How Christ Will Stop World Suicide | Bible Study Course Lesson 3

Bible Study Course Lesson 3

How Christ Will Stop World Suicide

Man has already stockpiled enough destructive power to destroy all living things on this planet! Yet the arms race continues!

Now a RE-ARMED Germany -- RE-UNITED Germany -- appears to be regaining its power in the heartland of Europe.

The Germans have long felt a "divine mission" to unite Europe. You will want to know what God reveals about Germany in Bible prophecy!

THE WORLD TODAY

Make no mistake! -- World War III is on the way. The cold war was the lull before the storm. It will DECIDE WHO WILL RULE the world.

WHY A HOT WORLD WAR III IS COMING!

World War I was supposed to have been fought to end all wars. But it did not produce a DECISIVE outcome. The nations did not have the POWER with which to slaughter their competitors into submission. But NOW they have this POWER -- and MUCH to spare -- in the form of the hydrogen bomb and other devices!

World War I of 1914 and World War II -- in which four times as many were killed as in War I -- were only flashes in the pan! They were only the forerunners of the UTTER DESTRUCTION which is soon to break SUDDENLY upon the nations! The contenders for world rule will not abandon their quest. That's why God says "WATCH" (Luke 21:36).

This is a command from God. Let us therefore examine the backgrounds of the ambitious contestants who would rule or ruin this earth. Your very life may well depend upon your being CONVINCED of the deadly seriousness with which gangster nations are out to attain their goal. You need more zeal in studying God's way of ESCAPE revealed in the coming lessons of the Ambassador College On-line Bible Correspondence Course.

Here are some amazing excerpts and comments which reveal to you the bulldogged determination and diabolical cleverness with which each pretender has settled down to attain his aim -- kingship over this earth -- the office that rightly belongs to CHRIST!

You need to learn to connect today's news with events of prophecy that are being fulfilled at this very moment. You will find that THIS Bible Correspondence Course DOES tell you THE TRUTH!

Germany about to SHOCK the World Again!

Down through the ages the Assyrians, the ancestors of modern Germany, called themselves the "Herrenvolk" -- the "MASTER RACE." Today the term is still used among themselves. Has TODAY'S Germany given up the idea of achieving this dream?

The keynote of what lies in the Germanic mind was voiced in 1950. Then, according to T. H. Teten's book "Germany Plots with the Kremlin", Dr. Adenauer, the leader of Germany, caused much embarrassment by leading a German crowd in singing "Deutschland šber Alles" -- "GERMANY ABOVE ALL OTHERS" -- in the presence of Allied representatives. WHY was this thought lurking in his mind?

Here is the PRESENT GERMAN ATTITUDE

"No defeat is final. Defeats are simply lessons to be learned in PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT AND GREATER ATTACK," said German General von Stuelpnagel in 1944. Furthermore, he stated, "In the NEXT WORLD WAR, which should take place WITHIN 25 YEARS, the same mistake should not be made. The principal ADVERSARY WILL BE THE UNITED STATES, and the entire effort MUST be concentrated against this country from the beginning ... our defeat in the present war need not be considered except as an incident in the triumphal march of Germany TOWARD CONQUEST OF THE WORLD" -- Deutschland uber Alles!

Twice already Germany has attempted to seize world rule. And twice we have prevented her from achieving it. This time she WILL MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT AROUND!

And then, having conquered the United States, what is her next step? Russia? And doesn't it lie EAST of Germany? Listen! Hitler told us of the next step in the carefully laid German military plan to rule the world when he expounded the thesis in "Mein Kampf". He said that Germany must FIRST DEFEAT THE WEST in order to have a free hand for the "Drang Nach Osten" -- the march toward the EAST -- toward Russia! How PERFECTLY all this accords with revealed prophecy! Hitler was following this SAME plan in the last World War until Russia ceased to supply him with oil to further his war effort, and he was forced to turn upon her to attempt to seize oil from her.

By now it should be evident to all that Germany is out to conquer the world. As it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY that you be convinced on this point, let's examine further overwhelming evidence. Let's examine the amazing tenacity with which GERMANY has set out METHODICALLY to achieve her goal of world rulership.

Fifty-seven years ago leading German industrialists founded a society which they called the PAN GERMAN LEAGUE. Its slogan was Deutschland uber alles!" -- Germany over all. They utilized the trademark "Made in Germany" as proof of German superiority. Behind their commercial and business methods was a central, PERMANENT strategy -- with the GOAL OF CONQUERING THE WORLD! It was they who were largely responsible for inducing the Kaiser to enter World War I. It was they who were behind World War II. Cooperating with the German militarists and the SECRET MOVEMENT started by General Ludendorff, who selected Adolph Hitler as his stooge and prot‚g‚, these same industrialists financed the Nazi movement and actually elevated Hitler to power. (Senator Kilgore's report to the Senate Military Affairs Committee calls attention to this fact.) HITLER WAS MERELY A TOOL. He was the rabble-rouser they needed to sway the masses of German people to get behind their fanatical plot for world rule.

Only a few German war criminals were brought to trial for their crimes. Immediately after World War II Nazi leaders went underground. In future lessons you will learn more of the details regarding the sudden, totally unexpected revival of Germany as a world power. You will want to know what Germany will do -- AND WHEN!

The world heard and saw Hitler. But his REAL promoters and backers kept in the background. If Hitler failed in this second round of World War, they planned to let him shoulder the blame before the world, and KEEP THEMSELVES FREE TO SECRETLY PLOT THE THIRD ROUND -- WORLD WAR III! This coming war!

So it was those industrial barons who met together to take action in mid-May, 1943. They knew Hitler's war was probably lost. They realized the time had come for them to once again go UNDERGROUND -- to throw all guilt of World War II on Hitler just as they had thrown that of the first round -- World War I -- on the Kaiser.

From that time until now German industrialists have led a double life. To the world's view, they have become merely private businessmen. BUT SECRETLY THEY ARE COLLABORATING FULLY WITH THE OUTLAWED NAZIS! Their job is to keep German industry ready to produce the weapons and munitions for the THIRD war. Their mission is to FINANCE the new movement, BY WHATEVER NEW NAME THEY MAY CALL IT, whenever the time is ripe.

