9) THE GREAT DECEPTION

 

The Great Deception refers to the specific times of the end. Those who are practiced in this art have always done so. They learnt early that through sleight of hand they could make gain. Gen. 3:1 reads ‘Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” BSB

 

However, the Great Deception is referred to by Jesus as occurring along with the events at the end of the age and as being specifically part of the fabric of that time. Mt. 24:3-5 reads ‘While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

 

Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’

 

The Great Deception is the overarching principle which drives Satanic powers and their kind. It is a principle easily learnt by those who practice wickedness.

 

They operate in a clandestine manner, until they become fully able at which time their evil activities burst out onto the stage of mankind to cause much harm, hurt, and pain. Death and hell follow in their wake. This becomes overarching in the last days as Satan knows that his time is short. Rev. 12:12 reads ‘Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.’ BSB The results are recorded in Matt.24 as wars and rumours of wars, famines and earthquakes, the abomination of desolation, and a great tribulation in those days.

 

The character of the Evil One was apparent to Jesus when he first began His ministry in Galilee. The three temptations recorded in the gospels are all based on deceptions offered to Jesus by Satan. The first was to deceive individuals by turning stones to bread, the second was to deceive the towns and cities by public acts of display which might convince the people to follow him, and the last temptation was to have powers to control the nations. The three levels reflect the three key areas of attention given by Satan against humankind. As recorded on occasions in the scriptures with regard to the roles played by different angelic beings in the heavenly realm, so it is likely that the powers of darkness concentrate the wicked and fallen angels to different levels and tasks to tempt and destroy through envy, jealousy and power. Eph. 6:10-20 records ’For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’

 

The deceitful One operates in any area where given sway and licence. Specifically referred to in Matthew 24 are the false prophets and the hidden mysteries.

 

When fully ‘ripe’ and fully able, then the evil One can operate through his evil servants who have as it were come of age, they have both the motive and the means to fulfil their ambitions. Today as never before national leaders can project their powers far beyond their

borders and the weaponry upon the earth is now far beyond that which was previously available. It is when we read of the ‘intoxication’ of these kings of the earth. Rev. 17:1a,2 reads ‘“Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earthwere intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.’ i.e., they are intoxicated with her deception and with her abominations which includes a blood lust for the death of Christians. Rev. 17:6 reads ‘I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.’ It has always been the case that Christians have been persecuted for their faith, more is recorded below under the heading ‘The Persecution of Christians’, however at the times of the end of this age this iniquity becomes fully ripe, it is ready for the picking, and Jesus will come to avenge the death of his saints.

 

The term ‘kings’ referred to in this prophesy describes those who operate with power to control their nation states, those who operate as with the with sole power of a sovereign or monarch. They operate as autocrats; their power is king like; it means that they are answerable to no higher earthly authority. It is they who give their powers as leaders to satanic powers to destroy the earth and they who subject themselves to an overarching principle of evil, with the sole purpose to corrupt and to take advantage. They can act with impunity. The kings of the East could therefore be referring to nation states operating under ‘kingly’ authority in the Last Days.

 

Rev. 16:12-16 refers to the way of the kings being opened up; ‘And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East. These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty’ According to the sequence of the bowls or vials then this event takes place when the sixth angel pours the sixth vial so takes place during the Great Tribulation and just before the final conflict. It is described as the time when the deceit of Satan so cloaks his evil that it deceives not only the kings of the ten-king alliance but ‘all the kings of the earth’. To do battle against Yahweh God and his anointed. After the final ‘battle on the great day of God the Almighty’ the Lord’s Messiah comes.

 

9.1 The hour, the day, the month, and the year

 

Yahweh God’s timing is so precise, and Jesus through His Prophets reveals how important it is that the events of the End Times only come when the fulness of time has come. This scripture reveals to us that God does the counting. His prophesies shall not fail but shall come to pass at the appointed time for it reads that it angels have been instructed beforehand for this event. So, if they knew in advance of this event then surely Jesus and the hosts of heaven are knowledgeable too. We too can be assured that our times and seasons are in His hands and that the final seven years of this age will end at the appointed moment. As when Jesus died on the cross at the appointed moment in time, a time which was forthtold, then the time of the end will be with pinpoint accuracy; so much so that this event is then tracked back a full seven years and is triggered by the Trinity with prior knowledge of the fullness of this age and the fulness of heaven. At the time of the fifth seal John saw and heard the prayers of the saints of God in heaven yet it was still not the time of the fulness of heaven nor the time of the end. At the time of the fifth seal Rev. 6:9-11 reads‘And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?” Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed’. Yet by the time of the sixth seal the pre-set time had come. So, the timing of the seals are pre-set, allowing for the playing out of specific time periods during which mankind are given time to consider the devastation caused by rampant evil and change their minds. Though great miracles are recorded in the prophesies it appears that there is no longer a middle ground, the populous of those days are given time to consider, yet they openly choose good or evil as their strength.

