2001 In Review

First, we should review what the Bible teaches about the outline of things to come. This will give us an overview of where the world is headed. Documentation for all of these events may be found in the pages of the PROPHECY CENTRAL website (https://www.bible-prophecy.com).

Outline of the future

In His Olivet Discourse (Matthew chapters 24 and 25; and Luke 21), Jesus gave us a list of signs that would precede His return to Earth. They include False Christs, Wars and rumors of wars, Earthquakes, Famines, Plagues, Signs in the Heavens, and Persecution. He then gave us this parable: "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." - Matthew 24:32-36 (NIV). The evident meaning of this parable is that the generation that sees these things beginning to happen will not pass away until all have been fulfilled. We have more reason than any other generation that has ever existed to believe that we are living in the last days.

The Rapture of the Church

To better understand this, consider this brief outline of the things that must still happen on earth before Christ returns as King of Kings. Scholars who take the Bible literally generally agree on these major aspects, though some differ about the timing of the events and of the Rapture (catching away of the Church). Jesus Christ will call His true believers up to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The Tribulation

Soon after that, a powerful leader (Antichrist) will appear - one who will have solutions to the political and economic woes of the earth (Revelation 6:1-2). When Israel is finally at peace, presumably because of a good agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, there will be a great war (Revelation 6:3-4). This will probably the same as the war of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38 and 39) in which a northern power, possibly Russia, and its allies, including many nations of the Islamic world, will attack Israel, and, in the process, be defeated by God. A nuclear exchange is a possibility (fire and brimstone), thus weakening the United States, and removing it from its place as the only remaining superpower. The end of this war could also be the occasion of a seven-year peace treaty between Israel and the one who is destined to become Antichrist. The world will suffer many global calamities, including famine and plagues. Jesus called this a time of tribulation. (Matthew 24:9-14 - v. 9 says "Then they will deliver you to tribulation." NAS - Other versions translate the Greek word thlipsis as affliction or persecution.)

The Great Tribulation

During this time the brilliant leader will consolidate his power until, at the middle of the seven years (Daniel 9:27), he will require people to worship him and to accept the "Mark of the Beast" on either their forehead or right hand (Revelation 13). Without the mark, no one will be allowed to buy or sell. At this point in the future there will be a virtual one-world government, a religious system that encompasses all the earth, and gives its power to Antichrist (Revelation 17), a method of controlling all commerce, and a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem.

For the remainder of this time (the "Great Tribulation"), the earth will be punished by supernatural judgments (Revelation chapters 16-18).

The Return of Christ in Glory

Antichrist, in desperation will call Jesus Christ down to battle. At this war, The Battle of Armageddon, Jesus will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19), and will set up a righteous kingdom on Earth for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-6). After that, there will be a new Heaven and a New Earth.(Revelation chapters 21-22).

In the wake of the attack on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, many are asking, "Where is America in prophecy?" America is not mentioned by name in the Bible, but there are several Scripture references that have been used for some time to explain our possible role in the Last Days scenario. We will look at these passages, and then discuss ways that the war in America will contribute to the development of various end-times trends.

Two Important Considerations

The Promise to Abraham

There are two Scriptural doctrines that certainly do apply to The United States, at least indirectly, and will have an effect on our position in the world at the close of this age. The first of these doctrines is related to God's promise to Abraham.

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV)

Israel is, of course, the key nation in Biblical prophecy. When they declared independence in 1948, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37, the United States of America was the first country to recognize them as a legitimate nation. We have usually been considered their best friend and protector. This is the result of our Christian heritage, and as long as we remain friends with Israel we can expect special blessings from The Lord. Truthfully, as we have allowed spiritual corruption in our nation, we have also become more tentative in our support of Israel. This is especially true now that we are courting favor with many nations, including Islamic regimes that have expressed a hatred of God's Chosen People.

The Rapture of the Church

The other well-known Biblical doctrine that should have an impact on our nation in the last days, is the teaching of the rapture of the Church.