Here are the facts on how one GREAT INDUSTRIALIST, for an EXAMPLE, has carried out his part in this plan. It is the hoax of multi-millionaire industrialist Fritz Thyssen. It is revealed in the book, "The Nazis Go Underground", written by Curt Riess. At the BEGINNING (note the extreme cleverness) of War II, Thyssen was sped into neutral Switzerland proclaiming loudly that Hitler had duped him into financing the Nazi party, and then, once in power, Hitler had double-crossed and confiscated his wealth, and left him poor. The Nazis went through the PRETENSE of removing Thyssen from their party. Thyssen wrote a book about his "shabby" treatment at their hands. BUT when the Nazis invaded France later, where Thyssen was, the very Nazis who were SUPPOSED to hate him left him unmolested and soon he was back in Berlin WHERE THE NAZIS WERE, living in luxury. The whole RUSE was to DECEIVE THE ALLIED NATIONS into placing CONFIDENCE in Thyssen in event of an Allied victory so he could supply them with funds for War III. Today, thanks to this deeply laid plan and others like it, Krupp and many other outstanding German businessmen are actively establishing great factories all over the world to finance WORLD WAR III. The Nazi plans are well laid.

THE NAZIS WENT UNDERGROUND, MAY 16, 1943! -- two years BEFORE THE WAR ENDED! The German generals, scientists, industrialists, bankers, and others knew that War II was lost. So at that time they organized themselves FOR THE FUTURE. The most thoroughly organized secret government of modern history began to function -- UNDERGROUND! Today the Nazis are WORKING FEVERISHLY on ultramodern weapons and other projects. In 1951 Dr. Adenauer, ex-chancellor of West Germany, admitted the presence of 134 former Nazis, who served under Hitler, IN HIGH ECHELONS in his Bonn government.

Today you hear much of a UNITED STATES OF EUROPE. Where does it fit into Germany's plan for world conquest?

Dr. Adenauer and his press reveal that Germany regards the creation of a United Europe as the first step in the erection of a Third Power bloc. In 1950, Dr. Adenauer wrote, "A federated Europe will become a Third Force in the world." Later he said, "No one has MORE TO GAIN through the unification of Europe than the Germans who are the MOST NUMEROUS and MOST DYNAMIC among the nations west of the U.S.S.R. [Russia]." Dr. Adenauer here shows that GERMANY desires a United States of EUROPE and points out that she WILL NATURALLY LEAD it once it is formed.

WE know what her plan is. WE know HOW the United States of Europe will be used by her to attempt world domination. PROPHECY shows 10 Kings -- TEN DICTATORS -- will arise in Europe and GIVE THEIR POWER TO GERMANY. Now you are beginning to link prophecy with world events -- the very END-TIME events which are now being fulfilled before your very eyes.

The Vatican Enters the Scene

Does Germany have any plans for receiving the aid of a Great Church in helping her achieve world domination? The "Madrid Circular Letter." which reflects the thinking of those in authority in Germany, states, "The German people, well-trained and steeled under national socialist leadership, are dominated by two sovereign ideas: the concept of a German Reich, and Germany's mission of LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD ... the RELIGIOUS tradition embodied in the concept of the Reich, sparks our POLITICAL mission and is ESPECIALLY ATTRACTIVE WITHIN THE CATHOLIC WORLD."

The GERMAN IDEA OF THE ACHIEVEMENT OF WORLD RULE PLEASES THE CATHOLIC WORLD GREATLY! Now let's see WHY this is so. It affects our lives -- YOUR life -- much more than you probably realize!

On February 10, 1952, in his pontifical exhortation, the POPE SAID, "THE WHOLE WORLD MUST BE REBUILT from its foundations." Secretly the Vatican diplomats are laying the foundations of a PROGRAM that WILL REMAKE WESTERN CIVILIZATION! It has to be PLANNED SECRETLY so it will not be discovered until it is too late to stop it! The Vatican contends that peace can be maintained only by a CATHOLIC DOMINATED international organization which has IRON TEETH TO CRUSH OPPOSITION.

"This organization," said Pope Pius in his Christmas message of 1944, "will be vested ... with supreme authority and POWER TO SMOTHER ... AGGRESSION. Note the organization which the pope will invest with this power will have MILITARY might enough to quell resistance to the Church. This coming world-ruling organization would therefore be a UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE with the pope above all! The Vatican cannot plan with the GODLESS Russians, and the United States is not fired with a desire to rule the world. BUT the NAZIS have ALL the qualifications the pope desires. IT IS WITH THE NAZI UNDERGROUND AND THE FASCIST DICTATORS THAT THE VATICAN IS SECRETLY PLANNING! Germany needs the MANPOWER of the millions of people that the Vatican can throw to her support and the Church needs the power of the German MILITARY might! TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!

One more thing needs considering. Will GERMANY PLAY ALONG WITH RUSSIA UNTIL she can subdue the West? The answer is "yes." In six separate instances within the last two hundred years, in which Germany has turned on the West, she has FIRST made a pact with Russia to make herself safe from the East. Now will be no different.

The events mentioned here are CERTAIN to happen. The astounding union of a German-dominated United States of Europe with a great Church is the next thing prophesied to occur! READ your newspaper -- read the "U.S. News and World Report" magazine. Purchase it at newsstands. THINK on these things. You can see the things described here taking form, day by day. The WORLD will "wonder" -- stand aghast -- when it sees this union of Church and State appear (Rev. 17:8). YOU need NOT stand aghast. Remember, God says: "Watch and pray that you may ESCAPE." There is a reason. For God promises escape to His own.

Continue to study these lessons with all diligence. You will grow in grace and knowledge and can have God's protection in escaping the ravages of Hot War III. But you must also WATCH world events, too, so you will be ready!

HOW CHRIST WILL STOP WORLD SUICIDE

CIVILIZATION IS AT THE CROSSROADS! Mankind already has the capacity to wipe all life off the face of the earth -- if God would fail to intervene!

But GOD WILL NOT FAIL! God will NOT let this world annihilate all human life. Yet, strange to say, many who do believe in a God, REFUSE TO BELIEVE HE CAN AND WILL SUPERNATURALLY INTERVENE IN WORLD AFFAIRS.

