Antichrist’s rise to power and dominance. As Lincoln had said, our destruction will not be from without, but from within. 

Jesus is referring to Satan’s kingdom, but the same is true of an earthly kingdom. Not only as a warning, but a sign to be aware. America has been the bastion of freedom for decades, if that is lost, there is no other deterrent to the rise of a strong political leader in Europe, which will serve as the platform for the Antichrist’ rise to power. 

A people increasingly subservient to and dependent on the government, have a diminishing influence over the government, and such a government would readily submit, for its own corresponding power, to the Antichrist’s dominance and power. Which is exactly how the Antichrist will dominate the USA. 

Is this is the “new normal” going forward? Many seem to think so. The government will have ever-increasing control overs people’s lives, and with it will come the Antichrist’s control of every Western nation, including the United States. He doesn’t have to come here to rule here. There will be a lot of people, especially in government, willing to do his bidding. 

We will continue our focus on the Antichrist and signs of the End Times next week It won't be as long as this week's posting.