The Peacemaker

Mt. 24:24; II Thess. 2

“Blessed are the peacemakers” – if anyone has earned a Nobel prize it is our President.  But, this is a time for CAUTIOUS optimism

Is this peace deal a fulfillment of prophecy?

Isn’t it interesting that on the very plane ride to the mideast, DJT renewed his commentary revealing his lack of understanding about how one gets to heaven?  Like a flashing neon sign, he signals his ignorance about spiritual things. 

Let me be clear:  I support the President. I’m thankful for freed hostages, and for any “band-aid” that applies relief…

…but, a couple of verses come to mind:

1 Thessalonians 5:3

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them…”

Daniel 9:27

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many…”

The latter happens during the tribulation. It didn’t happen today. But this may be a “coming attractions” preview, and is worthy of contemplation.

I am rooting for lasting peace, but only the Prince of Peace will fully deliver.

Trump said there’s room for Iran at the table if they behave.  Wow.  Just wow.

Ezekiel 38-39, unwalled villages [v. 11]

Kings of the North includes Russia, Iran, and Turkey [already aligned over Syria]

It could be over natural gas and technology for some, but spiritual for others.

This could be the setup for that war.

This peace deal is not going to hold up, because it’s political and economic only, and in no way spiritual.  These people hate each other, and are still going to fight until they have their way.  They want Jerusalem.  They want the annihilation of them and us.  He is the wild man.  His hand is against every man, including his own clan. [executions]

This is being forced upon them.  Only the rod of iron would make peace.

Bottom line:  We aren’t supposed to be looking for the Antichrist but for Jesus Christ. And it seems every news day provides a further reminder of His soon return. 

Is Trump the Antichrist?  Some think so because of signing this peace deal.  I don’t.  But it does give us cause to pause.  They say he survived what could have been a deadly head wound.  And his tariffs are bringing economic surrender around the globe.  But he simply doesn’t fit the description:

"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies" (Revelation 13:5).

The Antichrist will have a perfect command and flow of language. His oratory will not only gain attention but command respect.

Doesn't sound like Trump to me.

"…a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows" Daniel 7:20.

According to the prophet Daniel, the Antichrist will be strikingly attractive. The combination of his magnetic personality, speaking ability, and extreme good looks will make him virtually irresistible to the masses.  Think Mamdami.

But hardly Trump.

Daniel 8:25: "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."

"He will be a man of great intellect."

Nope not Trump. But his son-in-law, who actually wrote the peace agreement, and the Abraham Accords, may fit the bill.  When Trump dies people will be looking for the heir apparent.  The Beast out of the Sea rises up from obscurity.  He’s the ‘little horn’ among the big horns of Dan. 7. And once Satan possesses him, he will change greatly for the worse.

Trump was greeted by banners, declaring him the peacemaker.  I have no problem with peace, and cheer his efforts.  But many of these are declaring him to be the return of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who allowed the captive Jews to return and rebuild the temple.  We could very well see a renewed effort to do just that, and we know it will happen eventually on the temple mount.  Is there room?  There is if the Dome of the Rock is destroyed.  But there’s also room if you leave off the court of the Gentiles, which is God’s instruction anyway.

Keep in mind that there will be a one world church and government.  This week makes it easier to see how quickly that could form.

Matthew 24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Understand types and anti-types:

This is a forerunner or a foreshadowing.

Passover lamb / Jesus, the lamb of God

Melchizedek, priest

Bronze serpent / Jesus on cross

There have been many types of antichrist, who have his spirit.

Antiochus Epiphanes, 167 BC desecrated the temple, ceased sacrifices, and accepted worship.  It was a type of the abomination of desolation.

Nero and other emperors who persecuted Christian.  Napoleon, Stalin.

These were all shadows/previews.  Jared could be a type.

History is littered with examples who were labeled as the Antichrist.

Popes, Gorbachev [birthmark on head], Ronald Wilson Reagan because 6 letters in each name.  Each time we are wrong, it damages our credibility.  Be careful.  But we shouldn’t be silent about seeing patterns.  Jesus said we are to discern the signs of the times.