Why Men Say to God: "Keep Out!"

Of this doubting end time just before Christ's return, Peter writes: "There shall come IN THE LAST DAYS SCOFFERS, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of His coming? FOR ... ALL THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY WERE FROM THE BEGINNING ..." (II Pet. 3:3-4).

This world doesn't want to change. It doesn't want God to intervene and force men to learn the way to peace. Men want peace, on their terms -- not God's. But man's way to peace leads only to more wars -- and final cosmocide!

That's why Christ MUST come to stop world suicide! When He does THE NATIONS WILL BE ANGRY. The battle among them for world rulership will be at a crisis! Terrible DESTRUCTION AND LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE WILL ALREADY HAVE OCCURRED. The war will be FURIOUS! While the issue hangs in the balance suddenly CHRIST WILL APPEAR with all His holy angels to put an end to human war.

THE NATIONS WILL NOT SUBMIT TO HIM as most people carelessly assume! They may reason that Christ's army is a group of "space men" who have developed new scientific ways of waging war. The tempo of the fight will suddenly INCREASE IN INTENSITY until Christ crushes human rebellion. He will have to deal with the nations in language they understand -- hard, overpowering force.

They will have no way to turn. They will be FORCED to take their minds off destroying each other! They will be fleeing for their lives!

CHRIST WILL SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROY ALL THEIR WEAPONS AND ARMIES AND LEAVE THE NATIONS POWERLESS TO CONTINUE THEIR WARS! JESUS CHRIST, NOT MAN, WILL RULE SUPREME ON THE EARTH! Christ's coming to prevent total annihilation is much heralded by the Bible. It is a vital part of God's PLAN.

But HOW WILL CHRIST PROCEED TO ESTABLISH ORDER IN THIS CHAOTIC, WAR-TORN WORLD?

Order Out of Chaos

Christ, Himself, declared: "I WILL COME AGAIN" (John 14:3). The manner of His coming is placed beyond all controversy by the words of the angels. They appeared on the Mount of Olives to the disciples who were witnessing the ascension of their Lord and Master into the heavens. The angels said, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER as ye have SEEN him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Jesus will return IN LIKE MANNER AS HE WENT!

Christ is, therefore, coming PERSONALLY and VISIBLY, to be present on the earth. When He comes again, He will come, not as a sufferer, nor as a man of sorrows, but as a KING and AS A CONQUEROR, to occupy a throne of glory, to bring order out of chaos. His own words are: "When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, THEN SHALL HE SIT UPON THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY (Mat. 25:31).

Numerous are the predictions throughout the Bible that Jesus Christ will occupy A THRONE, and reign as King thereon. God has declared, "Behold the days come ... that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a KING SHALL REIGN AND PROSPER, and shall execute judgment and justice IN THE EARTH" (Jer. 23:5).

Christ will cause SATAN, THE WICKED SPIRIT PRINCE WHO NOW RULES OVER MANKIND, to be bound (Rev. 20:2). Then, at that time, "The Lord shall BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH: in that day shall there be ONE Lord, and His name one" (Zech. 14:9).

Final Important Instruction

Now we are ready for the actual lesson: Is your Bible in front of you? If not, STOP RIGHT HERE! Go and GET YOUR BIBLE. Also several sheets of paper, and a pencil or pen, so you can MAKE NOTES to help you remember what you learn.

Now, with your Bible, a good DICTIONARY, and your note paper and pencil or pen on a desk or table before you, here is the METHOD of study: WRITE DOWN, NEATLY, ON YOUR NOTE PAPER, THE CAPTION "LESSON 3," AND UNDERSCORE IT. NEXT, WRITE DOWN THE LESSON HEADING AND THE QUESTION SECTION HEADING. THEN, UNDERNEATH, NUMBER EACH QUESTION, AND WRITE DOWN OR TYPE OUT THE ANSWER. As an EXAMPLE, for the first question, this is what you will write under the heading, Christ Will Overthrow Evil Rulers:

1. Dan. 2:28 -- "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be IN THE LATTER DAYS....

Also write in any other thoughts or comments you want to remember. When you have finished this question, and have studied it and are sure you understand it, then read question 2.

2. The SECOND QUESTION of Lesson 3 should be handled as you did the first question, except that YOU NEED NOT WRITE OUT ALL THE VERSES. Verses 42 and 44 are the most important and MUST be written or typed out.

It will be much better if you go to a bookstore or stationery store, and buy a supply of loose leaf note paper with the three holes punched in the side, just like these lessons. Also buy a binder, and print out and keep these lessons and your own notes and answers fastened in the binder. DO NOT SEND US YOUR ANSWERS TO THESE REGULAR LESSONS. KEEP THEM FOR REFERENCE.

By writing down all these answers, and by writing down all the words of every Bible passage that answers a question, you will find you will REMEMBER what you have learned. It takes a little more time, but you will really LEARN these lessons that way, and remember them.

You can QUICKLY REVIEW your lessons, as necessary, if you have them in this form.

And remember, you are to spend at least a HALF HOUR EVERY day studying YOUR BIBLE with this Correspondence Course. EASY TESTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON-LINE AFTER EACH GROUP OF FOUR LESSONS.

LESSON 3

Christ Will Overthrow Evil Rulers

1. To whom did God REVEAL what is to HAPPEN IN THESE LATTER DAYS? Dan. 2:28.

2. Were there to be four successive world-ruling kingdoms? Dan. 2:31-40. (A later lesson will explain the full significance of these four empires.) In the days of the last ten kings (represented by ten toes in verse 42), which are yet to arise out of the fourth kingdom, is God going to SET UP A KINGDOM THAT WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED? Dan. 2:44.

3. A STONE is to destroy these last ten kings. Who is this stone? Acts 4:10-11. Does it SMITE the image on its ten toes? Dan. 2:34.

4. Where else is this same event described? Rev. 17:12-14. Are ten kings mentioned here?

5. Is this person mentioned in Rev. 19:11 to MAKE WAR? He is called King of kings and Lord of lords (verse 16). Who is He? Rev. 17:14. Who is the Lamb of God? John 1:29. Do these verses show that it is Christ who will come with an army of angels to make war with the rebellious nations of the earth?

