Sound The Trumpet : The Peace Treaty

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“The Peace Treaty”
by Art Sadlier
August 1st, 2010

Someday, the trumpet will sound and the church will be caught up to be with Christ forever. Then, according to Daniel 9:26-27 and Revelation 17; Antichrist will appear on the world stage. He will be a European leader and will sign a great peace treaty; “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week”, or seven years. This peace covenant will involve Israel, Israel’s enemies and the whole world.

THE COMING CRISIS: It is easy to see that the world is facing the greatest crisis in all of human history. North Korea now has nuclear weapons and they are evidently willing to share them with countries like Syria. Pakistan has nuclear weapons and could also share them with other countries and terror groups. They have been reported to be secretly aiding the Taliban and al Qaeda. Turkey is also considering acquiring nuclear weapons as their hostility to Israel continues to grow.

Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah are arming to the teeth in preparation for a war with Israel. These three groups have an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 rockets and missiles between them. Some of these missiles have heavy payloads and probably chemical and biological warheads and possibly nuclear warheads. Many of these missiles have the range to reach all of Israel. These are not the nuisance rockets of the past.

Iran will soon have nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. Iran’s leaders have stated that Israel must be wiped off the map. Iran is a ticking time bomb and the world stands on the precipice of a nuclear nightmare. The world evidently fears that Iran, unlike other nations, will not hesitate to use whatever weapons are available to them. Iran’s leaders have stated that if anyone tries to bomb their nuclear facilities they will release 40,000 suicide bombers around the world. Iran has laid plans for Hezbollah, Hamas and Syria to attack Israel in the event of an attack on her nuclear facilities. They have also vowed to shut off 50% of the world’s oil supplies which passes through the Strait of Hormuz. This could cause the world’s economy to collapse; the IMF has stated that the economy of the West is vulnerable to change right now. The whole Mideast could suddenly be engulfed in flames while the economies of the world could come crashing down, leaving the nations on their knees. There also would be the most profound and unimaginable change in the world situation if America were to collapse economically and her mighty military machine were to dissolve. These things are all looming on our horizon.

THE SETTING FOR THE PEACE TREATY: A war involving Syria, Hezbollah, Lebanon and Hamas against Israel would leave tremendous devastation. If nuclear weapons were used, the world would be left in a state of utter panic. The world would be ready to receive a man who would promise to bring peace and the safety of total disarmament to the world, a world in which nuclear weapons are multiplying. Paul said, “Peace and Safety,” only total disarmament would bring a feeling of safety to the world. The whole world would be desperate to solve the problem of terrorism and a potential nuclear holocaust.

The stage would be set for Antichrist to appear. We are left with several questions concerning the appearance of Antichrist. Why would the world follow his leadership? Why would the nations accept disarmament? Why would Islam agree to peace? I believe the answer is suggested in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians: “even him (Antichrist) whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thess. 2:9.

Paul is telling us that Antichrist will come with tremendous power, power derived from Satan himself. He will perform amazing signs and wonders, “lying wonders”, deception and counterfeit miracles.

Paul says, “After the working of Satan,” remember Satan’s power in the book of Job. He called down fire from heaven and he controlled the wind. God allows Satan to exercise great power at times, remember how Satan duplicated many of the miracles of Moses in front of Pharaoh. Antichrist will, through the power of Satan, demonstrate great power to the world. The signs or apparitions Antichrist will give to the world will be so great that the world will be deceived by them. I will not, of course, say what these things will be. However I can suggest some possibilities. Flying saucers are apparently some kind of apparition that causes the world to wonder. An apparition is an unexpected appearance of something that is ghostly or unreal.

We have an example of this in the “apparitions of Mary.” In 1997 Newsweek ran a cover story on Mary. They stated that there have been 400 apparitions of Mary in the 20th century. They stated that each year 100’s of millions visit the shrines set up on those sites. Mary’s message is always the same, she comes to, “bring peace to a united world,” and that, “someday she will bring peace to the world.” I believe this is a set up for the day that Antichrist comes to sign the Peace Treaty. She may well announce to the world, through apparitions, that “Antichrist is her son who comes to bring peace to the whole world.”

THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN: here is a possible scenario which may happen. I am not saying that this will happen. October 13, 1917 at Fatima Portugal; Mary had, in an apparition, given advance warning, as a result 70,000 people gathered. As the crowd that day watched the sun it began to dance in the sky. Suddenly it began to dive at the crowd; they all fell to the ground in a wet field. The sun then returned to its usual place in the sky. When the crowd got up their clothes were clean and dry. Many of the sick and weak were cured.

