Sound The Trumpet : A Great Transition

Must Listen

Must Read

What Art Thinks

Pre-Millennialism

Today's Headlines

Sorry... Not Available

Locally Contributed...

Audio

Video

Special Interest

Main Stories

12971

“A Great Transition”
by Art Sadlier
March 1st, 2011

Paul gives us insight into the times immediately preceding the tribulation period. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2 he talks about the coming day of the Lord, or the tribulation period (“The day of the Lord so cometh”). This seven year peace treaty will initiate the tribulation period, according to Daniel 9:27, “And he shall confirm the covenant for with many (Israel and the world) for one week” (seven years).This peace treaty, which Antichrist signs, will promise peace and safety to Israel and the world.

In verse 3 Paul says, “Peace and safety; then sudden destruction.” The implication is that preceding the peace treaty there will be a great lack of peace and safety or security. The world will be going through a time of unprecedented turmoil. Out of that turmoil something new will happen, for the first time in all of history the whole world will be rejoicing in a guarantee of world-wide peace and safety. How will it be possible to bring this about? I believe the answer is rather obvious; the turmoil and unrest confusion in the world will be so great and so unprecedented that the nations and the world’s leaders will be crying out for an answer and be willing to pay any price to get it.

I believe that today we are seeing the stage being set for this time of unprecedented unrest and turmoil.

There is a transition taking place in the Arab world, a transition from a state of quiet and stability to a time of turmoil and confusion and radical Islamic fundamentalism.

This transition has been underway for some time. Thirty years ago it began in Iran with the overthrow of the Shah and the transition to an Islamic Fundamentalist state. This new Iran has brought unprecedented terror and chaos to the world and they are promising the world a nuclear holocaust in the near future.

In Turkey this transition has been going for several years now and seems about to be completed. Turkey is making the transition to an Islamic State. Pakistan has been going through a similar transition. Al Qaida is on the same quest to bring radical Islamic Fundamentalism to the whole world. They had succeeded in Afghanistan and are now trying to restore what they have recently lost.

Iraq is making this same transition at this time. The dictatorship has been removed and a radical Islamic state is the likely end result.

In Lebanon a transition has taken place from an Orthodox Christian State to a radical Islamic Shia government, controlled by Hezbollah, a proxy of Iran.

At the present time we are seeing the “days of rage” unleashing an earthquake of change in the Arab world. These changes are not transitions to democracies. Islam will never tolerate democracy; democracy is the exact opposite to the very essence of what Islam is. Islam makes it very clear that their objective is nothing less than a world-wide Caliphate or kingdom ruled by sharia law not democracy.

In all of the following Arab States the transition is now underway, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan and Bahrain. In Saudi Arabia and Syria the warnings of unrest are being sounded.

In France the warning of a civil war is being heard. The Muslim minority has provoked the ire of the native French. All of Europe, including England is in danger of a serious backlash that could bring serious consequences to the peace. There are also reports of unrest in China.

In the third world countries we are told that one billion people are spending two thirds of their income on food. We are also told that there are unprecedented increases coming in the cost of food. These increases would leave a billion people without food. In the past few years we have seen food riots that have endangered the survival of governments. Even as I write this article reports are coming in of major food riots in New Delhi. The future for the third world seems to be a plunge into riots and rage against governments and leaders.

Another source of chaos and distress that will shake the foundations of societies is the seemingly inevitable world-wide economic collapse that is coming. Many will lose their jobs and many will lose their incomes from whatever source they may be. Savings will be lost and despair and anger will spill over into the streets. Society will suffer a total breakdown. We do not wish this on the world, but secular experts and financial advisors are sounding this alarm. It seems to be inevitable, even our Canadian Finance Minister has advised Canadians to be prepared for hard financial times.

Perhaps the most startling commentary of recent days is the suggestion that America is being sold down the road to socialism. The commentator went on to say, when the American people wakeup to that fact and to the realization of what it will mean for them, there will be demonstrations and riots in the streets. He said, the leaders of this movement toward socialism will do what socialism has always done, they will turn their power on the people and blood will flow in American streets. Some maintain that detention camps are already being prepared across America. This seems to be over the edge, but there is much evidence to back this suggestion up. We do not want to be set aside as conspiracy theorists or be caught up in politics, but we need to be aware of the dark clouds forming around us.

The coming tribulation period seems to be preceded by chaos and turmoil that is totally unprecedented in all of history. Into that environment Antichrist will come and miraculously bring solutions and peace and safety. That will bring about admiration and acclaim from the whole world. Revelation 6:2 describes his coming in peace to conquer the whole world, he has a bow but no arrows, “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

The signs of the times are multiplying all around us; can we see them and understand what they mean?

Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees, “He answered and said unto them, when it is evening, ye say, it will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:2-3).

The hope of the world is Jesus Christ. His promise to all who will turn to Him in repentance and faith is salvation of the soul and deliverance from the wrath to come.

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9).

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10).

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10).

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13