6. What will be His PURPOSE in coming? Rev. 19:15. What will happen to evil men in high offices who oppose Him? Verses 17-18.

COMMENT: The phrase 'flesh of ALL men,' found in Rev. 19:18 does NOT refer to ALL people on earth, but to ALL who are in the ARMIES gathered against Jerusalem. Compare with Zech. 14:12-15,

7. Does Revelation 11:15-19 speak of this SAME time? How do we know? Verse 15. Is this angel the LAST of SEVEN angels which will sound? Rev. 8:6.

8. Is this the SEVENTH TRUMP? Compare this with I Thes. 4:16 and I Cor. 15:52. Is the trump in I Cor. 15:52 the LAST trump? Note there are NO MORE trumpets blown after Rev. 11:15. Will the KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF CHRIST at the last trump? Verse 15.

9. Christ came the first time as a meek lamb to be slain. How will He come the second time? Will Christ be WRATHFUL -- ANGRY -- against sin? Rev. 11:18. Did Zephaniah the prophet foretell this SAME TIME OF GOD'S WRATH? Zeph. 1:15. Is the "DAY OF THE LORD" a DAY OF GOD'S WRATH ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH? Verses 14-16.

COMMENT: The "Day of the Lord" INCLUDES THE BLOWING OF ALL SEVEN TRUMPS, six of which are blown in a period of months immediately preceding Christ's return.

10. Read also Isa. 13:6; Ezek. 7:19, and Isa. 34:8. Do these verses verify what the "Day of the Lord" is?

11. Many believe the world will soon find the way to PEACE. What does the Bible say? Rev. 11:18. When people are angry THEY FIGHT. Will there be WORLDWIDE FIGHTING in these end times? Mat. 24:7.

12. WHY must Christ take over this world's kingdoms? Has mankind DISOBEYED God's law? Rev. 11:19 gives us the answer. Read it.

COMMENT: Above all things GOD DEMANDS OBEDIENCE. He says, "BEWARE that thou FORGET NOT the Lord thy God, in not keeping His COMMANDMENTS" (Deut. 8:11). In Rev. 11:19 God pictures the ARK OF THE TESTAMENT. Let us understand why!

What did the EARTHLY ark of the testament contain? II Chron. 5:10. Deut. 10:4. Does the world today keep God's commandments? Are the people TODAY destroying the earth? Rev. 11:18. "Thou shalt not kill" is one of these commandments. Ex. 20:13.

WE THEREFORE KNOW THAT CHRIST WILL COME WITH WRATH TO PUNISH THE NATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE VIOLATING GOD'S LAWS!

13. We have seen that the saints, at Christ's second coming, will be born again -- this time of Spirit -- and be forever with Him. I Thes. 4:17. Most people today believe that when they are changed they will lead a life of idleness. When Christ and His armies of angels begin to subdue the nations, will the saints have nothing to do? Read Dan. 7:18. What does the word "take" signify?

The converted are NOT to live a life of idleness when they are reborn. They must have an ACTIVE PART WITH CHRIST IN TAKING OVER THE KINGDOMS of this world.

14. What else will happen at the blowing of the GREAT trump (the seventh) at which Christ comes? Isa. 27:12-13. IS ISRAEL REGATHERED? Verse 12. What do they do? Verse 13.

15. If they worship God -- come out of this Babylonish world in which they will have been scattered -- will they ESCAPE HIS FUTURE PLAGUES? Rev. 18:4.

Wrath to Fall on Lawless World

1. The world is rebellious. Even after Christ is present in person on this earth, the nations will not accept Him. What will God do to FORCE THE ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST and His government? Rev. 16:1.

2. Upon WHAT do these VIALS OF WRATH fall? So, isn't the rebellion WORLDWIDE? Rev. 16:1.

3. How many vials are there? Rev. 16:2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 17. Are these SEVEN "VIALS" of God's wrath ALSO CALLED "PLAGUES"?

COMMENT: Compare verse 17 of Rev. 16 with verse 21. Some translations use the word "BOWL" instead of the word "vial."

4. Recall that the wrath of God occurs in the "day of the Lord." What does the phrase in Rev. 18:8, "Therefore shall her plagues come in ONE DAY" mean?

COMMENT: This scripture shows that all seven vials against the disobedient will BEGIN IN ONE 24-HOUR DAY -- this particular day being USHERED IN BY the blowing of the seventh -- or LAST TRUMP. Some of these vials of wrath will be administered PAST this 24-hour period. This 24-hour climactic day is the climactic part of the much longer "day of the Lord" which will have begun with the seventh seal. The "Babylonish" leadership of this sinful world will be destroyed.

5. Upon whom is the FIRST VIAL poured? Rev. 16:2. COMMENT: It will be poured upon all who are participating in this world's false civil-religious system when Christ comes again.

6. How do we know the first vial will occur immediately AFTER Christ comes? (Remember that Christ comes at the LAST TRUMP -- Rev. 11:15. This trump introduces the seven last plagues.)

7. How will the nations be acting when Christ returns? Rev. 11:18. Will it be the time of GOD'S wrath ALSO? Verses 17,18. As all the vials are the wrath of God (16:1), how plain that they will be poured out AFTER Christ intervenes.

8. What are the SECOND AND THIRD VIALS poured out upon? What do they cause? Rev. 16:3-7. Notice that ALL THESE VIALS WILL PRODUCE SUPERNATURAL EFFECTS. GOD WILL SUPERNATURALLY INTERVENE IN WORLD AFFAIRS!

9. What will God be doing to this earth even before Christ comes and before these vials are administered? Haggai 2:7. Why? Heb. 12:26-28. Will He use EARTHQUAKES TO TURN THE MINDS of the people to Him?

10. God will have to use extreme measures. Notice the FOURTH VIAL. Rev. 16:8-9. (There are SEVEN vials altogether.) Will the HEAT be INTENSE? How intense will the light of the sun be for a short time? Isa. 30:26. Who causes this? Verse 27.

