IN REVIEW:

Mankind throughout history have witnessed several events that have been identified as Holocausts. The following article at the top of this study page is a re-examination of the article posted at the end of the previous chapter (Chapter 22). Because of its extreme importance in relationship to our study we have reprinted it here. Don't miss this important report. You may think you are reading the Bible before you are finished!

Decmber 2003 * The United Nations

Decmber 2003 * The United Nations ". . .global warming bureaucracy is meeting (vacationing?) in Milan this week pondering how to revive the beleaguered international global warming treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol. This week's news that Russia might say "nyet" to the treaty all but seals its doom.

Here are some Excerpts and Links to articles on FOX News:

"A number of questions have been raised about the link between carbon dioxide and climate change which do not appear convincing and clearly it sets very serious brakes on economic growth which do not look justified," said an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The treaty's scientific and economic shortcomings are both excellent reasons for rejecting it. Another reason not mentioned nearly often enough, however, is exposed in compelling fashion by Paul Driessen in his new book "Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death."

Driessen, a senior fellow at the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and a former member of the Sierra Club and Zero Population Growth , reveals how the ideological environmental movement -- essentially comprised of wealthy, left-leaning Americans and Europeans -- wants to impose its views on billions of poor, desperate Africans, Asians and Latin Americans

Eco-imperialism violates these people's most basic human rights, maintains Driessen, and denies them economic opportunities, the chance for better lives, and the right to rid their countries of diseases that were vanquished long ago in the U.S. and Europe.

The environmental movement "has repeatedly used the alleged threat of global eco-catastrophe -- e.g., global warming -- to override the wishes of people who most desperately need energy and progress," he adds.

In India's Gujarat Province, a dam project was halted after eco-activists pressured international lending agencies to withdraw financial support. The dam had to be stopped because it would "change the path of the river, kill little creatures along its banks and uproot tribal people in the area," one eco-activist smugly intoned.

"The local 'tribal people,' however, don't appear to appreciate her intervention," offers Driessan. "One resident angrily called the activists' handiwork 'a crime against humanity,' because the project would have provided electricity for 5,000 villages; low-cost renewable power for industries and sewage treatment plants; irrigation water for crops; and clean water for 35 million people."

See more of this report and Driessan's Response . . .

It is this writer's contention that mankind would have long ago disappeared from planet earth had it not been for the hand of God upon us all. But for His continued care we would have long ago vanished from what we call, "Civilization."

IMPERIALISM OF THE SUPREME COURT

Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death.! Fearsome thoughts. While these things go on in the Eco-Imperialistic thinking people of our day it doesn't stop there. In America (USA) we face the most Imperialistic set of Supreme Court not intended in our constitution. It is surprising that these nine individuals have taken it upon themselves to re-interpret our constitution . . . but, is it really? In order for the United States to be brought to its knees and rendered powerless in the face of things to come someone had to step forward and weaken everything America stands for. We have been looking for ONE individual to present himself as the Anti-christ. Is it quite possible that it may be more than one individual and not necessarily male in gender? Is it possible that someone will come along and weaken our legal system to the point that the general population will be found powerless? Is it possible, in that all other authority of our governmental system is elected and therefore responsible to the citizenry that a group of individuals appointed for life-terms will come forward and force the citizenry into subjection not foreseen by our for-fathers? Ponder these questions as we endeavor to go forward in our study today.

". . . Lord, Come Quickly!" ~ Bob Craig

CONTINUED STUDY:

HOLOCAUST FROM THE EAST

The first four trumpet judgments were directed toward the earth's ecology, but the last three judgments are directed toward man himself. Each of these judgments increases in scope and magnitude as it unfolds. It appears that God is putting the pressure on man, a little more each time, to try to get him to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation.

Even the word "woe" which the angel pronounces of mankind is a solemn warning itself. Webster defines the word as "sorrow, calamity, affliction." If only men would heed this somber pronouncement! But the indication is that most of mankind will be as stubborn as Saddam Hussein appears to be in our present on-going war with Iraq.

It may seem a little confusing at first, but let me try to make clear the order of the next judgments:

(1) The first woe that is set loose on man is actually the FIFTH trumpet judgment (Revelation 9:1-12).

(2) The second woe which mankind has to endure is synonymous with the SIXTH trumpet (Revelation 9:13-21).

(3) The third woe is the SEVENTH trumpet, and this judgment contains the final and most awful catastrophes of all times, called the "seven bowl judgments" (Revelation 11:14, 15; Revelation 16:1-21).