According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NIV)

In spite of our spiritual failures, the United States is still home to the largest concentration of born-again Christians in the world. And current events may even bring about a revival in the Church and an upsurge in the number of true believers in Christ. Those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior permeate every aspect of our culture. They are teachers, legislators, business leaders, and civil servants. They are salt and light to the world around them (Matthew 5:13-15). When the rapture occurs, millions of people will suddenly be gone. It is hard to imagine the chaos and confusion that will follow this event. It will leave a great vacuum of leadership and moral fiber in our once-great nation. It is possible that this exodus of godly, hard-working people will result in a smaller and weaker nation.

We expect the rapture just before the full force of the seven years of Tribulation comes on the world. Other emerging powers, such as the European Union, will lose a smaller percentage of their population since they have suffered spiritual decline, or apostasy, for a longer period of time. According to the prophecies of the Book of Daniel, the final form of world domination will come, at least partly, from the old Roman Empire (Daniel 2:31-45).

Other Prophecies that apply to America

Assimilation into the New World Order

From Daniel to Revelation, prophecy scholars see a final world empire that will be dominated by Antichrist, the man of sin.

Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron-- for iron breaks and smashes everything-- and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. Daniel 2:40-43 (NIV)

"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings-- and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Revelation 17:12-14 (NIV) It is entirely possible that the United States could still be an important player in world affairs, but be so integrated with this final one-world government that we have lost our distinctiveness. That would explain the lack of allusion to America as a separate entity. Our involvement in the United Nations, and in the push for globalization, could very possibly result in this final world empire. The American war might accelerate this process by joining most nations together to confront the common enemy of terrorism.

The War of Gog and Magog

Following the prophecy of the rebirth of the nation of Israel in Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37, the prophet saw a great war against Israel, led by a northern power, which many scholars think could be Russia. In this war, described in the next two chapters - Ezekiel 38 and 39, this northern power, together with it's allies, including key Islamic nations, attack Israel when they are finally at peace. Israel has never yet enjoyed real peace since she became a nation in 1948. Her neighbors have wanted to destroy her, and have led four wars against her so far. There has been a concerted effort by the United States and many others to bring about a permanent peaceful solution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. When this does finally happen, Israel can, at last, say they are at peace. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 says that when, "people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

This war is most likely the same as the war of the second seal in Revelation 6:3-4. It is a war of global proportions.

Some have thought that The United States is seen in this war. In Ezekiel 38:13 it says,

Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages ["young lions"] will say to you, "Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?" '

In this scenario, Tarshish would be the UK, and the United States, Canada, and others would be the "young lions." The British coat of arms includes a lion. We would be part of an alliance that is opposed to this attack. In today's world, it is easy to see America in this role. The battle is won, on Israel's behalf, by an earthquake and "fire and brimstone" from God (Ezekiel 38:18-22). This could be a supernatural destruction, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, but it could also be descriptive of a nuclear exchange. The northern aggressor is defeated. It would be logical to assume that the opposing forces are also affected by the fighting, especially if it involves a nuclear exchange.

In this case, the United States would be weakened considerably, and would therefore not be a key player in world events of the Tribulation period.

Incidentally, the same result could follow from a vigorous war against terrorism if the terrorist forces turn out to be strong enough to exhaust America's resources and will.

Israel's Ally During The Tribulation

Another prophecy that may affect the United States is based on the events of Revelation 12. In that chapter, Satan drives Israel, seen as a woman, who gave birth to the Messiah, into the wilderness. This will probably happen when Antichrist desecrates the newly rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem at the middle of the Tribulation period (Daniel 9:2; Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 13).

The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. Revelation 12:14 (NIV)

Those who see the possibility of the United States in this passage focus attention on the wings of an eagle. America, of course, is symbolized by the bald eagle. We are Israel's friend, and it is conceivable that we could give air support to their evacuation at that critical time.

While we cannot be certain what role America plays in the fulfillment of last-days prophecy, it is evident that the war on terrorism will hasten the development of several basic trends that are already streaming toward toward the end of this age.

1 - The Effect on World Peace - Wars and Rumors of Wars

A lack of peace is one of the signs Jesus gave for the "beginning of birth-pangs.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:6-7

Ever since World War I the world has been in a period of endless warfare. It is normal for about forty wars to be fought during any given year. Most of them are smaller conflicts, so the average person is not aware that there are so many of them. But the great world wars, both of which were supposed to end all wars, brought new weapons of mass destruction. The Anthrax scare in our country reminds us that we now live in a world with a whole catalog of war methodologies: nuclear, biological, chemical, space-based, cyber-war and cyber-terrorism, holy war (jihad), cold war, trade wars, and even "war rumors" (urban legends, false information spread easily via the Internet).