 

The armies of the Antichrist have free-will but are ruthlessly controlled by him. The Satanic bearing upon these armies is immense. However, they still could repent of their actions if they chose too yet it is recorded that the judgements of God through the four angels actually hardens their resolve against the Lord and His anointed and they do not repent for Rev. 9:20-21 reads ‘Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft’. The hardening of resolve against Yahweh, even in the face of His mighty signs, wonders and miracles is recorded elsewhere in scripture too, most notable at the time of the release of the Hebrew people from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. It is most notable that following each judgement brought upon Egypt through the prophet Moses that Pharaoh ‘hardened his heart yet more to impose yet more stringent requirements upon the Hebrews. He would not let them go.

 

9.2 The River Euphrates

 

At the time of the sixth trumpet when the sixth angel sounds his trumpet then four angels are released to defend the Lord’s anointed for it reads in Rev. 9:13-20 ‘Then the sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number’.

 

The second reference to the River Euphrates can be found in Rev. 16:12. This prophesy has been explored by several commentators. Bengel, Barnes, Gill for example refer to the source of the River Euphrates as emerging from the modern-day nation state of Turkey. Barnes reads ‘the symbol of the Euphrates as being the seat of the Turkish power’. However, the Euphrates is 2,780 kms (1,730 miles) long and is the longest river in Western Asia which runs from its source in Turkey (28% of its drainage basin) through Syria (17% of its drainage basin) and Iraq (40% of its drainage basin) before emptying into the Persian Gulf. If the prophesy of Rev. 12:6 is an allegory then the drying up of the Euphrates could reasonably refer to the weakening of governance in the nation state powers through which runs the River Euphrates; specifically, the nation state(s) which are situate to the east of the focal point of the prophetic vision, Israel. Iraq has the largest drainage basin of the Euphrates and is situate east of this focal point, whereas Syria and Turkey are situated to the north.

 

In recent times it can be observed that both Iraq and Syria have been significantly degraded in their powers as nation states. For Iraq this first took place in the first Gulf War 1991 and then the Iraq War, also called the second Persian Gulf War, which took place 2003-11, with much political instability continuing from then to date (2021). Syria has likewise been devasted by its war, which has run 2011 to date. In both countries during these times there has been a significant persecution the Christian populations there. Several contemporary commentators have referred to this persecution as the 'slow genocide’ of Christians in these countries and the surrounding region of the Middle East. It is notable that Jewish populations have already fled from these countries and the only countries left in the Middle East with a significant minority of Christians is Lebanon, though Israel is also a safe haven for them. During the Great Tribulation it is most notable that the prophesies tell the Christians to flee to safe places for in Rev. 12:3-6, esp. v.6 reads ‘Then the woman (this is reference to the Jewish Christians at the time of the Great Tribulation) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days’. KJV. The days of these refugees is still to come. For the more information on the current plight of Christians who suffer persecution because of the faith, see below under the heading ‘The Persecution of Christians’.

 

The ‘drying up’ referred to in Rev. 16;12 takes place at the sixth trumpet i.e., during the Great Tribulation, so is still future tense. However, Jesus clearly warning us of the ‘birth pains’ that will occur before these times and referred to many of the signs of those times. These occur in preparation of His Coming. As leaves that appear on trees in spring is a sign that summer is coming, so these signs appear as leaves in springtime too. They burst forth, unwelcome though some of these signs are, they appear and remain.

 

The significance of the prophesy of Rev. 16:12 is that it opens the way for the ‘kings of the East’ to cross through.

 

The purpose of this opening up of this way is so that the kings will yield their power to the ‘beast’. Rev. 17:12 reads they ’will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast. These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.’

 

9.2.2 The Assembly of The Kings

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The opening of this way is also in preparation for a military conflict for Rev.16:14 reads ‘to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.” And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.’ BSB How important it is for the Christian people to be awake, prepared and alert and armed in these times.

 

The specific description of nation state leaders acting like kings is again emphasized by John. In Rev. 17:9 he first encourages his readers to seek God for wisdom and understanding on these for he states, ‘This calls for a mind with wisdom.’ John then goes on to explain that at the time of the seventh king an eight king arises ‘who is going into destruction’ This eighth king is the same as that referred to by Jesus in Mt. 24:15-22 ‘So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand)’

 

John then goes on to describe what he sees in vision. Rev. 17:9-11 reads: ‘The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.’

 

The seven heads of the Beast of Rev. 17:3,8-11 as described by John are seven mountains which signify seven sequential kingdoms or empires, each run through history from the times of Daniel until the times of the end.

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The first six heads of the Beast of Rev.17v3,8-11., are six kingdom empires that have conquered, ruled, and tyrannised Israel and Jerusalem during the 483 years of the prophecy of Dan.9v20-27. The 7th. And 8th. heads represent the last seven years of Daniels prophesy and the completion of the seven weeks of years i.e., 490 years. The seventh week is the time when the Antichrist will have rule and reign over Israel and Jerusalem. The Antichrist will deceive many people. This time is still to come.