11. What effect will all this have on the earth's population? Isa. 24:6. Will comparatively FEW mortal PEOPLE BE LEFT at the start of Christ's rule?

COMMENT: Note particularly that NOT ALL PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED -- some are left. WITH THESE, CHRIST WILL START HIS RULE.

12. WHY will God do this? Isa. 24:5. Isn't this the SAME reason we found for Christ's coming with WRATH? Rev. 11:19.

COMMENT: Christ will execute the wrath of the Almighty on this earth because of sin -- disobedience to God's laws. Sin is the cause of all human woe.

13. What else shows us that God's wrath will occur when Christ BEGINS to set up His rule on earth? Isa. 24:10. What is the "City of Confusion"?

COMMENT: In Hebrew and Greek the word "Babylon" means "confusion." Babylon the GREAT -- THIS WORLD'S confused system which is the offspring of the old Babylonian system -- will fall soon after the intervention of Christ (Rev. 18:2).

14. Does Rev. 18:21, 23 also prove modern "Babylon's" fall will happen in our time? God will punish the rebellious who refuse to surrender to Christ's rule. What is the attitude of those who deliberately resist God's government? Rev. 16:9.

15. The FIFTH VIAL is poured out on the area of the earth which will be most actively promoting the fight against Christ's rule. What is it called? Rev. 16:10. Will these people repent of their evil deeds? Verse 11. Is there light there? Verse 10. What does Christ compare Himself to? John 8:12.

COMMENT: Plainly the word "darkness" of Rev. 16:10 is DUAL -- there will be actual physical DARKNESS -- thick clouds -- and also spiritual darkness in this area and wherever the beast's system is. MUCH IS WRITTEN IN A DUAL SENSE IN THE BIBLE.

Most have always believed that the earth's inhabitants would QUICKLY accept Christ even if they might not recognize Him at first. It is amazing to see in advance what this world ACTUALLY will do.

Nations Assemble to OPPOSE Christ Mustering at Armageddon

1. What will the SIXTH VIAL of God's wrath be? Rev. 16:12-14. What will be the name of the GATHERING PLACE? Verse 16.

2. WHO WILL GATHER THE WHOLE EARTH to FIGHT AGAINST ITS CREATOR? Verses 13 and 14. Who is the dragon? Rev. 12:9. Are the "spirits" Satan's demons? Mark 1:23, 34.

COMMENT: The proper translation of the inspired Greek of Rev. 16:16 should be as follows: "And THEY gathered them together ...." This verse is sometimes rendered: "And HE gathered them together ...."

3. What will the evil spirits do to cause the people to gather? Rev. 16:14. Is the beast a great military leader having power over many armies? Rev. 17:13-14. Is the false prophet a great religious leader? II Thes. 2:3-4. Who will INSPIRE him? Verse 9.

4. AGAINST WHOM are "all the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather to fight? Rev. 17:14. (We have already shown that the "Lamb" is Christ. Notice that Christ hears other titles also: Read Rev. 19:11,16 and 19.) THESE SCRIPTURES DEFINITELY PROVE THAT CHRIST AND HIS GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE WELCOMED.

5. What is described by Rev. 16:15? Is this inset verse a warning to the people of the earth that they keep posted on God's prophecies so they will NOT be deceived and become involved in the fight AGAINST God which will follow the gathering of the nations at Armageddon?

This 15th verse is an inset thought -- a warning TO YOU! It does NOT mean that Christ will come after the first five vials are poured out. Rather, it is a warning not to join in the military preparations which undoubtedly commence months before Christ returns. The sixth vial represents the climactic battle of Christ against wicked nations. It follows their gathering at Armageddon to oppose Him.

6. Is God going to JUDGE the heathen there? Joel 3:12. COMMENT: "JEHOSHAPHAT" means "JUDGMENT of Jehovah" (Peloubet's Bible Dictionary). So this very place bears the name "Valley of judgment of the Eternal."

7. WHEN will this judgment take place? Verse 14. Compare the TIME of this event (verse 14) with the time of the event described in Rev. 14:19.

COMMENT: This battle will be fought in the climactic 24-hour day of God's wrath -- it will be the day when all seven vials of the seventh trump are administered. This day in which Christ's feet touch the earth will be ushered in by the blowing of the seventh trump.

As we have already shown, the terms the "day of the Lord" and the "wrath of God" are often used in the Bible interchangeably and therefore can describe the SAME TIME and the SAME EVENT. Don't these two events take place at the SAME time? Doesn't GOD take a DIRECT part in world affairs when either of these terms is used?

8. Will BOTH of these events culminate in the Day of the Lord? Compare Joel 3:14 with Rev. 14:19,20. Doesn't the fact that blood will rise "unto the horse bridles" indicate that there must be a VALLEY?

COMMENT: Notice that the "blood came out of the winepress ... BY THE SPACE OF A THOUSAND AND SIX HUNDRED FURLONGS." A furlong is equal to 600 feet (Peloubet's Bible Dictionary). Then 1600 furlongs is over 180 miles! The bloody remains of the rebellious soldiers will fill Palestine's world-famous valley all the way from Megiddo southward, passing right by Jerusalem and extending over 110 miles farther south into the land of ancient Edom. Compare this with Isa. 63:1-6 where Christ is described as executing His wrath in the land of Edom.

The Wages of War

1. Compare verse 13 of Joel 3 with verse 19 of Revelation 14. Are the events described in each of these references a HARVEST?

Note that the term "WINEPRESS" is used in one of these verses and the similar term "press" is used in the other. Note also that the JUDGMENT in both references is in the nature of a harvest in which grapes [rebellious people] of Christ's WRATH are pressed out. The juice represents BLOOD.

2. The VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT is a deep ravine having very steep sides, and borders the city of JERUSALEM on the east. Will the harvest of Rev. 14:20 also be JUST OUTSIDE A CITY?

3. WHO will conduct this harvest for God? Rev. 14:14. Who is the "Son of Man"? Dan. 7:13-14.

4. WHAT WILL HE DO when He comes? Open to Rev. 19:11. Will He not also JUDGE at the Valley of Jehoshaphat? Will He come with ARMIES? Verse 14. Will the people of the earth FIGHT against Him? Verse 19. Will not He, with armies, "tread THE WINEPRESS of the fierceness and WRATH OF Almighty GOD"? Verse 15.