All of the woe judgments occur very near the end of the Tribulation.

DEMONIC LOCUSTS

Revelation 9:1-11 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. (NIV)

The "star" of Revelation 9:1 has to be a person rather than a literal star, since "he" is given a key with which he opens the bottomless pit. I believe this fallen star is none other than Satan himself, described in Isaiah 14:12, as "Lucifer", or "Star of the Morning."

Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. (NIV)

Satan receives the key from Christ Himself, since Christ is the possessor of the key of hell.

Revelation 1:18, I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (NIV)

The opening of the bottomless pit unleashes a judgment that is un-paralleled in its torment. The "locusts" of Revelation 9:3 are said to be possessed by hell's worst demons – fallen angels so ferocious that God has kept them bound since the days of Noah.

2 Peter 2:2-4 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; (NIV)

Their leader is apparently a demon of almost the power and authority of Satan himself. He is described in Revelation 9:11 as "Abaddon" and "Apollyon," meaning "destroyer."

God permits the release of these vicious beings because men have failed to heed the judgments against their unbelief and have not taken advantage of the lull in the storm to cry out to God for mercy.

JESUS DEALT WITH DEMONS

Before you start saying, "I don't believe in any of that demon jazz," remember that Christ Himself talked with demons on several occasions. Luke describes one occasion in which Christ talked with hundreds of demons living in a single man! Later this same group of demons moved into a herd of two thousand pigs, plunging them to their death in a lake!

Although I wouldn't go looking for demons myself, I have on several occasions been confronted with people who through involvement in the occult have become demon-possessed or have been harassed by demons. I have seen teens become addicted to satanic-inspired music showing a shocking change of character over a very short period of time and do things outside their character.

Once several Christians visited with a United States Congressman, a new believer, and they were urging him to renounce his past extensive involvement with occult mediums. Just then a sudden and awful oppressive spirit was felt by all seven persons present. The congressman said, "Do you feel the presence of this spirit too? He has come here on several occasions before and rapped on the walls at night. Sometimes this spirit has come while my dog is in the room, and the dog's hair stands up on his back and he begins to bark wildly." They all prayed in the Name of Jesus Christ and ordered the demon to leave and not come back. Immediately the room was relieved of the oppressive presence – the demon was gone!

Now, this didn't happen in the wilds of Africa, but in Washington, D.C.! Nor where there any superstitious pagans present – only responsible and well-educated men!

A MUTANT LOCUST

The locusts described in this chapter are unlike any known to man today. It's very difficult to fully understand everything about these unnatural creatures, but we can make certain observation about them.

They are possessed by the especially malignant demons who have just been released from the abyss. They have a king over them named "the Destroyer," who is the mighty fallen angel who apparently ruled over the abyss. This is certainly unnatural for locusts, since Proverbs 30:27 says that"locusts have no king."

As I was making the links to the page on revision of the study (12/10/2003) I was struck by this and could feel the hair raise on the back of my neck – Proverbs 30:27 says that "locusts have no king." One could hardly find a better description of Alcidae, the terrorists, and the race of people from which they are derived. Oh, yes, there is Osamu Benladen and Saddam Hussain in our sights along with those in Afghanistan and Iraq that would like to destroy the United States – and, I am afraid, this is exactly what they will eventually do. Our president at this time (even though I supported him and voted for him) does not seem to understand what is happening. Islam is about to declare, if not already having done so, war on any civilization that is not of their convictions. Indeed, their faith has that as the utmost objection. They are taught in their lands and in the Mosques in the United States that they are to destroy the infidel. Infidel is the word they understand as applying to anyone who does not align themselves with the Islam beliefs. Friends, "Look up! Your redemption draweth nigh!" I think it can be stated without any hesitation that the End Time is here!

