World News Through the Third Lens: Hoof Beats

While this post, like all of my posts, makes no attempt to link specific news events with particular Scriptures, I must say that it appears that the sound of the hoof beats of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are getting louder.

So many things are breaking on the world scene that it is hard to ignore the fact that something of unprecedented proportions is about to break. It is wise to refrain from trying to set a date since Jesus said,  "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Matthew 24:36 (NKJV) However, Jesus did answer His disciples questions, "...and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" It blesses me to see the parallel between Jesus' answer to these questions in the Olivet Discourse and the revelation given to John in Revelation 6.

Matthew 24:5 and THE FIRST SEAL (Revelation 6:1-2).

Matthew 24:6-7a and THE SECOND SEAL (Revelation 6:3-4).

Matthew 24:7b and THE THIRD SEAL (Revelation 6:5-6).

Matthew 24:7c-8 and THE FOURTH SEAL (Revelation 6:7-8).

Matthew 24:9 and THE FIFTH SEAL (Revelation 6:9-11).

Matthew 24:29 and THE SIXTH SEAL (Revelation 6:12-13).

Notice also that the 5th seal only hints at the persecution of the Antichrist. Jesus spoke of his appearing in Matthew 24:15 with a warning (which would be primarily to the Jews, since it takes place in Jerusalem) for those in close proximity to flee. I'm not saying that the Antichrist is a Muslim, but he will be against (anti) both the Saturday and the Sunday people, as radical Muslims are today. Jesus reveals more detail about him with the parenthetical insertion of Revelation 13. The timing of the appearance of the Antichrist is clear from the agreement of several Scriptures (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3; Revelation 6:9-11) - midway through Daniel's 70th week and prior to the Lord's Second Coming.

The Lord's Second Coming will be immediately preceded by cosmic disturbances (Joel 2:30-31; Matthew 24:29 & Revelation 6:12-13) and will consist of several events (The great appearing, trumpet call and gathering of the elect [rapture/resurrection], Matthew 24:30, 36-41; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Revelation 7:9-17), followed by the Day of the Lord (Revelation 6:15-17) and the wrath of God (Revelation 15:1).

There is so much more to be said on this subject. The good news is that God has not appointed the saints to suffer His wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9) and we know that events leading up to God's wrath (the Day of the Lord) will happen like birth pains do in a woman about to give birth (Matthew 24:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). These birth pains, which increase in both frequency and intensity, could be compared to hoof beats which get louder and louder as they get closer. May the Holy Spirit grant the church revelation with these things as a backdrop for some of the bulleted news events in our world over the past week or so.

• "The overall chairman of the National Day of Prayer event in Washington each year is Shirley Dobson, the wife of Dr. James Dobson. The military and every branch of government was represented -- except for the Administration -- as President Obama did not send a representative." -Wm. Murray, rfcnet.org
• "Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani's Iranian attorney has been convicted for his work defending human rights, leaving the persecuted pastor without legal representation." -ACLJ.org
• "The very real threat remains that Iran will get a nuclear weapon and we continue to pray on two fronts: that God will act sovereignly in shaking the nation of Iran and that he will use Israel militarily against Iran." ifi.org.il
• DOZENS OF DEATHS CONTINUE IN SYRIA DESPITE CEASE-FIRE PLAN jnnnews.com
• Iran's Navy has the ability to deploy its vessels three miles off the U.S. east coast, a high-ranking Iranian Navy commander was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency. watch.org
• A new report finds that Christians are the target of religiously motivated physical attacks, intolerance and discrimination more than the people of any other faith in Europe. (WorldNetDaily)
• "Islam as a tool for judgment!" Bill Wilson, KIN

World News Through the Third Lens: The last item in the above list might rightly be seen in light of the first chapter of Habakkuk. Habakkuk cries out to God in the first four verses concerning the sin that was part of daily life in Israel. He wonders how long God is going to allow wickedness to continue. God's answer (verses 5-11) was that He was going to use a fierce and ungodly people, the Chaldeans (Babylonians) who were a law unto themselves as an instrument of judgment against Judah. Habakkuk questions this response, saying, "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?" Habakkuk 1:13 (NKJV) God makes it clear that in His time, justice will be served, declaring,  "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV)

May we be filled with faith that God has everything under control, no matter how "out of control" things seem to get. May we say with the prophet,
¹⁷ Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--
¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

Yes, may this be our praise and our song!