"The Party”
is over. On August 12th, the curtain fell on the London 2012
Olympics. The Closing Ceremony, showcasing the best of British musical performers,
was described as a warm, inclusive affair. Everyone appeared to have enjoyed “The
Party”. The host country, shrunk from an empire on which the sun never set,
expressed disbelief at coming 3rd in the medals table after USA and
China, amassing a haul of 29 gold medals!The Book of Daniel in the Bible outlined the major Kingdoms that ruled the world since the Fall of Man:
[Dan 2:31-35 NIV]
31
"You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue — an
enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.
32 The
head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its
belly and thighs of bronze,
33 its
legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.
34 While
you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the
statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.
35 Then
the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces
at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing-floor in the summer. The
wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the
statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
Whilst the British
Empire (Kingdom), symbolized by the legs of iron, conquered a large part of the
world, the last Kingdom will conquer the whole world, admittedly briefly. It
will be headed by the AntiChrist. This last Kingdom on earth, before the return
of the Lord Jesus, is symbolized by the feet of iron and clay; it will be
smashed by the rock (Jesus Christ). Whilst the Olympics events push the boundary of human abilities through sporting events in the natural, spiritually, they honour and exalt the god of the world.
I personally believe that the 2012 Olympics was fittingly held in London as the last “Party” on earth. In its conception, demonstrated beautifully in the design of the Olympics torch, uniting the nations of the world in the opening ceremony, signifying an altar for the god of the world. In the Closing Ceremony, we saw the design of a phoenix rising from the ashes, resurrecting a Kingdom that exalts human endeavors and achievements. Spiritually, the god of the world is making an attempt to unite the world and prepare for the rise of the AntiChrist.
This is the time for all
believers of Jesus Christ to be alert as the greatest deception sets in. Watch
out for all the signs mentioned in Matthew 24:[Matt 24:7-8]
Nation
will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines
and earthquakes in various places.
Whilst we are witnessing Matthew 24 before our very eyes, the Book of Revelation gives further insights as to what are to come:
[Rev 12:8-9]
The great dragon was hurled down - that
ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.
He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
The devil and his
angels, who used to roam in the 2nd heaven, will be hurled to the
earth. They will go on to rule and reign in the last Kingdom on earth with
great deception for 42 months.[Rev 13:15-17]
15 He was
given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could
speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
16 He also
forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a
mark on his right hand or on his forehead,
17 so that
no-one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast
or the number of his name.
This is the biggest challenge for all believers: NOT TO RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST, a computer chip that will be needed for buying or selling. Our very salvation will be at stake!
Our God is righteous and everlasting; His precepts
are forever right. “Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are
right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully
trustworthy. My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. Your
promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Though I am
lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is
everlasting and your law is true. Trouble and distress have come upon me, but
your commands are my delight. Your statutes are for ever right; give me
understanding that I may live. [Ps
119:137-144]We will see the power of our God being displayed before our very eyes; He will punish the guilty with whirlwind, storm, earthquake and flood. “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet……The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him…..with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of…….his foes……” [Nah 1:3-13]
“These are the words of him who holds
the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a
reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains
and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of
my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and
repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not
know at what time I will come to you………He who overcomes will, like them, be
dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but
will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. [Rev 3:1-6] Let us endure in our faith and overcome the plan of
the AntiChrist. When we do this, our names, found in the book of life, will be
acknowledged by Jesus before the Heavenly Father and His angels! “My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart for ever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,” [Prov 6:20-23]
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