 

These kingdom empires are described by John who saw them in the form of a Beast. So we read of the following Empires: Head #1 Babylon (lion-beast) Head #2 Medo-Persia (bear- beast), Head #3 Greece, Head #4 Egypt, Head #5 Syria (these three heads are kingdom empires and are described by John as the leopard-beast), Head #6 Rome (ten-horned beast), Heads #7 and #8 both represent the time of the Antichrist with Head #7 representing the first 3.5yrs of the tribulation of the end-times then head #8 is head #7 brought back to life again as and represents the second 3.5yrs of the tribulation, known as ‘the tribulation, the great one’ (Rev 7:14).

 

Frank Pritchard’s Figurative Description of these prophesies and events is also particularly useful to gain more of an understanding on these matters, a separate paper copy is available from the writer of this study though a copy on the internet is yet to be found.

 

It is clear from Rev 17:9-11 all of the seven ‘mountains’ or Empires are run by what Daniel understands as kings. The seventh king is still to come and the eight is described as ‘the beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.’ So, at the time to come both the seventh king that will rule only for a little while and the eighth king who is described as the beast, both will rule with the authority of monarchs. However, the eight king which is called the beast is different from the seven ‘mountains’ or kingdoms; six of which are past and the seventh being the first 3.5years of the Tribulation to come and different from the 10-king alliance for Rev. 17:7-8 reads ‘Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be’.

 

So, the eight is described as a king with a kingdom that last for the final 3.5years of the age yet it is also described as embodying all the previous seven mountains and the 10-king alliance too; hence the beast looks concocted with many heads. In addition, it ascends out of the Abyss (BSB version) also called the bottomless pit (in the KJV version of the Bible) which is destined to go to its destruction (BSB) also called ‘perdition’ (KJV). The beast then is a compendium of nation states which base themselves on the rump of previous empires, it is the embodiment of them, and it comes with great force and malice against the peoples of the earth. In addition, this empire of kingships i.e. the beast, is driven and propelled by forces which come directly from ‘the abyss, unfathomable depth, an especially Jewishconception, the home of the dead and of evil spirits’ to quote Strong’s Concordance which then goes on to quote other sources as describing this place as a very deep gulf or chasm in the lowest parts of the earth (Orcus), and is of the dragon, the common receptacle of the dead and the abode of demons. It describes the beast as an Antichrist that operates the occultic powers.

 

9.3 The beast from the sea

 

Rev. 13:1-10 reads ‘Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marvelled and followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven. Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

He who has an ear, let him hear:
“If anyone is destined for captivity,
into captivity he will go;
if anyone is to die by the sword,
by the sword he must be killed.”
Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints’. BSB

 

How important it is for the saints of God to be prepared and ready for the coming darkness, to have their spiritual weapons honed and their knowledge of the prophesies at the ready...for ‘Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints’.

 

9.4 The beast from the earth, its deceptions, and its mark

 

Rev. 13:11-18 then reads ‘Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed. And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name. Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666’. BSB

 

So, this beast is also described as having a mark, that being 666 i.e., the mark of human government, which is exclusive of the divine, whose mark is 777. From this we can read that there is no Godliness in the nature of the beast for it is completely driven and obsessed with evil motives and intent. Previous generations have seen evil regimes rise and fall, yet this one is yet to come and is total in the fullness of its iniquity and wickedness.

 

9.5 The beast carries a detestable woman on its back

 

This beast carries on its back a detestable woman which embodies an ideology that attracts and yet pollutes many world leaders. This woman is described like a harlot that sits upon many waters. The waters represent a multitude of people groups and the ideology appears to have polluted the minds of both kings i.e., leaders, and peoples. Specifically, this ideology and its embodiment has the intent to kill ‘saints’ i.e., those who are different from its own; Gr. ‘hagios’ holy, different, other, which for believers means ‘likeness of nature with Jesus’ because they are ‘different from the world’ (Strong’s Commentary). More specifically the ideology of this woman is intoxicated with ‘the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus’ (Rev. 17:8) and this ideology intoxicates its followers. The doctrine of persecution of minority groups is evident through history and continues apace today. Persecution on the grounds of religious belief is most evident against Christians where they are in a minority. Christians are the receptacle of light, and of the Spirit of Jesus, they are the anointed ones, and this makes them stand out in society. Matt. 5:14-16 describes why they are stand out differently for it reads ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savour, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’. Yet when they do stand out, they can also be targeted by those with malice and wrong intent. This is borne out by evidence from independent sources. The International Society for Human Rights consider that of all the religious groupings on the planet, 80% of religious persecution is against Christians who are the most persecuted religious group. See below concerning the persecution of the Christians.

