|
|
Home
You are in Our Journal - What in the World 2008 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Jan | Feb | Mar | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
What in the World is Happening
- September 2008
A series of articles by Brian Papworth,
our PWMI Representative in New Zealand.
There is a remarkable similarity between the contents of Chapter 6 of Revelation
and the description given by our Lord for the end of the age in Matthew
24. Although this covers the seven years of the Tribulation period [Dan
9:27] after the Church is taken, never the less, we are seeing signs of
the pending fulfillment of these Scriptures around us every day, as the
world heads towards its inevitable end times happenings.
In the 6th
chapter of Revelation, John writes; “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.
Who is the rider? Some interpret him as Christ, however if the whole
account of the opening of the seals is studied there is no indication it
is Christ, as the whole context and character of these seals make it
impossible for him to be the rider, as he leaves war, famine and strife
behind him, totally unlike the character of the Lord Jesus. More likely he
represents the imposter, the Antichrist, sent forth to deceive the whole
world. We see today the battle for power by individuals, nations and
religions. We will see increasingly, the mobilizing of United Nation and
NATO armies detailed for armed intervention in the trouble spots of the
world, until the powers that control the U.N. and Europe, will spread
their power and influence into every nation of the world. This will sound
encouraging at first, but during the Tribulation period as the Antichrist
gains control, so he will spread his power and influence as conqueror,
world ruler and tyrant.
The reward of the initial actions of Antichrist will lead to peace at first, for a short
time, and then his success will crumble because of his lust for total
power. With the advent of the red horse, we see peace removed from the
earth. All the warring factions we are seeing prevalent in the world today
will rebel against the rule of Antichrist and also release the evil forces
which are now restrained by the Holy Spirit and the Church and by their
influence. With the Church gone, the evil forces in the world will have free reign. Crime, war and
the inevitable result of murder, genocide and mayhem will spread
throughout the world. We have seen in our day and age, what’s happened
in some situations, when all good influence has been removed. “War
will continue to the end and desolations” [Dan 9:26]. We will see
the increasing effect of Satan’s power hungry activities, bring about
his own downfall.
The third seal reveals a black horse. Then I heard
what sounded like a voice… saying “A quart of wheat for a day’s
wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” [Rev 6:5-6]. People, at the
moment, are suffering throughout the world with the ever increasing price
of basic food, oil and housing, in the light of the rise of the price of
oil which is affecting the cost of everything. Most goods have to be
transported and the use of corn and barley in the US to make bio-fuels is
forcing up the price of the worlds staple diet. It can easily be foreseen
that with world wide war and mayhem going on, it will not be long before
many people are starving. We are seeing the beginning of it now. It is
thought the oil and the wine referred to in this Scripture represent the
rich people. They are not now nor will be then affected by world events. I
remember when there was a slump in the economy in Britain and many were
put out of work. I enquired of a Rolls Royce dealer how he was fairing. He
replied that his customers were not affected by fluctuations in the
economy. We see it today: In times of calamity, it’s the poor people who
suffer not the rich. So it will be then, and no doubt the rich will be
supporters of the Antichrist, Satan’s man, similar to dictator’s
henchmen living off the Antichrists victims. Let us bear in mind that in
our day and age the cost of oil is being promoted by the financiers who
speculate on the “futures market.” There is less oil produced than is
used at the moment which would cause a cost increase, however it is the
“futures market” speculation that is really pushing up the price.
I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say; “Come! I looked and there before me was a
pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close
behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by
sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. [Rev 6:7]. If
it was to happen today something like 2 billion people would die. We are
beginning to see it already in Africa where aids, sickness, starvation and
civil unrest are taking their toll. What will it be like if the whole
world is involved in war and conflict?
This will be a time when no one can buy or sell, unless they have the mark of the beast.
Those who have believed in Christ after the Church has been taken will
suffer untold persecution as they will refuse to take the mark of the
Beast and will be unable to work, trade and will be very quickly marked by
the Antichrist and his organization. They will be marked by Christ and
then there is a terrible earthquake where whole islands move out of their
place, and all the followers of the Antichrist are terrified at what’s
happening in the world. It becomes open war between God and the
Antichrist. The chapter closes with the terrible realization by them that
the wrath of God is finally falling on the followers of the Beast.
Let us tell the world of a wonderful Saviour while we have time, and tell those who
don’t know our Lord Jesus and have not been forgiven of their sins; they
can be redeemed and be among the ransomed caught up to be with our Lord at
the Rapture and miss these terrible judgments which will come upon a sin
sick world.
Yours in His Service
Brian D Papworth
Representative for the Prophetic Witness Movement International
for New Zealand, Australia & the South Pacific
Home
You are in Our Journal - What in the World 2008 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Jan | Feb | Mar | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
|
