The Tribulation, the Beast and the False Prophet. Part 1
No one would have suspected, when Anton Drexter formed the German Workers Party in 1921 with only a handful of followers, what was to happen in the years that were to follow. In 1933 with the German economy in freefall, the President of Germany at the time, Paul von Hindenburg, appointed a politician, and a member of what was now commonly called the NAZI Party, Adolf Hitler, as Chancellor of Germany. Drexter, Hitler and a man called Himmler had formed this party way back in the 20’s, and it had become very quickly, very militaristic, with uniformed men marching and demonstrating in the streets. Hitler seemed to come up with some ideas that would set the economy right. With Hitler in power, the German industrial machine started turning. Roads were built, money came miraculously from nowhere and the German people felt they could again hold up their heads in pride. There was a factor no one knew at the time, but Hitler, Himmler and Drexter were all worshipers of Satan through the following of Occult practises, Hitler had his strong military forces and mobilised the German people by his powerful speeches and by forces that blinded the general population into joining Hitler in their conquest of the world. It all ended in disaster as we know, as it was not God’s time for the Antichrist to appear. Why am I telling you all this? It proves that in a civilized educated society in a European Country that a power could arise, that as it seemed at the time, will put the world’s economy to rights, but will end in total disaster.
This will occur at somewhere in the future, when the man of sin, Antichrist or the Beast appears on the scene. The world will just have experienced the shock of the Rapture. It is estimated that something like 2.2 billion people in the world are Christian and all these people will have suddenly disappeared. You take 30% of the population out of anywhere and you will realise this will cause a terrible upheaval to many countries. The world’s money system which will probably already be in serious trouble, will suddenly take a nosedive into disaster. The Antichrist will rise up out of this sea of trouble which will be churning around the world [Rev 13:1-10]. In the late 1950’s Henri Spaak, Secretary General of NATO, quoted these words: “What we want is a man of sufficient stature, to hold the alliances of all people, and lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and be he god or devil, we will receive him”. Deutsche Bank President in 2011 stated: “The time has come to deepen economic and currency union. For this renewed push towards integration we need strong political leadership”. There is no doubt that in the economic morass of the world at this time the Antichrist will be accepted gladly by the establishment, just as Hitler was. This time it will not be just Germany, it will be the world.
Strangely just like Hitler he will build up his own army with the latest weapons. In Daniel Chapter 11 it is describing the war with Antiochus Epiphanes, however in verse 36 it veers away from Antiochus to tell of the Antichrist and what he will be like. The Antichrist will take advantage of his powerful position and the adulation of most leaders and people, to rule the world like a police state. He will go even further than that, the Bible says speaking of the Antichrist: “Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” [2 Thess 2:4 NKJV]. Revelation 13 describes him in great detail and what he will do. The Antichrist will have an assistant. He is also described in Revelation chapter 13 as the “Beast out of the Earth”. With the Church of Lord Jesus taken away in the Rapture the church buildings and in many cases the organisation will remain. Even now there is an enthusiasm for a worldwide combined church. This will now occur led by the Beast out of the Earth or False Profit. Probably centred at Rome it will promote the Antichrist as God, similar to how the Roman Emperors were worshiped in time past. He will promote himself to sit in the Jewish rebuilt Temple to be King of the World. There are a few things to note about his rule. He will control the world’s money. Everyone will have to have a mark in the hand or forehead which will act as a credit card. Without it no one will be able to buy or sell, receive wages or do business [Rev 13:16-17]. If you rebel, you will be caught and your head removed. If you support the Antichrist you will do very well financially [Rev 18:11-20]. With all restraint of the Church removed, sin will know no bounds. The Devil will be worshipped, and all the witchcraft and evil manner of life at present held in check by a law, originally based on the Bible and restrained by the Holy Spirit working through Christians, will have been removed at the Rapture.
The City or establishment of Babylon, representing the sort of world it will be, under the rule of Antichrist [Rev 18: 2-10]. It will be violent and evil in all respects. I think the rise of Hitler was a dummy run by the Devil to establish his kingdom. However it was not God’s time and so it was destroyed. At the end of seven years, the realm of the Devil and Babylon will be destroyed. How awful it will be to miss the Rapture and be here when the Devil and Antichrist come to stay and rule. Dear friend make sure you are not. In Mathew chapter 24 we hear of one person being taken up in the Rapture and one not. Husbands could go and his wife be left here, children could go to Heaven and the parents left behind. “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left, Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. [Mt 24:38-42 NKJV].
Brian D. Papworth
PWMI Representative for the South Pacific