 

The full text of Rev. 17:1-6 reads ‘Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

 

And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5And on her forehead a mysterious name was written:

 

BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

 

I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her’.

 

Jesus had no other way to share with Daniel the concept or notion of a future power-based system of government than as describing it in this way. Today we might use slightly different terminology to describe this system of government, but it is still meaningful to use to understand the power of a king. These two kings have control over specific areas of the globe, and they will control them in the over-ruling autocratic manner of if they were kings, answerable to no higher earthly authority. It is for this reason that the term empire, kingdom, federation or similar could be applied to these rules.

 

9.6 The Concept of Empire

 

As with previous empires and kingdoms their formation takes time, often plotted through political and military means. Likewise, the last empire kingdom to dominate Israel / Jerusalem will take time to strengthen and expand. It is for this reason that the prophesies concerning the signs of the times are so relevant and that is why we can see the formation of preliminary events long before the full plan is made known. The fig tree produces its first leaves in spring long before the fruit appears in the summer. The economic and political collapse of some nation states leaves a vacuum for others to expand and form. The degradation of the nation states along the course of the Euphrates is particularly relevant and this is referred to in the prophesies as the ‘drying up’ of the River Euphrates (Rev. 16;12).

 

9.7 Syria and Iraq.

 

So, Iraq and Syria are again referred to here, not only because of their geographic locations referred to above in relation to the River Euphrates but also because Daniel’s prophesy describes what is a confederacy of ‘kings’ coming against God’s people in the last days and their arrival being from the east across the Euphrates. In addition to the geographic location of these countries it is also significant that both countries have seen their virtual collapse as nation states in this century to date. In these few decades each country has significantly subrogated their rights to other nation state powers.

 

9.7.1 Iraq

 

Iraq as mentioned above has the highest percentage of the Euphrates River through it and is situate to the east of Israel / Jerusalem, so this country is significant at the time of the Sixth Seal, the time at the end, the time during ‘the tribulation, the great one’ (Rev 7:14). It is at this time when the armies of the ten-kingdom alliance cross over the Euphrates from the east and through Iraq. However, we must consider that country as it is at the beginning of the third decade of the 20th Century. Since the first Gulf War this country has seen a collapse in much of its infrastructure with Shia Iran is growing much stronger there such that many report its governance as being so heavily influenced by Iran that it is becoming more like a proxy state of Iran. This is so different from when Iraq and Iran were at war Sept 1980 to August 1988. A war which ended in a stalemate which left each country as equal sovereign states.

 

9.7.2 Iran

 

As we consider the increasing role played by the alliance of nation states then we must then also consider the role of Iran and its alliances. It is most notable that Iran seen its government isolated from the west and so has set up what is termed cultural, social, and economic exchanges along what is termed the ‘Silk Road’ between Iran and China. This relationship has developed such that China now considers Iran as its permanent partner.

 

As of 2019 Iran had signed onto Xi Jinping's signature One Belt One Road plan, and Iran is a key part of China's geopolitical ambitions in central Asia and the Middle East, sometimes described in terms of a new Great Game. The Belt and Road Initiative is a framework which includes a total of 17 signed agreements, including one which relates to the Iranian nuclear program. The Chinese will help connect Tehran with Mashhad via their high-speed rail technology. To commit to these trans-national ventures then of necessity China will need to secure agreements with the countries between it and Iran; these are the countries of Central Asia. China will need the re-assurance that it has stability in this region as it seeks to extend

its influence and invest there and will no doubt seek to reach strategic partnerships there too.

 

In addition, in 2020 details emerged of a 25year economic and strategic partnership in which China would invest in Iranian infrastructure, transport, and seaports, in exchange, Iran would provide a heavily discounted regular supply of its oil. China is now investing in the modernization of Iran's oil and gas sector to secure access to the resource. Above all, the reasons for the timing of this long-term partnership agreement is the rivalry between the US who is the main opponent to Iran, and China who is the main supporter to Iran, and this plays the major role in taking the step to signing this agreement.

 

China is also reported to have given military assistance to Iran in the form of training of high- level officials on advanced systems, providing technical support, supplying specialty steel for missile construction, providing control technology for missile development, and building a missile factory and test range. It is rumoured that China is responsible for aiding in the development of advanced conventional weapons including surface-to-air missiles, combat aircraft, radar systems, and fast-attack missile vessels. This assistance dates to the Iran-Iraq war when it became known that China using North Korea to traffic arms to Iran. China and Iran have held joint naval drills since 2017. Nuclear cooperation began in the 1980’s when China built a research reactor and supplied four other research reactors. Continued aid came in the form of helping Iran construct a uranium enrichment plant. Speculation continues as to China’s involvement in nuclear deals with Iran and it demonstrates no urgency to resist Iran’s attempts to gain nuclear capabilities. This is in stark contrast to many other countries both in and away from that immediate region of the Middle East who are most concerned with Iran’s nuclear program. The key supporters of Iran are China though others include Russia, Sudan North Korea, and Venezuela. The UN reported that Iran and North Korea commenced missile collaboration in 2020.