These locusts have no king have already stuck many, many times. We have just failed to realize it. (I speak only for myself) They have been actively striking Israel for a number of years. They have no King, as we know of, and they strike shamefully murdering people wherever they may be. There is no respect as to weather they are children, women or innocents. They kill at will. And, like the warier bee, once they loose their stinger they die. These "locusts" kill others by killing themselves. There were only 19 killers that hijacked aircraft and killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001. These killers were (locusts) Egyptians and Saudi Arabians of Moslem convictions and died (in their view) to harvest great rewards in the after-life. I think we have already met the "locusts" and they are among us. Our borders are completely open. We have no regards to culture. Our language has to be looked for and deciphered from a swarm of other languages when we read simple instructions after buying any product. We have no regards concerning illegal, "ILLEGAL" aliens who have entered our country. We have identified or called them "sleeper cells." They may be living next door just waiting for the time determined for them to go into action. Our country sits in wait for their next triumph. The "locusts" are here and I don't think anyone can argue the point. ~ RB Craig

Revelation 9:11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. (NIV)

Proverbs 30:27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; (NIV)

These "locusts" have a scorpion like stinger in their tails with which they relentlessly torment men for five months. The sting will be so painful that men will wish they could die.

History records that the ancient Roman soldiers were famous for their ability to take pain without flickering an eye. But when several of them were bitten by scorpions in the desert of Egypt they screamed and writhed in pain. Scorpion stings are among the most painful wounds a person can endure. It has been reported that it is most probable that Saddam Hussein of Iraq is at this very moment watching as his henchmen torture our prisoners of war with the feared sting of scorpions.

The demon-possessed locusts are not permitted to kill anyone. As with the case of Job, God here grants the Devil authority to torment, but not to kill. They can't even touch believers, for they will all have"the seal of God on their foreheads." This bears out the power and faithfulness with which God protects His own.

There are diverse opinions among BIBLE teachers as to whether these creatures are actually going to be a supernatural mutant locust especially created for this judgment or whether they symbolize some modern device of warfare.

I overheard a ex-soldier who was a Green Beret in Viet Nam. When he first read this chapter he said, "I know what those are. I've seen hundreds of them in Viet Nam. They are Cobra helicopters!"

Imagine what comparison he might make concerning the instruments of flight now employed by the Allied Forces now located in the Persian Gulf area.

That may just be conjecture, but it does give you something to think about! The present day helicopters and stealth aircraft do well fit the composite description very well. They also make the sound of "many chariots." That ex-soldier believed that the means of torment will be a kind of nerve gas sprayed from its tail. Pray for our men and women now moving up on the front line in preparation for battle against this terrifying force now employed by Iraq!

THE SECOND WOE:

200 MILLION ORIENTALS ATTACK

Revelation 9:12-19 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come. The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number. The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury. (NIV)

Verse 13 begins with the second woe (the sixth trumpet). It is a terrifying judgment. Four of the most wicked and powerful of all fallen angels are released to inspire the destruction of a third of all remaining mankind! Remember that one-fourth of the world population has already been destroyed by the judgments described in Revelation 6:8:

Revelation 6:8 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. (NIV)

The poisoning of fresh-water sources killed many more. Now the remaining population is reduced by still another 33 percent!

DOWN BY THE RIVER-SIDE

These four angels at the River Euphrates are very significant. They were bound by God because they were tremendously powerful emissaries of Satan. There confinement at the River Euphrates is especially momentous.

The first human sin was committed right at this Euphrates region, in the Garden of Eden. In this area the first murder and the first great revolt against God also took place. It was in nearby Babylon that the first world ruler set up his kingdom. The Euphrates region is truly the site of many significant events of human history! It would be correct to say that it would be even more appropriate for the Christian to identify the present day war as the War of the Euphrates – rather than Desert Storm.

The Romans, Greeks, and Babylonians always considered the Euphrates River the boundary line between the East and the West. Rudyard Kipling put it succinctly: "East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet."

But they are going to meet in the Tribulation! The four angels of Revelation 9:14, 15, will mobilize an army of 200 million soldiers from East of the Euphrates. Revelation 16 will provide more details about this, but in essence, I believe these 200 million troops are Red Chinese soldiers accompanied by other Eastern allies. It is possible that the industrial might of Japan will be united by that time with Red China. For the first time in history there will be a full invasion of the West by the Orient.

200,000,000 STRONG

NOTE: There is now thought to be 1.2 Billion Muslims today. With their practice of using women to fight it would not be out of the question that there could be 200,000,000 "Locusts" of them "From the East." They are using with success women killer bombers blowing themselves up amongst innocents.

It has to be more than coincidence that an Associated Press article said this, "The documents (secret Chinese military plans) make clear that the Red Chinese leaders believe they cannot be defeated by long-range nuclear weapons – such as United States missiles – and if they were invaded they would rely on their vast military manpower.

One estimate is that as long ago as April 1961, there were supposed to be 200 MILLION armed and organized Chinese militiamen."