1 John 2:18:
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1 John 4:3: "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

Prophecy unfolds over time.

The Shepherds knew about Jesus’ birth, but knew nothing of the cross.

Simeon recognized the baby, but he didn’t see the resurrection.

There’s a strong chance that Antichrist is alive today and waiting in the wings, but things are still unfolding.

2 Thessalonians 2:2
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2 Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

This is the abomination of desolation.  The antichrist claims to be God, and most of the world will buy it!  Satan has always wanted to be God, ever since he rebelled as Lucifer and tried to capture God’s throne.  He was cast out of heaven and has declared war on God ever since.  At the end of the world Satan will throw a final insult in the face of the Almighty and it will be the ultimate mockery. 

Satan has always been an imitator of God, a counterfeit: 

• Mt. 13 teaches that Satan has counterfeit Christians.
• II Cor. 11 – counterfeit ministers.
• Gal. 1 – counterfeit gospel.
• Rev. 2 – counterfeit church, the synagogue of Satan, where those who worship think they are following God, but it is actually Satan.

In the tribulation, long before the antichrist wants casualties he wants converts, and the worship of man.  Just as he will lead the one world government, a one world church will come on the scene, ultimately under his hand as well, led by the false prophet, the right hand man and sinister minister of the antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8
⁶ And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ⁸ And then shall that Wicked be revealed...

The ‘mystery of iniquity’ is the unseen spirit world of demons at work on their plan to overthrow God.  Some don’t believe in demons.  Neither did doctors in the middle ages believe in bacteria, but they were still real and still at work and still harming people.

“Revealed” is from the Greek – apocalupsis [apocalupsis] and it is where we get the word apocalypse.  It means an unveiling, as in pulling a cloth off a statue.  Again, knowing these are the last days, we can assume he is likely alive today, but something is holding him back right now.  In v. 6 it’s a ‘what’ and in v. 7 it’s a ‘he’.  The what is the church and the he is the Holy Spirit, and both will be removed at the rapture!  The Holy Spirit not only helps the saints, He also hinders Satan, keeping him on a leash.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-10
⁸ And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ⁹ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders...

In the end he’ll transform the world into a vast concentration camp where everyone is an inmate and all have a number.  He’ll be like a combination of all the dictators of history...all rolled into 1, multiplied by 10,000!  He’ll put a mark on everyone he can and be able to track their every move and action.  His miracles are called lying wonders...he’s a master of deception.

The technology is all in place.  Small chips the size of a grain of rice are being implanted already today to track children and pets by gps.  Smart cards contain more info. on the head of a pin than you ever learned in school, and it’s info. about you!

Ill.—I’ve never been able to get over the fact that the bar code technology can have so much info. within just a few lines.  Did you know that the first, last, and middle numbers in all bar codes are the number 6?  I’m not a superstitious person, but this is more than interesting.

The good news:

Jesus is God, but His glory was veiled in His first coming, but not the next time He comes!

v. 8          ‘the brightness of his coming’

Ill.—have you ever looked at the diamonds in the jewelry store?  They display them on a black background.  This makes them look brighter!  The tribulation will be a very dark, very black time…which will make Christ’s 2^nd coming that much more beautiful and bright!

At Armageddon the skies will part and King Jesus will ride in with the armies of heaven, but they won’t be needed.  He’ll destroy the antichrist and all of His enemies with a sharp sword coming out of His mouth, just a Word!  And He who spoke the world into existence will speak His enemies into oblivion!

I’m not looking for antichrist, but for Jesus Christ.  Jesus knows my name, the antichrist will only give me a number.  Jesus will take you to heaven if your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, He’ll call your name!  The antichrist will take you to hell.  And so, at the end of the world, will your name be called, or will your number be up?

There’s no need to face the antichrist if you accept Jesus Christ today!  Christians, let’s not go to church on Sunday and live like the devil during the week.  Let’s be found faithful when Jesus comes back!