Voldemort point two
Spike Zantren
HEHinze
Aidan Thomas
hmmmm I believe the world is gonna get alot worse before the rapture occurs. Its gonna be a rough ride but we need to do our best to lead more souls to Christ before He takes us home with Him.
Worse than it already is? That'll be quite the sight. (Not that I doubt it can and will happen, it's just that the world is already such a mess it's a bit hard to think of how much worse it can get.)
Think Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, Maoist China and Pol Pot's Cambodia all combined, only a million times worse. Christians being dragged from their homes and executed in the streets, tortured, massacred, people cheering for joy at the deaths of those who believe in Christ and deny the Mark of the Beast. It's a dreadful thought, and we might be part of it if things keep progressing as fast as they are now.
Have any of you guys read Sinner by Ted Dekker? Basically, it's a world where that kind of thing starts happening. Well, they make it illegal to be a real Christian and follow Jesus' example. It's an interesting book.
And, is there any Biblical evidence for that, by the way? It's not that I don't believe you, it's just that I don't imagine anyone in their right mind condoning that.
Keep in mind that the person running the world will be Satan himself. He'll have such a terrible regime that he'll only be allowed to rule for a short time. I couldn't find the exact verse I'm thinking of, but this one kinda makes that point:
Revelation 12:12
12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
In the description of the Antichrist, or "the Beast", it mentions that he will make war against the saints (Christians) and the people on earth will worship the Beast and the Dragon (Satan) who gives him his power. At the end of the chapter 12 of Revelation, it gives the prophetic verse of the Mark of the Beast.
Revelation 13:1-8
1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 12:15-18
15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