If the armed militia of China was estimated at 200 million in 1961, what do you suppose it is now? The obvious significance of this fact is that for the first time in history, there is an oriental power that can do exactly what this prophecy foretells! No wonder the United Nations, nor the United States stepped in to try and quell the uprising last year and China moved in and squelched an uprising made by its people in pursuit of Democracy! One does have to sit back and wonder at the speed in which we entered the Mid-East Crisis.

The skeptic might say that we did so because of the smaller threat of Iraq in comparison to China. I would have to say a resounding NO! We are involved here because of God's interdiction in the affairs concerning Israel.

Consider also at this point that when John wrote this prophecy, there were not yet 200 million people in the whole world! This is truly an amazing and terrifying prophecy.

THE YELLOW PERIL

[It must be said (November 2002) that we have our previous president to thank for giving the Chinese everything they needed to up-grade their long range missel capability so that it is now possible for them to put the United States in the cross hairs. I wonder if the eventual outcome of that action is the reason that there is no mention of an army from the West coming to the aid of Israel. I don't believe when these things come to pass that we, as a country, will be in existence when these things happen.]

It is also interesting to note that throughout history there's never been a great invasion of the West by the East. It is as if God put an invisible boundary line there, restraining the forces that could have mobilized the Orient for a full-scale invasion of the West. But, with the releasing of these four mighty demons, all stops are pulled. There will be a full mobilization of" the kings of the East."

Revelation 16:12 ~ See Note Page 1345_1 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 from the East. (NIV)

The fabled "yellow peril" will become a horrible reality as they swoop across the dried-up Euphrates River into the Middle East, where war is already in progress.

The Apostle John describes the army's mounts as horses with heads like lions and with fire, smoke, and brimstone coming out of their mouths. My observation is that he is describing some kind of mobilized ballistic missile launcher. This great army will apparently destroy one-third of the world's remaining population while in-route from the Orient to the Middle East. This could mean the destruction of the great population centers of Asia, such as India, Japan, Pakistan, Indo-China, and Indonesia. It could also include a long-range strike at Indonesia. It could also include a long-range strike at the United States.

THE CHINESE NUCLEAR THREAT

John describes the means by which one-third of mankind will be annihilated as "fire, smoke, and brimstone." All of these things are a part of a thermonuclear war: smoke represents the immense clouds of radioactive fallout and debris, while brimstone is simply melted earth and building materials.

Red China is not only a thermonuclear power, but the rapidity with which she became one is even more startling. Many recent articles show that China is now deploying medium-range ballistic missiles capable of hitting every major city in Asia. [That statement was written ten years ago!] I can now say [1991] that, with very little doubt, China is fitted with missiles that are capable of hitting any city in the World. If she ever decided to use them, they will not be tipped with the light munitions such as Iraq seems to be limited to at this point in history.

Red China's capacity of hitting Moscow with missiles are causing some interesting maneuvers on the part of the Soviets toward the West!

I am convinced that the "four evil angels" who will be unbound at the River Euphrates will instantly mobilize a giant war machine made up of some of the oriental countries, primarily Red China, and will be responsible for wiping out one-third of mankind.

This holocaust is again followed by an interlude. Once more God gives man a chance to repent and turn to Jesus, and once more man refuses.

The third and last "woe" (the seventh trumpet judgment) includes the final seven judgments which God pours out on the earth. These "vial" or "bowl" judgments are mercifully postponed by God until the events of Revelation 16. In the intervening chapters many of the central characters and events of the Tribulation period are introduced and explained.

AND THEY REPENTED NOT

Revelation 9:20-21 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood-- idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (NIV)

These two verses have got to be among the most incredible in the whole BIBLE. After all the foregoing supernatural events, mankind is still unwilling to repent and turn to Christ!

These two verses also reveal another remarkable prediction – that man will once again turn back to worshiping demons and idols. Ten years ago I couldn't imagine how people with today's education and enlightenment could do such a thing. But in the last couple of years we have seen the greatest turning to witchcraft, Satan worship, and occultism since the days of ancient Rome!

Some members of the academic community who were formerly agnostic in their religious views and opposed religion of any kind in the classroom now not only ACCEPT THE POSSIBILITY of the supernatural but actually PRACTICE various forms of it in private and in the classroom under the label of parapsychology!

A recent article had this to report,

"There may be more than meets the eye to that eerie silence on the nation's college campuses in recent years. Some of the very same students who were once embroiled in activist causes are now turning out in favor of the supernatural. In response, courses in a wide variety of occult subjects are now among the most popular additions to the curriculum at many schools."