2 - The Effect on Israel - Hasten the Peace Process

Escalation of violence in Israel

Ever since Israel became a nation in 1948 they have either been at war with their neighbors, or on alert for war. There has never been a time in these 53 years when they have been truly at peace.

In September of 1999, Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount area with a delegation of Israeli dignitaries, to investigate complaints about unauthorized construction. Upset Palestinians retaliated by throwing stones down on Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall. Israeli riot police then entered the Temple Mount and disbursed the crowd by firing rubber-coated bullets. Many people were injured and some were killed. This caused violence to spiral out from Jerusalem throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Early in 2000, Sharon was chosen as Prime Minister of Israel, and there has been a continual escalation of the conflict. Palestinian suicide bombers began targeting large groups of unsuspecting Israelis. Israel retaliated with force, occupying some of the Palestinian areas. Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat seemed either unwilling or unable to stop the spreading violence.

In May, a US-led international commission, led by former US Senator George Mitchell, released its long-awaited report. It called for an "immediate and unconditional" end to months of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The plan was endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and US Secretary of State Colin Powell. They made a joint announcement that there should be seven days of quiet, followed by a six-week cooling-off period, and then confidence-building leading to renewed negotiations on a final-status between Israel and the Palestinians. Unfortunately, there never seemed to be even seven days without violence, so the plan never advanced past the first stage.

When the United States was attacked in September, Israel was somewhat ignored in the coalition-building process. In an effort to gain support against global terrorism, major Islamic nations were enlisted in the cause even though some of these nations had actually sponsored terrorism in Israel by their support of the Palestinians. Recently, Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, said that Israel feels like Czechoslovakia at the start of World War II, feeling abandoned by traditional friends. Secretary of State, Colin Powell called Sharon twice the next day to assure them of our commitment to Israel.

On October 17th Israel suffered a great blow when Rehavam Zeevi , the nation's Minister of Tourism was assassinated by terrorists in the Jerusalem Hyatt Regency Hotel. They considered this an act of war, and eventually cut off communications with Yasser Arafat, destroyed PA headquarters in Gaza city, and disabled much of their communications and transportation capabilities.

Prospect of Peace?

All of this has caused the U.S. , the United Nations, the European Union, and even Russia and China to push for a peaceful solution to the struggle between Israel and the Palestinians.

In November President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell declared support for Israel, but also for a future state of Palestine, but in keeping with the already existing recommendations of the Mitchell Committee. The President never was willing to meet with Yasser Arafat.

The U.S. sent a special envoy, Anthony Zinni, to try to restart the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. He left after the Israeli retaliation to the assassination of the Minister of Tourism, but is scheduled to return after the start of the new year.

World attention on terrorism, and on Israel as a key to solving the problem, is providing the strongest possible pressure to both sides to come to a permanent and peaceful solution.

Russia's threat

Russia and the U.S. have an uneasy alliance at the moment because of the War Against Terrorism. But official Russian media constantly criticize the U.S. over possible plans to expand the struggle to other nations where terrorists are still in control. They are also belligerent toward the United States, especially in regard to our plans to develop a shield against so-called "rogue states" which now have nuclear strike capability and are controlled by unstable governments. Russia is still closely aligned with the Palestinians and with Israel's enemies. She supplies weapons to most of these nations.

All of this could be leading to the war of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39. This could possibly result in an attack from the north against a relatively defenseless Israel when, at last, they are living in peace (Ezekiel 38:11). This, of course, could be the result of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The Bible warns of a false peace, "While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly…" (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

This war follows the rebirth of the Nation of Israel, prophesied in Ezekiel 36 and 37. It is likely that the Ezekiel War will be the same as the great war of the Second Seal (Revelation 6:3-4) at the beginning of the Tribulation period.

3 - The Effect on Technology and Security

The War Against Terrorism will have a profound influence on the expansion of security measures, especially electronic identification and the linking of information databases so that pertinent information will be instantly available about each person whenever authorities need it. Daniel 12:4 says that at the time of the end, "Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." This prediction is a good description of our own computer information age.