 

To date, Iranian ambitions have intensified, and it has sought to extend its sphere of influence. Within the country it has organised militias such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Beyond its borders it is seen to a warmongering nation as demonstrated by its willingness to engage in many proxy wars in areas of conflict such as Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. In these countries Iran has extended its reach through its allies and proxies. These proxies are political-military organisations such as Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, the Houthis in Yemen, and others.

 

Iran also continues with its ambitions to create a land bridge between Tehran and Damascus. Iran has established basis in Syria’s two largest cities, Aleppo and Damascus. Israeli airstrikes continue to target Iranian installations in Syria. Hezbollah is arguably one of the most powerful forces in the region, and coupled with the emergence of Iraq’s Hashd Al- Sha’abi (Popular Mobilization Units), it is not likely that the Iranian military is going to abandon their plans to complete this land bridge (Source: https://geopolitics.news/south- asia/iran-not-abandoning-land-bridge-plan-from-damascus-to-tehran/)

 

9.7.3 The Iran-Israel Cold War

 

Immediately after the Islamic Revolution that occurred in Iran in 1979 its government declared the nation as an Islamic Republic and cut off all official relations with Israel; the country then turned from being secular and friendly to Western interests to that of an anti- Western Islamic theocracy. Initially it was politically expedient for Iran to accept Israeli help, for in the Iran-Iraq war 1980-88 Israel supplied arms to Iran. However, from 1989 to present the Islamic leaders of Iran have increasingly adopted an anti-Zionist stance which is driven by Islamic rhetoric to justify its policies. After the Revolution in 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini declared Israel an "enemy of Islam" and 'The Little Satan' and the United States was called 'The Great Satan'.

 

By the early 1990’s this hostility had turned from a cold peace to open hostility and the rhetoric intensified. In December 2000 Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel a "cancerous tumour" that should be removed from the region. On 15 August 2012, during a meeting with veterans of the Iran–Iraq War, Ayatollah Khamenei said that he was confident that "the fake Zionist (regime) will disappear from the landscape of geography”. On 19 August 2012, Khamenei reiterated comments made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which members of the international community, including the United States, France, European Union, and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned, during which he called Israel a "cancerous tumour in the heart of the Islamic world" and said that its existence is responsible for many problems facing the Muslim world. It would not normally be necessary to quote dated news material, but this same rhetoric continues apace today, its message has not changed, rather the country’s media incessantly purvey this message to its people and beyond

 

In 1985, Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia radical movement sponsored by Iran, called for armed struggle to end the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory. When the Lebanese civil war ended and other warring factions agreed to disarm, Hezbollah and the SLA refused. Combat with Hezbollah weakened Israeli resolve and led to a collapse of the SLA and an Israeli withdrawal in 2000 to their side of the UN designated border. The war flared again Lebanon War of 2006.

 

Iran and Israel have also conflicted in Gaza particularly with military engagement in 2008-9 and 2014. In Gaza Iran supports the militia group called Hamas. Gaza is also the scene of a power struggle between regional powers including Egypt, Iran and Turkey together with Qatar, supporting different sides of the conflict in light of the regional standoff between Iran and Saudi Arabia on one hand and between Qatar and Saudi Arabia on the other, as well as crisis in Egyptian-Turkish relations.

 

From 2018 the Iran-Israel cold war has erupted into more open military engagement as assassinations continue and many proxy groups become increasingly well-armed and capable. As noted above, Israel continues to target Iranian and Iran backed militia groups in Syria.

 

The rhetoric may be viewed by the savvy western media as being bluff and counter bluff, but commentators are increasingly concerned that Iran has a program to work on weapons of mass destruction and through global terrorism has genocidal intent (Quote Dr Gregory Stanton, Global Watch).

In return Israel has shown itself more than capable of defence, it has significant military assets, and appeals to global Western powers to come to its assistance.

 

9.7.4 Syria

 

The location and events that have occurred in Syria in C21 has had global reverberations. The Syrian conflict 2011 to date has drawn in many other nations. In the terms of the prophesies of the Bible it fits the prophesy concerning to location and powerbase of the

Antichrist. Since the beginning of its civil war, it has seen the near collapse of its nation state, with other countries now involved there; notably Russia and Iran who have fought in support of the Assad Regime, and Turkey who have acted as a belligerent there.

