Is this upcoming US presidential election related to the world's movement towards the Tribulation? I believe it may very well be. I think many of us feel that there is a spiritual battle being waged in the undercurrent of this election cycle. It shows itself in the passion expressed by both sides of the political spectrum, as well as the importance a majority of Americans are placing on the outcome. It shows itself in the deep deception and spin being propagated by each side's opponents and the media. While partisan politics surrounding a presidential election is nothing new, the hatred spewing forth especially against the incumbent is something we should take note of. Moreover, a large percentage of those who've stated they are going to vote against the incumbent are doing so not out of a desire to elect a better man as president, but rather because they despise the man who currently is. The issues, of course, are extremely important to our nation; namely the "war on terror", our current operations in Iraq, and Middle Eastern threats that are just on the horizon.
Another relevant factor is that the current president is a man who believes in our Lord and our God; who has acknowledged the need for a Savior, and claims to have made the decision to follow Him. Some fruits of this decision are plain to see: he has conquered alcoholism, prays daily including opening many of his meetings with a prayer, studies and quotes the Word, exhibits genuine compassion towards others, publicly acknowledges his faith, and seems at least to me to be very purposeful in the decisions he's made. Just as one would be if they prayed intently for help from God in making those decisions. However, some of those decisions relating to Israel are also something to take note of. This is the first time a US president has formally called for the establishment of a Palestinian state to exist in the land God gave to Israel. Now keep in mind that no believer is without fault, and we must extend this fact to our current president as well. Even with his faults and perceived bad decisions, couldn't he be making the very decisions God wants him to make to move the world towards the end of days?
If we consider that our president is likely a true believer as we, then the perceived spiritual battle which seems to me to be clearly geared towards having him removed from office is striking. Why would the forces of evil push for the president to be replaced by his challenger? It could be because the replacement is more sympathetic to the causes of the UN, assuming it's possible that a one world government could be formed by or through this organization. For those looking for conspirators, it probably doesn't make a difference who is elected because both candidates are Yale Bonesmen. While this may be a possibility, I think there are other possibilities which are more likely.
Regarding conspiracies, it's no doubt that throughout history there were men, organizations, and nations that conspired to create their own utopia, at least from their perspective. And they continue their efforts today; a new world order so nations can live together peacefully, and free enterprise can abound [mo money, mo money, mo money]. In other words, they believe in the power of man and what he is capable of, not of God. But for all their efforts over the centuries, the vision has still not been realized. However, man has been successful at building oppressive empires. Now not all empires are alike. Certainly there were the great empires of the Aztecs, Maya, Incas, Mongols, Chinese, etc., but they are not mentioned in God's word at all. Why? Because none of these have ever controlled the land of Israel or the city of Jerusalem. Only the empires depicted in the book of Daniel and Revelation, the beastly empires, have and will accomplish this feat; namely 1) Egypt, 2)Assyria, 3) Babylon, 4) Medo-Persia, 5) Greece, 6) Rome, 7) Muslim/Ottoman/British/yet to emerge [depending on your view]. Then there is the antichrist's, the 8th that is of the 7 [Rev 17:11].
Getting back to possibilities, the events that have occurred during the current administration are remarkable. Long before Sept. 11 I believed that the preponderance of scriptural evidence supported the identification of the USA as the end time entity known as "Mystery Babylon". I know many people disagree with that, but allow me to continue with the possible scenario related to our election. If one accepts an interpretation of the USA as "Mystery Babylon", then the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks take on a whole new meaning. Because we have our current president, these attacks are what ultimately forced our hand to move into Iraq [part of and including the capital city of ancient Babylon]. So the USA is now essentially ruling over the land and people of ancient Babylon! I highly doubt that a president Gore would have invaded Iraq.
I have also believed prior to Sept. 11 that scripture points to the eastern half of the Roman empire as the territory from which the antichrist would emerge. Specifically from an intersection of several of the other empires of Daniel, which today encompasses the northern part of the Middle East. Iraq is part of this territory which also includes Iran, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Turkey, and the northern portion of Saudi Arabia. There is currently a power vacuum in Iraq because of our overthrow of Saddam. Syria harbors terrorists and Iran is seeking nuclear weapons. If the interpretation that the antichrist rises from this general area is correct, then he will have to take control of it somehow. We know from Daniel 11:21-24 that one of the characteristics of the antichrist is that he enters peaceably. He obtains the kingdom by flattery, including the fattest places of the province. The Hebrew word translated to "fattest places" is "Mashman" [strongs 08080]; it means: fatness, fat piece, fertile place, richly prepared food a) fat, fatness, fat pieces b) OIL, olive OIL. Are the puzzle pieces starting to fit together yet?