Compare this phrase with the phrases in Rev. 14:19 and Joel 3:13. Isn't it clear that the fight which will occur in the VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT WILL BE THE TREMENDOUS CLIMACTIC BATTLE OF THE WAR? The main clash will occur around Jerusalem which borders this valley.

5. Read also Psalm 2. Note verse 8. Will there not also HEATHEN at the Valley of Jehoshaphat? Joel 3:12. Compare the "ROD OF IRON" of Psalm 2:9, with which CHRIST BREAKS THEM, with this same rod with which He will rule the nations, in Rev. 19:15. Doesn't this term include armies? WILL IT BE NECESSARY FOR CHRIST, THROUGH HIS ARMIES, WHO "TREAD THE WINEPRESS OF THE FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD" AT THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT, TO STANCH THE BLOODSHED AT THE WORLD'S GREATEST BATTLE?

6. WHY will the nations fight Christ? Psalm 2:2-3. WILL THEY WANT HIS TYPE OF GOVERNMENT? Will CHRIST WIN? Verse 9. Note the word "break."

7. The Valley of Jehoshaphat borders JERUSALEM. Will Christ take Jerusalem also, in this battle? Zech. 14:3. Does Zech. 14:2 show that one-half of Jerusalem will have been taken by the nations of the earth before Christ liberates it in this battle?

COMMENT: It can now be seen WHY the world's greatest battle will be fought at the Valley of Jehoshaphat and not at Armageddon: THE BATTLE IS FOR CONTROL OF THE WORLD. JERUSALEM, THE FUTURE WORLD'S CAPITAL, WILL BE THE PRIZE sought.

The "Field of Megiddo" is a FLAT area located on the south side of the Plain of Esdraelon. It lies about seventy miles north and west of Jerusalem and furnishes a natural GATHERING PLACE because of the FLATNESS of the land. In ancient times, it was a part of the main highway between Asia and Africa. From this natural gathering place the world's armies will go southward for the big battle against Christ.

8. Who will AID CHRIST in His battle in the "day of the Lord"? Zech. 14:5,14, and II Thes. 1:7-10. Notice Jer. 25:30-33: Christ will "tread the grapes" WHEREVER THERE IS REBELLION! What happens to those who oppose Christ in the battle for Jerusalem? Zech. 14:12-13. Christ will be successful.

9. What soon follows, the SEVENTH VIAL? Rev. 16:17-21.

Christ's Victory Brings Peace

1. The RESULTS OF THE BATTLE AT THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT ARE DESCRIBED IN MANY PLACES BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPORTANCE. What has Christ said He will make of JERUSALEM and Mt. Zion when He returns? Zech. 8:3.

COMMENT: JERUSALEM has been chosen by God to be the world's capital -- to have the greatest influence of any city on the destiny of mankind. JERUSALEM is at the CENTER OF THE LAND SURFACE OF THE EARTH. IT IS THE IDEAL FOCAL POINT FOR WORLD CONTROL. ITS VERY NAME MEANS CITY OF PEACE.

HERE WE SEE CHRIST, the "PRINCE OF PEACE" (Isa. 9:6) TAKING THE CITY OF PEACE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING IT THE CAPITAL OF THE EARTH (Jer. 3:17). FROM ITS TEMPLE ON MOUNT ZION, GOD'S LAWS WILL GO FORTH BRINGING PEACE TO THE EARTH! (Isa. 2:2)

Punishment of War Criminals

1. What will happen to the MILITARY LEADER of those nations who will oppose Christ? Rev. 19:19-20.

COMMENT: This describes the same LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE into which the beast -- the military leader -- will be cast alive.

2. The "beast" mentioned here is the MILITARY LEADER OF THE EARTH who receives military backing from ten fascist dictators and fights Christ at the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Rev. 17:12-14.

The Bible uses the expression "ten kings." These will be ten fascist dictators WHO ARE ARISING IN EUROPE. In Bible times the term "king" was often used to represent a ruler whom we would call a tyrant or dictator today. Doesn't verse 14 also verify this MILITARY LEADER WILL BE OVERCOME?

3. Now notice something else about this MILITARY leader. He will maintain a very unusual establishment. Read Daniel 11:45. Observe that this same man is here again identified as a MILITARY leader ("he shall go forth with great fury to DESTROY, and utterly to make away many" -- verse 44). He will MAINTAIN A PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP -- A TABERNACLE! Verse 45. In Bible language the word "tabernacle" designates a place of worship. Why will he maintain a tabernacle? He will do this for the purpose of gaining the SUPPORT of misguided religious people for the conduct of his MILITARY VENTURES.

4. Will the FALSE PROPHET, who will be the head of this tabernacle, meet the SAME FATE as that of the beast, his military cohort? Rev. 19:20, also Rev. 14:9-11. Does yet another prophecy verify his fate? II Thes. 2:8.

5. When Christ conquers these ten kings, will He begin to fulfill the prophecy that, in the days of these kings (represented by 10 toes), He would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed? Dan. 2:42-44.

COMMENT: Although God will GIVE the kingdoms of this world to Christ to rule when the seventh trumpet is blown, they WILL NOT ACTUALLY BE HIS UNTIL AFTER HE OVERCOMES THEM. Compare Rev. 11:15 with Rev. 17:14.

Human Civilization Overthrown Christ Will Establish New Order

The united armies of fascist Europe will now have been conquered and an enormous death toll will have been taken of ALL peoples. Many CITIES of this world's civilization -- "BABYLON THE GREAT" -- the PAGAN world in which we live, will still be standing, however. Also the "GREAT CITY" (Rev. 16:19), which has furthered this MAN-MADE system since the days of the Roman Empire, will still remain.

1. Will God leave these cities standing and erect His new order AROUND THEM? Or will most BUILDINGS OF THIS WORLD'S SYSTEM BE LEVELED TO MAKE WAY FOR CHRIST'S NEW WORLD ORDER? Rev. 16:19-21.