 

Russia has long insisted of its special bi-lateral relationship with Syria. The Russian economy is not significant as a global force, being only equivalent to that of Spain, yet it is a nuclear power with significant military strength and technologies, furthermore the ambitions of its leader is to re-establish it as significant international player as it once was up to 1989, when it was known as the USSR. Since that time it has been known as the Russian Federation. Russia's only Mediterranean naval base for its Black Sea Fleet is in the Syrian port of Tartus. On 30 September 2015, Russia began a military intervention in the Syrian Civil War in support of the Syrian government, consisting of intensive air and cruise missile strikes against several terrorist groups, including ISIS and Al-Nusra Front (Al-Qaeda’s official affiliate in Syria). It dubbed this political and military aid as its ‘Mission in Syria’. Since then, Russia has increased its involvement with continued support for Syria with airbases situated there and military arms supplied to the Assad Regime. This is generally credited as being the most important factor in keeping the Assad Regime in power. The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, has on several occasions visited his troops in that country. Syria, Russia, and other belligerents in that conflict have repeatedly made and broken ceasefires which has caused causing a humanitarian catastrophe, as desperate civilians, fleeing the fighting, seek refuge.

 

Since 2011, when the war in Syria started, to December 2020, various estimates put the death toll in in the country to be between 387,000 and 593,000. Throughout the war than half the country’s population has been forced to flee their homes, with 6.2 million people, including 2.65 million children displaced within Syria, the biggest internally displaced people in the world https://www.unhcr.org/sy/internally-displaced-people In addition, 6.6 million refugees are seeking safety in neighbouring countries.

 

9.7.5 The Belligerents and their Leaders

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Syria, Iran, Russia, China, North Korea have all been referred to above. Each are examples of states with leaders who act more like kings, each have changed laws so that in effect, of their choosing, they could have a lifetime in office. There leaders see their country as an extension to their own goals and ambitions. Each use their powerbase to preserve their own positions.

 

The writer of this study is not saying that these leaders are the kings referred to in the prophesies referred to elsewhere in this study but does rather ponder on their actions as being king-like. It is the writer’s view that each of these leaders appear to be able to operate with autocratic powers such as might be exercised by a king. The kings of the last part of this age may be alive today, or they may yet be to come, even so they will inherit the reins from these and other countries and peoples and we can consider present day events in this context.

 

It is also significant that in each of these countries there has been and still is significant levels of persecution against Christians and this referred to in more detail later in this study.

 

Yahweh God hides his plans in a mystery to protect his people from apathy and to thwart the powers of darkness who cannot understand it. Instead, He requires of us to be under a certain tension that comes from knowing Him and the workings of His Spirit. In this way we have the privilege to act as his ambassadors, to pray and to act in faith, and even to see the course of nations changed through prayer.

 

9.8 The Secret to Answered Prayer

 

So, how do we pray for ourselves and our nation(s) in through the coming times of trouble?

 

The following three scriptures refer to two linked words which though interpreted in the scriptures as ‘intercede’ are more accurately interpreted as ‘intervene’ (Gr. entygxánō and hyperentygxánō). As Christians we must properly understand the meaning of intervention so that we can be effective in our prayers. In this way we can ask Yahweh Elohim to intervene on our behalf in the events on the earth.

 

First of all let me quote Vincent’s Word Studies Commentary which makes it clear that the verb for ‘intercession’ really means ‘intervention’ for with regard to the use of the verb used in the following three verses then he writes ‘The idea is not intercession, but intervention. It includes every form of Christ's identifying himself with human interests’.

 

If we read these verses and use the word intervention rather than intercession, then we can be encouraged in our faith.

 

I also include Strong’s Concordance in regard to these two words as it makes clear to us in Hebr. 7:25 that Jesus lights upon and meets with us to intervene and hit the ‘bull’s eye’ i.e., that we might be ‘spot on’ in our prayers and in our circumstances and then in Rom. 8:26 that through the Holy Spirit working deeply through His gifts of tongues, yearnings, knowledge and discernment of our circumstances, and other Holy Spirit gifts too, then we can ‘come in line with the Lord’s eternal purpose’ and bring ‘sacred mysteries into our daily walk with Christ’. How important this is to understand the workings of God and the signs of our times.

 

Hebr. 7:25 reads ‘Therefore He is able to save completely (or forever) those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede (intervene) for them’ BSB

 

Strong’s Concordance on the word intercede in Hebrews 7:26:

1793 entygxánō (from 1722 /en, "in," which intensifies 5177 /tygxánō, "to obtain by hitting the mark") – properly, "light upon (meet with), obtain" (LS); "to go and meet a person to converse, consult," i.e. to intervene ("intersect with").
[J. Thayer documents how this meaning is consistently the same in ancient Greek writers. The root of 5177 (tygxánō) means "to strike, hit the bulls-eye" ("spot on"). Accordingly, it is used in classical Greek as the antonym of harmartia ("to miss the mark, sin"), so Lucian, Xenophon, Homer, etc. (see Thayer, 5177 /tygxánō).]