There is little resistance to this technology in third-world countries and those controlled by autocratic governments, but in America and Europe, people proud of their privacy have been very skeptical about ID cards. The danger of terrorism is the one thing that can break down that barrier and make people willing to trade some of their privacy for increased security. Laws are already being passed, and invasive measures are being enacted already that would have been unthinkable a year ago. One United Nations board is considering a proposal to fingerprint and register every human being in order to fight illegal immigration and smuggling of people.

The same technology can be used to enable or limit the ability of individuals to transact business, leading to the "Mark of the Beast" scenario predicted in Revelation 13:16-17: 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, 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.

The geometric progression of science and technology has led to advanced electronic information gathering, electronic commerce, the Internet, and the computing power to tie it all together.

Supercomputers

While personal computer speeds have reached the "supercomputer" mark - over 1 billion calculations per second, mainframe supercomputers have continued their progression as well. IBM's ASCI White, installed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, performs 1.23 trillion floating point calculations per second, and will be used to test nuclear weapons without explosions.

Late in the year, Compaq's Terascale supercomputer claimed the title as the fastest computer in the world, with a speed of six trillion calculations per second.

Meanwhile, IBM continues to develop a new type of supercomputer. They call it Blue Gene, and it will originally be used to study the function of some of the body's most complex molecules. Blue Gene will be capable of more than one million, billion mathematical operations per second (one petaflop). This will make it about one million times more powerful than today's best desktop PCs! At this speed, one computer could devote 166,000 operations to each person in the world every second! In the hands of a world dictator, such a computer could easily control the right of every person on earth to buy or sell (Revelation 13).

Smart cards

There are various kinds of smart cards. Some have a memory chip, and others have a complete microprocessor. Some have contacts that communicate with the devices into which they are inserted. Others use an antenna, built into the card, to send and receive information. The ones with microprocessors are extremely versatile, since various programs may be stored and run in them to perform different functions. Because of this, one card could run applications to keep one's personal information, health data, electronic records, multiple "purses" for storage of electronic cash, security information and more. Security is provided by a range of methods, from use of a PIN (personal identification number) to a variety of biometric methods, including fingerprint, iris print and facial recognition.

Visa, MasterCard and American Express all offer smart cards now, and the number of users in the U.S. is growing rapidly. Smart cards are already in wide use in Europe and many third-world countries.

The security, flexibility, and convenience of the Smart Card is winning over many consumers. One remaining problem is forgetting or losing the card, which will then be the equivalent of losing one's wallet and key ring at the same time. That leads us to the next category of technological progress - chip implants.

Human Chip Implants

Applied Digital Solutions, Inc, has made news this year, bringing to market two highly anticipated products for human use. One of them is their patented "Digital Angel," available in wearable form, as in a wristwatch, bracelet or other worn or carried device. It can be used to monitor important body functions like temperature, blood sugar levels, and pulse -- and transmit that data wirelessly, along with the accurate location of the person by use of communication with Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology. Future versions of the device could be implanted in the body.

They do have an implantable device, called "VeriChip." This is a radio frequency device with no power supply of its own, but with the ability to emit a signal containing the identification number and other data when energized by an external scanner. This product can be configured to measure body functions or the operation of implanted devices such as joints or pacemakers. It also serves as a sure method of identifying the person, making biometric methods such as fingerprinting and facial analysis unnecessary.

As this type of product continues to be improved, it could eventually incorporate the functionality of the smart card in a form that could not be lost or forged.

The Internet and E-commerce

Technology markets suffered a shake-out of the so-called "dot com" companies. Many of them did not survive the partial collapse of the inflated market. However, those that did survive will be much stronger in the future.

Usefulness and security of transactions on the Internet have improved during the year. There is certainly a bright future for electronic commerce.

Many of the latest electronic devices are combinations of hand-held PDAs (Personal Data Assistants), wireless telephones, and Internet browsers. Some of them also incorporate radio frequency communications to enable the purchase of gasoline or food from McDonalds, Burger King, and other fast-food stores. Eventually currency will be unnecessary, or even undesirable.

Satellite Technology

The low-altitude Teledisic satellite network has had to re-design to cut the costs from the initial plans, but they are now moving ahead. When they are operational, in 2005, Internet access will be available from any place on Earth through its network.

4 - The Effect on The Economy

One significant result of the September 11 attack, aimed directly at the business heart of America, is a staggering economic loss, causing a chain-reaction of business failures, loss of jobs, and a plunge into recession.

The Euro and the EU economy During the past two years, twelve member nations of the European Union have been using a standard currency, called the 'euro." So far, it has only been used in paper and electronic transactions. As of January 1, 2002, it will also become the coin and currency of these nations, which have agreed to phase out their individual monies during the next two years. The success of the euro will be even more significant in light of the financial difficulties the U.S. now faces. Many financial analysts expect it to rival the dollar in popularity on world markets. European Commission President, Romano Prodi says that the successful transition to a unified currency among the 12 participating countries of the European Union foreshadows a United States of Europe. This leads us to the next effect of the struggle against terrorism.

5 - The Effect on the New World Order

Rise of a "Revived Roman Empire"

Students of prophecy have long expected a final form of world government to start by a rebirth of the old Roman Empire. The basis for this belief is the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, as interpreted by Daniel (Daniel 2), which portrayed world empires from the time of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon (Head of Gold). Subsequent Empires would be the Medo-Persian (Chest and arms of silver), the Greek (Brass thighs), the Roman (Iron legs). Finally, a last-days empire, made partly of iron -- the Roman Empire - and partly of clay would exist at the time that Messiah's eternal empire would come, crushing the feet and causing the fall of worldly empires. The formation of the European Union, with its charter document, The Treaty of Rome, is a strong possibility for the fulfillment of this prophecy.

European Government and Military

Even before the attacks on America, Europeans were concerned about the rise of terrorist organizations. Since the September 11 events, they have united with the U.S. in a coalition against terror. They have also made great strides in establishment of a governing body, a court, and their own military establishment. There are plans for another inter-governmental conference (IGC) in 2004 to explore the further development of European integration. Discussions continue among member nations about the future of the union.

Coalition against Terror

The United Nations as an organization, and most individual nations, have joined in the coalition against terror. This includes most of the Islamic nations as well. The coalition gives the feel of a united government, and contributes to the eventual establishment of a One-World Government.

6 - The Effect on the Rise of a World Religion

According to the Scriptures, false religion will characterize the last days, and a one-world religion will exist. This apostate religion is pictured as a spiritual prostitute who gives her power to Antichrist (Revelation 17:1-17; 1 Timothy 4:1-3). In recent years, various trends have been leading the world in this direction. One of these trends is the growing popularity of the "New Age" religion, which seeks to harmonize all religions, while denying the distinctive and critical issues of true Christianity. Another of these trends is the United Religions Initiative, a formal organization patterned after the United Nations.

The new understanding of the virtue of tolerance is being taught. It is said that tolerance means that every person's religion and life-style is of equal value. This is an additional trend toward a world religion.

The War Against Terrorism has amplified this concept of the equality of religions. In a concerted effort to oppose terrorists, while not opposing Muslims, dignitaries and even clergymen have gone out of their way to invite representatives of various religions to participate together in a show of unity and understanding. The net result for many people will be to confirm the concept of equality of all religions.

Again this year, there has been significant activity in nearly every category of Biblical prophecy. To summarize all of these areas would make this report much too long. We encourage you to visit Prophecy Central (https://www.bible-prophecy.com) and check out the progress in each of the study topics listed there. Some of these topics that were not discussed above, but which had important developments are:

As always, we do not set dates, try to positively identify Antichrist, or even cling to a dogmatic position about the way that future events will fulfill the prophecies. Yet it is obvious that the events of this past year move us closer than ever to the Last Days.

What effect should all of this have on Bible-believing Christians? The Apostle Peter puts it this way. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives. - 2 Peter 3:11 (NIV). We who trust in Christ should not be afraid of what is coming. But seeing that the Lord's return could be soon, we should be motivated to live godly lives and do all we can to share the Gospel with others while there is still time. If you haven't ever received Christ as Savior, you can do it now. (Go to Are You Ready? )