The miracle of the sun is common. It happened before 100,000 in Puerto Rico, April 13, 1991. It happened before 300,000 in the Philippines March 5 1993. It happened in El Cajas Ecuador before 120,000 in the late 1980’s. Similar events are recorded as having taken place at Medjugorje – Denver – Lubbock Texas and Conyers Georgia. Could it be, that someday Antichrist will announce to the world to watch the sun at noon tomorrow in their time zone? Could it be that all around the world, at noon the miracle of the sun will occur? The world would be spell bound by Antichrist!

Beyond what Satan will do, we are told that God will cause the world to be deceived. “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:” 2 Thessalonians 2:11. The 'lie', is that Antichrist is the Christ, the Messiah or His representative. The counterfeit church of the tribulation period will be a church that professes to be the Church of Christ, (see Matthew 24:24). Christians would not be deceived by a church that did not profess to be the Church of Christ. History tells us that Rome has always been able to accommodate and incorporate pagan religions; we may assume that this will come to full flower in that day.

Israel will be deceived, “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:43. Israel will believe that Antichrist is their Messiah.

Islam will be deceived, “But in his estate shall he (Antichrist) honour the God of forces: and a god whom his father’s knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.” Daniel 11:38. Who is the god that was unknown in the days of the Roman Empire? The answer is Allah, who was not identified until the 6th century AD. Islam will be deceived into believing Antichrist is the Mahdi, the saviour of Islam. Islam believes that the Mahdi, when he comes, will destroy Israel, that he will convert the whole world to Islam and establish a world-wide Islamic Caliphate.

The whole world will be deceived. Today the whole world cries out for peace, peace to go on practicing their sin.

THE AFTERMATH OF THE PEACE TREATY: The whole world will have disarmed, which will allow Antichrist to begin to usurp control over much of the world, (Revelation 6:2). Shortly after the peace treaty is signed Islam realizes that they have been deceived. They realize that he is not their Mahdi, that he is not going to destroy Israel, and that he is not going to convert the world to Islam and set up a world-wide Islamic Caliphate.

At this point, early in the tribulation period, the great war of Ezekiel 38-39 will take place. Russia, Iran Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey and perhaps other Islamic nations that surround Israel, will come against Israel to annihilate her. The outcome of this war will be the destruction, by God, of 5 of every 6 of Israel’s enemies. We are also told that this destruction will extend to the homelands of these peoples.

Islam and Russia will be neutralized. The Antichrist will be left standing with the only army and control of all of the Mideast oil.

What is next for the world? I suggest the following scenario will unfold.

1. World tensions will continue to build.

2. Christ will suddenly come and without warning take His Bride to Heaven.

3. The U.S.A. will suddenly become insignificant in world affairs.

4. Out of the chaos and confusion, Antichrist will arise in Europe and sign a great peace treaty with the promise of world peace. World- wide disarmament will ensue. Euphoria will sweep the world and a brief period of world-wide peace will follow. (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

5. The peace will be suddenly shattered as Russia and her Muslim allies attack Israel. God will send fire from heaven and Russia and Islam will be eliminated as a factor in the tribulation scenario.

6. With Russia, Islam and America neutralized Antichrist will fill the vacuum through his ten nation Revived Roman Empire. This empire will be in union with the world-wide harlot church.

7. The tribulation period will unfold with great darkness, despair and catastrophic judgments.

8. At the midpoint of the tribulation period several things will happen. A- The transition from the Revived Roman Empire to the world-wide kingdom of Antichrist will take place. B- The beast (Antichrist) will destroy the harlot church and prepare the world to worship him. C- Satan will be cast out of heaven and into the earth, and the great tribulation will begin. The whole world will be enslaved by the beast and Israel will go through the great holocaust.

9. Christ will return to the earth, defeat the enemies of Israel and sit upon the throne of David. The long promised millennial kingdom will begin, Luke 1:32-33.

What’s next for you personally? Are you ready to face the future? Are you saved? Are you prepared to meet the Lord?

What about you Christian? Have you been obedient to the Lord’s command to be baptized? Have you put away known sin in your life? Have you surrendered your life to the control of the Holy Spirit? Are you supporting a Bible believing church? Are you serving the Lord the best you can? Are you looking and longing for His coming?

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13