(November 2002 – While researching links for the up-dated version of this study I have really had a time trying to avoid the occult sites. They are everywhere – using any name! Please, as you study along with me be aware of what site you are looking at and what it contains. It is impossible for me to cover every corner of every Web Site I have linked to these documents. Reader – be aware!)

I saw the beginning of this great unprecedented change of attitude toward the supernatural on the college campuses in the late 1960's. Since then it has become a worldwide phenomenon, multiplying at a geometric rate.

"One might say that we are living in a new `Age of Faith', but the kind of faith that people put into their astrologer's predictions, palmists, or clairvoyants. The revival of interest in witchcraft today is said to be due to our attempt to escape from the lunacy that we now live in. Societies in all civilizations have had some sort of faith, faith in the unknown, the supernatural. Witchcraft now appears to be man's answer as a replacement for their lost faith in Christianity."

MAN IS A "RELIGION FREAK"

History shows that man cannot live in a religious vacuum. Since modern secular man in general has rejected God's truth, he is now moving toward the occult to find a means of relieving his sense of fear about the uncertainty of the future and to find meaning for his sense of powerlessness over his own destiny in the midst of a modern, computerized, and pressurized society.

Even Russia, which is officially atheistic in its national life and policy, is now exploring the strange world of the occult. A well-documented article reveals that Russia is probably leading the world in experiments with clairvoyance of all kinds. They have been enormously successful at contacting supernatural forces and spirits. However, since they don't accept the BIBLE, they are completely ignorant of the fact that these forces are demons. This experimentation is setting the stage for a general acceptance by the atheistic Russians of an occultist - based - religion – and it is just another step toward the one-world religion which will worship the Anti-christ during the Tribulation! Revelation 17

THE BIG-FOUR SINS

Revelation 9:21 lists the four most prominent sins of the Tribulation. The significance of these particular sins is great in the light of the present trends in the world. It is no coincidence that the four major sins listed here are four of the most serious problems now facing law enforcement.

The first of these characteristic sins is murder. Over a century ago, before America groaned under the present crime wave, Joseph Seiss predicted, on the basis of Revelation 9:21, that capital punishment would have largely been abolished by the time of the Tribulation! Even though we see a slight upswing in convicts waiting on death-row in our prisons, it is most likely that this prediction will have been right on target. Seiss foresaw the day when murders would be spared punishment because society, rather than the individual, would be held responsible for their crimes! (Sound familiar?)

Many law enforcement officers, as well as private citizens, believe that the failure of the courts to use capital punishment is one of the reasons for the alarming increase in murders. Whether capital punishment is a strong deterrent to murder is perhaps debatable, but there are other factors which many would agree have contributed to the rise in crime.

First is the failure of parents and churches to teach children and adults the sinful nature of mankind and God's remedy for it – a new birth in Christ. I am sure there have been murders committed by people who knew they were sinful. But I am just as sure that most of these people did not know how to deal with the dark, angry emotions that surged through them in the depths of their beings. No one had ever told them about a Savior who would come to live within them and cleanse their hearts of hatred, greed, and lust.

Another strong factor in the making of murderers is the rejection of absolute standards of right and wrong. If on one hand it is OK to kill an unborn child, why then call it wrong if I kill someone that stands in MY way of something I want for myself and family? This rejection of absolute standards came about partly because of the liberal theologians stripping the BIBLE of its authority in the minds of men. Add to this the "situational ethics" and relative standards of morality fostered by certain nineteenth-century philosophical and psychological thinkers, and it is no wonder that men and women can explode with their passions and then somehow justify to themselves the taking of another's life.

The breakdown in the home and the failure of fathers to assume their roles of leadership have also been strong contributing factors to the increase of violent crimes. The good life is more meaningful to young parents today than any thought of the cost they pay in the " bringing up a child" as he or she aught to be. What is perceived as "a better life-style", or a good time far outweighs any desire the majority of parents have to bring up their children with intimate self care. They are left to the shockingly unknown factor of day-care facilities or baby sitters of questionable characters and abilities. They feel that the benefits far outweighs the chance they take. A child who is never taught discipline and respect for authority in the home will grow up with destructive anxieties and frustrations, and too often he or she takes out these hostilities on the society in which they are forced to fight in order to survive. If from a child one never hears AND UNDERSTANDS the word NO, why be surprised when the child becomes an adult and continues to expect NO to mean YES, or MAYBE.

