Scripture: Daniel 7 v 19 - 25: "Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."
This prophecy from the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament has been fulfilled. Ten nations of Europe have made an alliance to combine their military might. The prophecy was made over 700 years before the birth of Jesus.
President Macron of France proposed this idea 2 years ago, encouraged by Germany, and joined by the Netherlands, Britain, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Spain and Portugal. The ten nation coalition, called the European Intervention Initiative, was signed into being on Wednesday 7 November, 2019.
This decision was taken because of US President, Donald Trump, withdrawing from NATO. Britain, although now withdrawn from the EU through Brexit, is still firmly in this military coalition pact. The whole power of it is centred in Germany. Will history repeat itself?
Nothing heralds the return of Jesus Christ to Earth more than the fulfilment of end time prophecies. In this one Daniel's Fourth Beast has now been revealed. Out of this revival of the old Holy Roman Empire shall the Antichrist emerge. It had to be formed before he could arrive on the scene. The prophecy says out of these ten nations he shall come - v 20.
It has also happened that Israel is in signed peace and trade agreements with many nations of the Arab world. The stage is being set for the last seven years before the battle of Armageddon happens.
So many Christians are becoming weary of this world and its pressures and stress. They are calling on Jesus to return. So this Fourth Beast's arrival is a huge step forward in knowing Jesus is on His way. However, the pressure will become worse for a short time as the forces of darkness become bolder. We have seen it happen in the past year as the pandemic becomes even more devastating.
As a watchman I am sending out a clarion call to all followers of the Lamb to put on the whole armour of God and stand firm in the evil days ahead. Fear not any dark thing but oppose it with the Sword of the Spirit and the Blood of Jesus. Faith frightens Satan so when we stand together in praise and worship he leaves.
Psalm 149 v 6 - 9: "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD."
The kings and nobles that get bound in chains and fetters of iron are powerful demon spirits sent from Hell to afflict and compromise us. So this psalm is how we deal with them. We must know what is in the Bible to use it as a two-edged sword. A blunt and rusty sword will be useless. The blade of truth must be gleaming and sharp to confound the enemy.
Jesus used the Word very effectively against Satan during the forty days of temptation while He was fasting. Satan attacked Him mercilessly but each time Jesus used the appropriate Word to defeat him. Be ready with effective counterthrusts when he attacks us in future.
When Daniel speaks of time, times and the dividing of time this refers to the final three and a half years, the time of great tribulation. This second half of the seven year tribulation period is called the Wrath of the Lamb and for sure the Body of Christ has been removed by then in the Rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4 v 16 - 18: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
Many churches have rejected the notion of a Rapture, but it does not depend on what we believe about it. Jesus Christ will return soon to catch away the true believers. It will happen in the twinkling of an eye. Faster than half a second. We are patiently waiting for that blessed day to come.
The Antichrist is rising rapidly. He spreads fear, anarchy, rebellion, apostasy, murder, plagues, terrorism and lies. He will be fully manifested by the time the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem and will enter into the Holy of Holies to announce that he is God, the Messiah of the Jews.
The eyes of the Jews will be open and they will know he is the imposter. They will flee to the mountains around Petra in Jordan. Armageddon will be put in motion. Jesus and all the born again believers will descend upon the 200 million troops, and two thirds of them will die instantly when Jesus unleashes the sword in His mouth, the powerful Word of God. His covenant with Israel will be fulfilled.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we rejoice in Your presence because we know everything is on track for the coming of Jesus to fulfil all righteousness. Anoint us for the battles that are raging around us, so that we remain alert watchful and obedient. In Jesus' name. Amen.