What two physical forces will He use to accomplish it? THIS GREAT HAIL AND EARTHQUAKE LEVEL MOST MAN-MADE STRUCTURES OF THE WORLD! THIS IS THE SEVENTH VIAL!

2. The last four of the seven plagues will have a terrible effect; but with all this, will carnal people learn to FEAR God? Rev. 16:21. Will they learn at long last that a better system is on the way?

Or will humans STILL WANT TO CLING TO THE OLD? Rev. 18:9,11,17-19. Of what does this vile system which people will still long for even after God has destroyed it consist? Rev. 18:2-3,13,23-24.

3. Was this Lot's attitude when he departed from the VILE CITY of Sodom? Did he want to LINGER? LOOK BEHIND? STAY NEAR? And was it for this attitude that his wife DIED? Gen. 19:16, 17,20,26.

4. What does God, who knows there are BETTER things ahead, command His people to do about the coming fall of today's civilization -- MODERN Babylon the Great? Rev. 18:20, DOESN'T MAN'S DESIRE TO CLING TO THE PRESENT CIVILIZATION SHOW THAT IT WILL TAKE TIME AND EFFORT ON THE PART OF CHRIST, THE SAINTS, AND THE ANGELS TO RE-EDUCATE PEOPLE IN THE NEW ERA? THEY WILL HAVE TO LEARN GRADUALLY THAT GOD'S WAY IS BEST.

Strong fascist resistance to Christ's presence will have been overcome. The fascist world's great religious leader and its great military leader will have been destroyed. Great numbers of the incorrigible wicked will have been killed. Huge hailstones and the world's greatest earthquake will have leveled human habitations.

Jerusalem -- Future Model City

1. How WILL CHRIST proceed to ESTABLISH HIS KIND OF GOVERNMENT, which will maintain WORLD ORDER? Will He build a MODEL CITY FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO PATTERN AFTER? What CITY will this be? Isa. 62:1-2. Will all the earth know of it? Verse 7.

2. Will Israel be the MODEL FOR THE EARTH? Jer. 33:9. What two groups will compose this nation? Verse 7. Their re-education under Christ will have what effect on them? Verse 8. Will God's MODEL NATION ultimately be PRAISED BY ALL nations? Zeph. 3:15,20 and Zech. 8:3.

3. Where will this nation have come from? Where will it be located when it ultimately becomes the praise of the earth? Ezek. 34:11,12. (The "sheep" are Israel. Have they been scattered?) Where will they be settled? Verse 13. Will not the model city be located within the bounds of the model nation?

4. Though Christ will have conquered the UNITED opposition of the fascist world, will ALL nations be FRIENDLY to Him and His government? Or will He BEGIN HIS RULE AMONG ENEMIES? Ps. 110:2.

5. How will this remaining opposition be overcome? Haggai 2:22. What will He begin to do with this world's remaining rulers? Psalm 149:8. Will He also PUNISH THE HEATHEN? Verse 7. Who will Christ use to do these things? Verse 5. Read the entire Psalm. Does this sound like the saints will "go to HEAVEN" and do nothing?

6. Will Christ become DISCOURAGED with His task and quit because it WILL TAKE TIME AND PATIENCE? Isa. 42:4. Who is "my servant," mentioned in verse 1 of Isaiah 42? You will find the answer in Mat. 12:18 and Phil. 2:7.

Atheistic Russia and China Attempt Final Coup

Russia will be the GREATEST OF THE "KINGS OF THE EAST" (Rev. 16:12). ONE of her armies will be destroyed at the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:12) along with the UNITED armies of all the fascist European nations gathered against Jerusalem. Remember, modern nations use MANY ARMIES scattered on different battlefields.

1. When Russia sees the wealth of the nation Christ has founded in Palestine -- the "mountains of Israel" -- what will she say? Ezek. 38:11,12. Will Russia have Oriental and African allies? Verses 1-6. Won't it be IN OUR TIMES -- these "latter years"? Verse 8.

2. Will Russia WANT TO TAKE A SPOIL when Christ has just started to make Palestine a rich and habitable land? Ezek. 38:11-12.

COMMENT: Palestine, having been occupied but a short time, will be as yet a LAND OF VILLAGES except for Jerusalem and a few other cities.

3. Would this great ATHEISTIC nation, with her allies, DARE do this if she believed that this city was actually ruled by God's own Son? Does God do this so ATHEISTS and heathen may recognize WHO He is, and may come to really KNOW Him? Ezek. 38:16,23.

4. What must God do to them? Ezek. 38:18-22. Read also Ezek. 39:1-20. This will be the LAST GREAT REBELLION for 1000 years. (One more will occur 1000 years later. Rev. 20:7-9.)

COMMENT: HOW DO WE KNOW IT WILL BE ATHEISTIC, GODLESS RUSSIA AND CHINA which will have the boldness to come against Palestine in which Christ's world capital will then be located?

Notice that GOG comes "out of the north parts" -- NORTH of PALESTINE! Ezek. 38:15.

Who is Gog?

There is a basic KEY to understanding WHAT nations in OUR DAY are referred to when they are mentioned in Bible prophecy. If we understand how to use this key, WE CAN KNOW, IN ADVANCE, EXACTLY WHAT THE NATIONS TODAY -- Russia, Germany, Turkey, the United States, and many others -- WILL DO IN THE TIMES JUST AHEAD OF us! This is VITAL to know in these END TIMES. What is this key?

The KEY is this: NATIONS OF BIBLE TIMES NATURALLY GAVE RISE TO NATIONS OF TODAY. Therefore God in prophecy HAD to use the SAME NAMES WHICH THEY HAD THEN, TO FORETELL WHAT THEIR DESCENDANTS IN OUR TIME WOULD DO!

The descendants of these nations have taken other names in modern times, BUT such a small lapse of time has occurred between the bearing of their former names and their present ones that it is NOT AT ALL DIFFICULT, in most cases, to pick up ancient history books and find what each nation's name -- its BIBLE NAME -- has been!

Thus, knowing a modern nation's BIBLE NAME and knowing the SURENESS of God's prophecy -- knowing what He says WILL happen -- WE CAN KNOW EVERY IMPORTANT FUTURE MOVE OF THE NATIONS AROUND US. We shall now see an example of the use of this PRINCIPLE IN ACTION. THERE WILL BE NO GUESSING. God did not intend that we would have to guess regarding His prophecies, as people today are doing when THEY seek to interpret them!