DRUGS + WITCHCRAFT = NIGHTMARE

The second prominent sin of the Tribulation era will be drug-related occultic activities. The word "sorceries" in Revelation 9:21, comes from the Greek word PHARMAKIA, which means "pharmacy" and refers here to the practice of the occult with the use of drugs. Even in Biblical times drug use often led to astrology, witchcraft and demonism. I've talked with people who have been on LSD for a long time, and they have told me, "Demons are no strangers to me!" Demons and drugs are very similar in their effect on the human mind. They can take over a man to the point where he is completely altered in personality.

A recent article concerning this problem gave this instruction:

"There is a need to ascertain if there is any involvement in DRUG ADDICTION, as it is common that addicts, especially with heroin and alcohol, become involved in black magic and vice versa... (Some) have been known in some cases to have been very religious people who defaulted, and thus left themselves open to some power other than God to control their lives."

The interesting thing to me is that in many cases with which I am familiar, the person first used drugs, and then got into witchcraft. The ready availability of cocaine has increased this probability. But the facts seem to bare-out that when a deep involvement with the occult followed, drugs were eventually dropped in favor of the more powerful experience with spirits.

CASTANEDA'S STRANGE JOURNEY

A powerful writer of recent time, Carlos Castaneda has written of his own personal experiences along this line. In his most recent book, as well as in two previous ones, he tells of his initiation into the practice of Indian sorcery in Mexico through such hallucinogenic drugs as peyote, Jimpson weed, mushrooms mixed with other plants, and other natural drugs.

While Castaneda was on his "trips" he had all kinds of encounters with "beings" he couldn't understand. He was continually urged by an old Indian sorcerer named Don Juan to seek to really "see" the other world. Whether Don Juan really exists or is simply a creation of Castaneda's pen, no one knows for sure. But, Castaneda has spent ten years of his life seeking to "see" by negating the routine use of the five senses and to experience firsthand the world of spirits and psychic phenomena. For his efforts in this field, UCLA gave him a Ph.D. for Journey To Ixtlan!

One of the most important things that Castaneda discovered in his journey to becoming a sorcerer is that drugs are only necessary in the beginning. As a seeker becomes fully committed to sorcery, a "spirit entity" attaches itself to the seeker and gives him unimaginable power. The three books Castaneda has written have sold millions and are now considered by many in the academic world as among the most important anthropological research of all time. And do you know what it is that they are so excited and stimulated about? The BIBLE calls them DEMONS!

According to the prophecies in the Book of Revelation, those who reject the truth about Jesus Christ will become so deceived that they will not onlyBELIEVE in the reality of demons, but they will actually WORSHIP them through the coming one-world religion called "mystery Babylon" (Revelation 17).

THE PLAYBOY PHILOSOPHY

The third prominent sin of the Tribulation will be rampant immorality. PORNEIA, the Greek word used in this verse, refers to all kinds of sexual activity outside of its Biblically-sanctioned function between a married man and woman. The marriage vow will be virtually unknown at this time, and there will be a complete breakdown in family relationships.

Dr. Herbert Otto says,

"a psychologist foresees a society in which men and women will explore new depths of intimacy, and the pursuit of joy will become an art form. . . . More people will indulge in group sex . . . and the ideal life will not be marriage, children, and a house in the suburbs, but rather the experiencing of a series of deep and fulfilling relationships in a variety of environments."

We live in a day when the impact of the rejection of Biblical morality and absolutes is beginning to be seen at every level of society, but especially in attitudes toward sex.

George Barna says this about our adaptability as a human race:

"Place a frog in a kettle of boiling water and it will quickly jump out, aware that the environment is dangerous. Place a frog in a kettle full of room temperature water and slowly increase the temperature of the water until it is boiling. The frog will stay in the water until it boils to death. Will the Christian Community be like the frog?"

Barna goes on to say,

"...life as we know it will have radically changed [by the year 2000]...But those changes won't all come at once. They'll come subtly and imperceptibly. And that's what makes the coming changes so dangerous. Like a frog in a slowly boiling kettle of water, the Church has found itself in an environment that is gradually changing. And that environment could become life-threatening if we don't stay aware of the changes and how to respond. Because if we don't know what people's needs are and how to meet them, we run the risk of getting in the way of God's life-giving message.