Just this week there were several published news reports about how the president will not tolerate a nuclear Iran, and how the he ordered military contingency plans against Syria and Iran. Here are the links:
If our current president stays in office, it is more likely that there would be military action or even full scale war against Syria, Iran, or both at some point in our future. Although, this could still happen even if there is a change in the presidency, albeit a much less likely one. We could even end up supporting revolutionary elements within each of these countries to force regime change. Regardless of the means, there is likely to also be power vacuums in these nations in the aftermath, just as in Iraq. With oil prices at $50 now and no market relief in sight, all of this would be very bad for the oil markets and world economies. Just consider China [kings of the East?], who's economy and oil consumption is growing at a phenomenally higher rate then any other nation today. This territory [Iraq, Iran, Syria] would have to be stabilized. Additionally, terrorism will likely continue to be a huge problem in the Middle East and the world. People in the Middle East will be looking for answers to the deteriorating situation in Iraq, Syria and Iran. The world will be looking for answers to stabilize the primary oil producing region of the world. And lets not forget about the Palestinian question! Israel will certainly be a major piece to the puzzle.
Now enter the antichrist! That he would rise from within Islam will give him the credibility for the Arabs to accept his ideas. He would also have to be a friend or at least sympathetic to the West and East. Our nation and/or the UN might even be the mechanism to put him in power in the first place. So he would enter peaceably through flattery, including the fattest places of the province [I.E. Oil rich Iraq & perhaps others]. He could instantly crystallize the Islamic peoples all over the world. Today Islam covers 1/4 of the entire population of the world. So he can conceivably rise to very prominent power in the world very quickly. In the bible, the antichrist is also known as the Assyrian. This further reinforces the idea that he will emerge from this northern portion of the Middle East; the land of ancient Assyria.
The antichrist is a part of the beast with 7 heads and 10 horns [Rev 17]. The woman who rides the beast is "Mystery Babylon". This is amazing imagery! If the interpretation of the USA as Mystery Babylon is correct, then it would be fitting that the harlot Mystery Babylon would be riding the beast. Oil is necessary for transportation. In John's time, one would ride an animal/beast for transportation purposes. Do you see the harmony of imagery? Mystery Babylon is riding the beast. The kingdom that the antichrist forms out of the Middle East will now control oil rich lands. He comes in peaceably at the request of or by the actions of the harlot Mystery Babylon. But the 10 horns of the beast hate the harlot Mystery Babylon and at some point burn her with fire [Rev 17:16]. They resent the control of being ridden. I'm sure the Arab Islamic nations will continue to harbor ill will towards us for as long as the current generation is alive, so it makes perfect sense that they would attack us at some point in the future. These 10 horns would likely be the balance of Middle Eastern nations surrounding the ones that the antichrist enters peaceably. But all of Islam worldwide would be part of his power base.
Back to the election. It seems to me that the world is moving towards the scenario I just outlined, or something similar to it in the same geographic region of the Middle East. It was our current president who made the most drastic move towards this end; the invasion of Iraq. We also know from scripture that Jerusalem will become a burdensome stone for the world. Our president also made the most substantial move regarding Israel as well; the formal recognition of a Palestinian state within the land of Israel. It is more likely that we will continue to move towards the scenario I outlined if he remains our president as compared to if he were not.
Now consider the spiritual battle being waged around this election. Satan wants to change God's timetable or plans. If he can do so, he will have defeated God and make all God's promises a lie. He tried to do so in the past. Neither he nor anyone else really understood that Yeshua HaMashiach had to die as part of God's salvation plan for mankind at the time of His 1st Coming. Satan only knew that Messiah had arrived. He tried to tempt Him, but that didn't work. So from the spirit realm he orchestrated Yeshua's death instead. Oops, that was a mistake from his point of view. Fast forward to our times. I'm sure Satan at least understood from the scriptures that the nation of Israel needed to exist in the land in order for the time of the end to commence. He does not want the time of the end to commence because deep down he knows it's his demise. So in the late 1800's he sees the exodus of European Jews to Israel and the Zionist movement. "What is this? " he says. You see, through the Roman empire and it's successors, as well as the Muslim empire and it's successors, Satan has been able to keep the Holy Land out of the control of the Jews for almost 1,900 years. Now they are coming back in significant numbers and are really starting to work towards reforming their nation. This must be stopped!
Enter Hitler! The goal was to control Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Kill the entire Jewish bloodline. If they don't exist, then prophecy can't be fulfilled, right? Oops, wrong on that one too! The holocaust ended up causing what it was trying to stop, the formation of the nation of Israel. Fast forward to the war in Iraq, events in the Middle East, and our election. Consider the effort to replace our current president. Consider the scripture interpretations and scenario I outlined. Consider the possible timeline which I outlined in my letter posted Tuesday 9/28 Link to Timeline. Consider the prophecies that are associated with this timeline. Consider the world events around us. Are you starting to see the connections???
YBIC, Chris aka Prophbuff