 

Romans 8:26 reads ‘In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes (intervenes) for us with groans too deep for words’ BSB

 

Strong’s Concordance on ‘intercede’ in Romans 8:26:

5241 hyperentygxánō (from 5228 /hypér, "for benefit" and 1793/entygxanō, "come in line with") – properly, to light upon (happen); literally, "bending over" to intercede, "confer benefit" (cf. R, 629). 5241 (hyperentygxánō) is used only in Ro 8:26.
5241/hyperentygxánō ("intercede") refers to the Holy Spirit interceding in every scene of our lives so we can "come in line with" the Lord's eternal purpose. The content of these intercessions goes beyond human language, and includes bringing sacred mysteries into our daily walk with Christ.

 

1 Tim. 2:1-3 reads ‘I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions (interventions), [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour’. KJV

 

Yahweh God is raising up his people today to pray in like manner, so that this generation too might see the course of nations change. We too can kerb the appetites of world leaders for the good. As happened after the death of Paul and Peter in 66-68AD, at the hands of the Romans who were involved in the First Jewish War (66-70AD) at that time, we as Christians need to earnestly seek God for judgement upon the earth. That war was not started by the Christians though they soon became included as a target of the persecution that took place at that time, especially as some Christians who had previously fled persecution themselves in Judea had set up small communities in Rome.

 

Soon after the deaths of these two apostles in the early Christian communities it may be no co-incidence that the Emperor Nero (reign 54-68AD), who is likely to have ordered their execution, committed suicide at the age of 31. Nero’s lethal tyranny is well documented. According to Tacitus he was said to have seized Christians as scapegoats for the great fire that took place in Rome in those times and burned them alive, seemingly motivated not by public justice but by personal cruelty.

 

Today Christians who may be of the Terracotta Army of God i.e., hidden from normal view, are also receiving visions and dreams of events and warnings to come, and pass them on to their fellow Christians, for prayer, protection and guidance.

 

Such visions have been given to Christians which may be above their ‘pay-grade’ in that they involve the leaders of nations, yet they are still called to pray, as God yearns for His people to get ready for the darkness now coming upon the earth. In early 2020 the writer had two distinct dreams and a vision regarding the Chinese leader; one where he rejected the light of the Christian’s gospel (the light of the candle of Jesus shone in his face yet he hardened his heart), one showing his autocratic authority over the peoples there (when he crashed the two large brass cymbals everyone stopped and took notice of him), and the third which forth told of a tsunami to come not from the sea but from the direction of China onto Hong Kong and the people there. Since the vision the Chinese Government has changed laws and increased oppression there, if the tsunami is to happen in full then much more will follow, and suddenly too.

 

Similarly, a dream of the Russian President who looked to align a set of what appeared to be a set of blue vertically hung overlapping pieces of hanging linen, like vertically hung window blinds. These were all the same vivid deep blue colour, and though each were separate the object was to show each of them as a set. However, one of them was slightly noticeable in that it had a emblem or similar in the fabric or might have been upside down or for some reason showed an imperfection which though not obvious so was not quite ready for the photo shoot. However, at a time of his choosing, the leader gave the order that the photo to be taken. It seemed apparent to the seer the leader of that country was aligning a series of draped flags or similar and was working to arrange them as overlapping each other so that each, though a separate vertical strip of blue cloth, appeared like a set as one block of colour together i.e., like a set of closed blue vertical blinds which you might see in a window that appear like one when together and overlapping, i.e., other member states or similar, and /or an alliance, to show unity, yet this was being done clandestinely, and only upon the order of the leader would the photoshoot be taken i.e., the announcement to be made public. Such visions, dreams and prophetic words advise and warn Christians to pray and prepare for the people.

 

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9.9 The prophesies

 

The prophesies make it clear that the Antichrist, when he finally becomes apparent, appears from the north whereas the 10-king alliance appears from the east. These two come together to act with one mind to act with military force against Israel. As with many actions, in the context of global events then there can be unintended consequences. Such events happened at the start of WW1 and WW2 and there is no reasoning or power on earth that can stop it happening again.

 

The actions of the Antichrist and the kings of the east are likely to be opportunistic and driven by their ambitions to control and dominate as kings, to engage and to settle long simmering disputes; even when the outcome is a conflagration beyond imagination. When your enemy is distracted then to take advantage. The prophesies refer to a Treaty or Covenant Agreement forged by the Antichrist at the beginning of the last seven years of this age. From the prophesy of Daniel this reads as though it will be a Covenant specifically confirmed for a seven-year term, if so, it is breached halfway through. However, this Agreement is broken by the Antichrist after 3.5years, and this is what precipitates the Great Tribulation of the final 3.5years of this age. The prophesies that relate to Antichrist breaking this Covenant this breached Agreement are Daniel 9:27 which reads ‘And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon thedesolate’. KJV See also Daniel 11:40-45; 12:1; Is. 66:7-8; Matt. 24:15-22.

 

What is the power behind these events and what triggers the final 3.5yrs of the 8th Head as referred to by Daniel? It is the enemy of souls, the one whose sole aim is to deceive and to slander for Rev. 12:9 reads 'And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him' and Rev. 12:12b reads 'But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time”'. The attributes of Satan are taken on by Antichrist and the vasal kings.