Only time prevents me from overwhelming you with stories and statistics about the moral laxity of our society. However, I really don't need to, for it is likely that it has already touched you personally in some way! The world is in a headlong plunge DOWNWARD to the morality of Sodom and Gomorrah, and unfortunately, to the same judgment as well! All you need to do today to get looks of disgust and unbelief is to bring up the subject of AIDS and say something like, "It may well be that this plague was allowed to happen by God because of the homosexuals and drug-addicts life-styles!" Your sweet, grass-root, home-spun present day sect of so-called Christian will scorn you like they scorned Benjamin Franklin....or, or even Jesus Christ. You are out! But friends, "God is not slack concerning His promises"! Don't be fooled, "Whatsoever a man sows, so shall he reap"! "There is a pay-day someday"! Isn't it about time we quit being modern, and with-it, and start believing God's Word!

CRIME ON THE INCREASE

The fourth characteristic of the Tribulation will be thievery of all kinds, including burglaries (theft by breaking into houses and businesses) and robberies (theft by threat of personal violence). I hardly need to convince you that these kinds of crimes are on the upsurge today!

When a society's family unit breaks down, the whole society falls apart. Many of our world's people are without moral conviction and natural affection because they have been set adrift on the sea of life with no compass, rudder or destination.

"Divorcing parents traditionally have battled to gain custody over their children, but in a growing number of broken families today, NEITHER parent wants custody."

Imagine what devastation that is to a child! In a society with a growing number of unwanted children who are not given love, understanding, discipline, and a respect for authority, the predictable outcome is lawlessness and spiraling crime.

In concluding Chapter 23, I would like to say: Quite frankly at this very moment I am quite angry (December 10, 2003; 7:31 PM). After considering the "locusts" and the "illegal Aliens" just moments ago, Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania, the current Homeland Security Chief, has just stood in front of the News Media and declared the Administration's intentions to make 3,000,000 (Yes, 3 million, actually 8-10 million) illegal aliens legal. Now, is this just me, or am I caught suspended between being a prophet and a sage, or fortune teller? What is going on in our world? Ever hour of every day something crazy happens. One thing after another. Everything seems to be spinning out of control. There is nothing solid any longer. What you see at a moment of time you better enjoy, because in a twinkling of an eye, it is defiantly going to change. The change seems never to be for the good.

Every hour of every day is a disaster. We are losing our country and unfortunately our way of life!

Every hour of every day something seems to be spinning out of control. It is if Satan is standing at the head of the line, "Go, it is your turn!" And another weird idea or happening goes on the record. Satan must be thinking, lets put it all up there. Get everyone confused! Cause disruption and we will then be able to bring down the United States of America. I used to think this impossible. One thing after another in rapid succession. When this happens no one is able to raise a voice in objection. One is caught trying to respond to one atrocity and Walla, another happens. One used to be able to sit down and compose a letter, or send an E-mail, or get on the phone and call a representative about concerns. Today one can hardly get one E-mail off and another outlandish thing happens out doing the last. Quite frankly, I have lost track of objections and questions sent to Washington.

We can not rely on the Democrats, and it would appear that we can't depend on the Republicans. There is no difference. President George W. Bush is turning out to be a turn-coat, a complete disaster. However, what can one do. Who else can we elect that will do the right thing? Should we form a socialist party? We have a socialist party, the Republicans and the Democrats. Should we look to an Independent. They are like warm, neither Hot nor Cold. They sit on the fence like Clinton did and hold their whetted finger to the wind to find the leanings of the populace – then make an educated decision. How about the Green party. Should we entrust our democracy to such? The so called Libertarians – they are but wolves in seeps clothing.

Where do we turn? That question will lead our country down the lane to accepting a "special person," an individual forewarned in Scripture – The Anti-christ! We are there! The pols daily reveal a confused populace that will select anyone that steps forward with a seemingly intelligent answer to all our problems. We will gladly elect him to "correct all our problems." He will "obviously" have all the answers! What a day to be alive. We will soon see the completion of God's plan for the End Times! Watch those "Locusts!" They will turn and bite you . . .

~ RB Craig

PS: Let us look on the bright side! Yesterday about 4:00PM we had an Earth Quake here in Virginia. The odds of this happening in VA is rare. There is a slight Fault Line near but quite a surprise and unlikely. All these things must come to pass and then, Our Lord Returns for his Bride, The Church!. Look up my Brothers and Sisters, our redemption draweth nigh.

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