Notice that it is GOG and MAGOG (Ezek. 38:2) which will come against the nation that Christ's capital will be located in (verse 16). Notice again that GOG AND MAGOG COME "OUT OF THE NORTH PARTS" (Verse 15) -- WHERE RUSSIA, MONGOLIA AND CHINA ARE TODAY.

Can it be shown that Russia is the nation which will come out of the north to invade Palestine? "From the accounts found among the Arabians, Persians, and Syrians," we learn that these three nations used the names "Yajuj and Majuj" (note the similarity in the names Majuj and Magog) to refer to "all less known barbarous people of the Northwest and Northeast of Asia" -- WHERE RUSSIA AND CHINESE MONGOLIA ARE TODAY! (From "McClintock and Strong", article "Magog.")

Notice that MESHECH and TUBAL (verse 2) will be associated with them in this invasion. Can we prove these ancient tribes to be also the ancestors of the Russians of today? Remember, Russia has been formed by the association of a number of great tribes. Professor Sayce says about Meshech and Tubal: "In the Assyrian inscriptions the names appear as TUBLA and MUSKA, and they were known to the classical geographers (Greeks) as Tiberani and Moskhi." After the days of Nebuchadnezzar, the Greeks found them "farther to the north than they had been in the age of the Assyrian monuments ... they were forced to retreat northward towards the Black Sea, and it was in this region of Asia Minor that Xenophon and his Greek troops found their scanty REMAINS." (From "The Races of the Old Testament".) They had migrated NORTH into the land we know as RUSSIA today.

Having CROSSED INTO THE PLAINS OF RUSSIA the people of MESHECH, CALLED MOSKHI by the Greeks, became known as MUSKOVS. From this word "Muskov" the name of the modern city MOSKOW IS DERIVED. The descendants of TUBAL gave their name to the TOBOL RIVER and the city of TOBOLSK in ASIATIC RUSSIA. Thus we have demonstrated by these facts that the nations mentioned in this chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy include the RUSSIANS AND CHINESE OF TODAY! It will be atheistic Russia and her allies who will come against Palestine after Christ has begun to establish Israel in that land as His model nation.

Christ Will Oust Satan

In Hebrews 2:5 we read this: "For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come whereof we speak." In other words, the World Tomorrow -- the Kingdom which Christ will set up on this earth -- will NOT be under subjection to fallen angels -- Satan and his demons. These demons, and the devil who is their head, RULE THIS PRESENT EARTH AND SWAY ITS INHABITANTS.

Christ is coming to change this situation. Man has been allowed for 6000 years to experience the effects of his own rule under the sway of Satan. In the coming millennium, he will for the first time see the effect of God's rule over the earth.

1. Who did Christ ADMIT is THE PRESENT RULER of this world? Mat. 4:8-9. SATAN said to Christ, "All these things [the kingdoms of the world] will I GIVE thee." Did Christ say they were NOT SATAN'S to give?

2. When did CHRIST QUALIFY to become this world's ruler? Mat. 4:9-10. Was it when Christ REFUSED to obey Satan and declared His obedience to God? Then did He give Satan a COMMAND which he obeyed?

3. Notice in Ephesians 2:2 that Satan is called the prince. Has CHRIST QUALIFIED TO BECOME A PRINCE? Acts 5:31. Over whom did John say Christ would become the prince? Rev. 1:5

4. Does Satan know that his rule of this earth is almost up now? Rev. 12:12. When will SATAN BE DISPOSSESSED of his rule and CHRIST assume his position as RULER? Rev. 20:2. Doesn't this follow soon after Christ's victory at the Valley of Jehoshaphat? Isn't this what Daniel referred to? Dan. 7:18.

5. What is another name for Satan? Eph. 2:2. Has he been deceiving the whole earth -- causing nations to war and REBEL against God? Rev. 12:9. AFTER SATAN IS SHUT UP IN THE ABYSS WILL IT BE POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO DECEIVE? Rev. 20:3.

6. How many SUPREME RULERS of the earth will there be after Christ has firmly established His rule? Zech. 14:9.

7. Are the DEMONS -- wicked angel-followers of Satan, who have an unclean spiritual attitude -- to be RESTRAINED also? Zech. 13:2.

Man's Only Hope!

CHRIST MUST COME with GREAT POWER AND GLORY. He MUST SUPERNATURALLY intervene in the affairs of this world! Nothing less than supernatural force can stop the tide of human self- destruction that is sweeping this earth! MANKIND CAN'T stop it!

Only God has the POWER to dispose of Satan who has deceived the inhabitants of the earth all these centuries, who has caused them to violate God's laws unknowingly, or has caused sin to appear so attractive that they were overcome by it. Only GOD has power or authority to overcome evil dictators -- religious and military -- who are now rising up, and who, inspired by Satan, are planning to bring the earth under THEIR rule regardless of the cost in human lives. ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE HUMAN NATURE.

ONLY GOD has THE WISDOM to administer the TERRIBLE PUNISHMENTS which will FALL VERY SOON. ONLY HE has the Divine wisdom. He alone knows how to administer justice.

Jesus will START A BETTER CIVILIZATION under a BETTER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. All of this is NOT SOME IDLE PIPE DREAM. It is the gospel -- the Good News Jesus Himself brought!

YOU HAVE JUST FINISHED READING IT IN YOUR OWN BIBLE! YOUR OWN BIBLE HAS JUST PROVED IT TO YOU! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

No wonder NOW is NOT the ONLY time of salvation. God says to the people of this nation, "In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and in "A" day (not "THE day") of salvation have I helped thee ... to ESTABLISH the earth, to cause to inherit the DESOLATE heritages" (Isaiah 49:8). THE EARTH WILL SOON BE NEARLY DESOLATE due to man's sins. AFTER THIS, THE NEW ORDER WILL BE ESTABLISHED. It is AFTER this that HE WILL REALLY START TO BRING PEOPLE UNDER HIS RULE AND SAVE THEM!