 

One might say that all the above is a matter of conjecture, and so it is, other than the evidence is mounting to suggest otherwise. Only upon the opening of the seals of the book by Jesus will the final events become clear; by which time the peoples of the earth need to be prepared and ready, for his coming will then be near; ‘So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door’ Mark 13:29; Matt. 24:33.

 

9.10 The time of the Seventh and Eighth king.

 

So, what more is told us from the scriptures concerning the times of the seventh and eighth kings? John explains what happens at the time of the seventh king who comes ‘for only a little while’ for after it will follow an eighth king. At the time of the eighth king Rev 17:12-13 reads ‘The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast. These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast’ BSB. So, the at the time of the eighth king then ten more kings arise. These do not have individual kingdoms but consciously and actively subscribe to the evil that arises from the Abyss (Rev. 17:8). This is their wilful purpose, to yield to receive ‘one hour of authority’ i.e., a short period of authority as kings, along with the beast.

 

9.11 The powers, authority, and motivation of the Antichrist.

 

Rev. 17:13-14 reads ’These (ten kings) have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful’ KJV. So, the confederation is of one mind, and in agreement they subsume their authority to the beast. Though separate entities they all share a common goal to fight against and defeat the Lamb of God.

 

What entities and which are the vasal states that would be party to such hatred of the Lamb today? In this respect the Open Doors World Watch List is most informative and their categorisation of the treatment of Christians in respective nation states as being either ‘High’ ‘Very High’ or Extreme’.

 

Furthermore, as referred to under the heading below entitled the persecution of Christians it is noted that the treatment of Christians in a country is often like the canary in the cage analogy. Their treatment denotes in inverse proportion the strength and acquiesce of the ruling authorities to the powers of the Evil One who is also called Satan, the Accuser of the Brethren, that old Serpent. Many prophesies from the scriptures refer to the persecution of Christians, not just these from the book of Revelation. The Lamb of God knew that He would be a sign spoken against, as Simeon’s prophesy in Luke v2:34 reads ‘for a sign which shall be spoken against’, and this certainly has been and will still be so.

 

What further can we deduce of the character and attributes of the eighth king, the Antichrist? He is also called the ‘man of lawlessness’ and the ‘abomination of desolation’. From this we know that he is a man. This ruler is not of the ten kings but is referred to as the one who acts with ten kings or rulers, he co-ordinates with them and is strengthened by them as they yield their power to him for as it says in Rev. 17:12 ‘these kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.’

 

The beast then appears to have over-ruling power and authority and the seat of his power is where once were six ancient empires. The power which he is given comes from the very seat of Satan and the authority which he is able to wield is emanates from territories which were once part of ancient empires. If we overlay the territories covered by all six previous Empires as referred to in the vision and prophesy of Daniel, then the only territory which in common to all is situate in present day Syria. Hence, when we consider these prophesies then we can be reasonably concluded that the Antichrist will also emanate from this same area i.e., Syria. It is this Antichrist then who controls the confederacy, defined by a league or alliance of nation states, each of which has a system of government which is over-ruled by a single ruler, headship or as described by Daniel, a king.

 

It takes time to seek for and align such a confederacy and the current events in the Middle East are witness to the aligning of nation states as a confederacy which acts against the Yahweh God and against his anointed One.

 

Many commentators have attempted to make parts of these old prophesies fit modern day circumstances and in so doing have erred and led people astray in their thoughts and doctrines with the result that when one cries wolf too many times then when the real wolf appears then too few people recognise it or are awake enough to respond and warn others.

 

It may be that my findings are erroneous, imaginings of my own mind, mere speculation, fantasy, but all should be asked to consider the prophesies and the weigh carefully the evidence and signs of our times. The writer of this study has found the following two commentaries the best studies available on this subject and it is worth including the following quotes from their studies here. Other writers can also be found to corroborate their findings.

 

The first commentary is by Bill Turner https://prophetbillturner.com/ Bill passed away at the age of 80 in 2012. At all times he considered the revealed scriptures and prophesies to do as the Bereans in Acts 17 did, to study to understand the mind and heart of God and his dealings with us. For example, see Study #38 ‘BEWARE! Don’t Let Anyone Fool You And Lead You Astray’ I copy and quote from this page in full as an example of how he considered the prophesies of old and how we might also consider them to understand their significance and possible outworking in relation to modern day nation states and events; also to consider their continued significance to us, and the intervention of Yahweh God in the events and affairs of the contemporary world. Bill’s study also makes reference to Syria, and because I have made reference to Syria in my previous paragraphs concerning the Euphrates, I include this extract here. Consider too that Bill wrote this study in approximately 2005 and died in 2012. The bold type are his additions, the underlined is added by the writer of this study. P.25 of his study reads: