Expounding the More Perfect Way….Jesus Christ and Him Crucified Acts 18:24-28

The Antichrist

In fact, the Antichrist will burst upon the scene in a way that will give him recognition all over the world, and instantly. He will be able to do what the brightest minds in America, were never able to bring about—a viable peace treaty between the Palestinians, the Muslim world, and Israel. In fact, this treaty will last for three and one half years, and will be broken by the Antichrist himself. It was originally scheduled for seven years. Daniel the Prophet foretold of this time. He said:

And he (the Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (a week of years—seven): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (The phrase, ‘And he shall confirm,’ refers to the Antichrist.

“ ‘And in the midst of the week’ ” refers to three and one half years, at which time the Antichrist will show his true colors and stop the Sacrifices in the newly-built Temple. At that time, he will actually invade Israel with her suffering her first defeat since her formation as a Nation in 1948.

“The phrase, ‘Even until the consummation,’ means until the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation.

“ ‘And that determined shall be poured upon the desolate,’ refers to all the Prophecies being fulfilled regarding the great suffering that Israel will go through the last three and one half years of the Great Tribulation [Mat. 24:21–22])” (Dan. 9:27).

Upon signing this seven-year peace treaty with Israel, and doing, as stated, what no one else had been able to do, the whole world will acclaim the wisdom, ingenuity, and ability of this man. In fact, Israel will claim him as their Messiah. So that tells us that he must be a Jew, inasmuch as they would never accept anyone as their Messiah who was a Gentile.

In some way, upon the signing of this agreement, he will be able to placate the Muslims and the Jews, in fact, guaranteeing Israel’s safety and protection for those seven years and, as well, making it possible for the Jews to build their Temple.

With his ability to bring about this peace treaty, the whole world in a sense will be at his feet. Every Television Station in the world, along with newspapers, periodicals, etc., will declare his ingenuity and statesmanship. As stated, Israel will acclaim him as their Messiah, the one for whom they have long waited.

For about three and one half years things will go well, with Israel, it seems, prospering, despite the fact, that great war clouds are gathering all over the world. Concerning this, the Apostle Paul said:

For when they shall say, peace and safety (refers to Israel, but will, as well, characterize the world; it pertains to the Antichrist signing the seven-year pact with Israel and other nations [Dan. 9:27]); then sudden destruction comes upon them (at the mid-point of the seven-year period, the Antichrist will break his pact, actually invading Israel [Rev. 12:1–6]), as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (The Great Tribulation is definitely coming upon this world [Mat. 24:21])” (I Thess. 5:3).

Considering that the Antichrist will be able to broker this peace treaty, it seems that the U.S.A. will at the time abdicate her responsibility regarding Israel. In other words, Israel’s protector will now be the man of sin, as defined by the Apostle Paul (II Thess. 2:3). Now, the scepter of power is in the hands of the Antichrist, where it will remain until the time of the Second Coming.

If it is to be noted, at the present time (2007), the U.S.A. is showing signs of weariness regarding Israel. In fact, at this time, America is the only friend that Israel has in the world. Although there is no indication that America will abdicate her position as Israel’s protectorate, and despite the Muslims, still, when the Antichrist comes upon the scene, which he shortly will do so, this nation will gladly pass the baton to him, so to speak, which he will gladly accept.

But in the meantime, the prosperity and blessing of this nation by Almighty God is dependant on many things, but most of all our protection of Israel. We must never forget that.

Why?

• We have been appointed by the Lord for this position for such a time as this. Concerning Israel, the Lord plainly said: “I will bless them who bless you, and curse him who curses you: and in you shall all families of the Earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). So, our Blessings depend upon our proper protection of Israel.

• Israel is to be restored as the Priestly Nation of the world, which will take place immediately after the Second Coming (Isa. 11:11–12; 14:1; Jer. 23:3–8).

• Israel is predicted by the Holy Spirit, at least those who are alive at the time of the Second Coming, to accept Christ as their Messiah, and their Saviour and Lord. Concerning this the Scripture says: “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the House of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. (The phrase, ‘In that day’ occurs 18 times from Zech. 9:16 through Zech. 14:21. This shows how precious ‘that day’ is to the Messiah’s Heart. In that day, His Victory over the enemies of His People will be great, but greater will be His moral Victory over His People themselves.

“The Christian’s true triumphs are God’s triumphs over him, and God’s triumphs over His People are our only victories. Such was Jacob of old, who represented Israel in that coming Glad Day. The conversion of the Apostle Paul illustrates the future conversion of Israel. He hated Jesus, but on the Damascus Road, he looked upon Him Whom he had pierced, mourned, and wept.

“ ‘In that day that day there shall be a fountain opened,’ does not mean that it is first opened there, but that Israel will only begin to partake of it ‘in that day’ i.e., ‘the beginning of the Kingdom Age.’ This fountain was historically opened at Calvary, but will be consciously opened to repentant Jews in the future day of her Repentance. For the fact and function of that fountain only becomes conscious to the awakened sinner.

“A true sense of sin and guilt in relationship to God awakens the sense of the need of cleansing, and so the shed and cleansing Blood of the Lamb of God becomes precious to convicted conscience. As well, the ever-living efficacy of Christ’s Atoning Work, with its power to cleanse the conscience and the life, is justly comparable to a fountain and not to a font. The sense of the Hebrew Text is that this Fountain shall be opened and shall remain open.

“ ‘To the House of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness,’ portrays the possibility that, of all sinners, the Jerusalem sinners may be accounted the greatest. It was Jerusalem that stoned the Prophets and crucified the Messiah; therefore, great sinners may hope for pardon and cleansing in this Fountain opened for the House of David.

“The entrance of Christ judges sin, unmasks its true character, and arouses a moral consciousness, which approves that judgment. That entrance dominates, adjusts, disciplines, instructs, and cleanses man’s affections, relationships, and desires. All of this must be cleansed, not only in Israel of a future day, but also in any and all who come to Christ. That Fountain is open to all!)” (Zech. 13:1).

Regarding this, the Apostle Paul also said, “For I would not, Brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery (what has happened to Israel), lest you should be wise in your own conceits (the Gentiles were not pulled in because of any merit or righteousness on their part, but strictly because of the Grace of God); that blindness in part is happened to Israel (is the ‘mystery’ of which Paul speaks), until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (refers to the Church; in fact, the Church Age is even now coming to a close).

And so all Israel shall be Saved (when the Church Age ends, and the Second Coming commences; then Israel will accept Christ and be Saved): as it is written (Isa. 27:9; 59:20–21), There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer (Jesus Christ will be the Deliverer), and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Christ will deliver Israel from the Antichrist, and more importantly will deliver them from their sins):

For this is My Covenant unto them (a Promise), when I shall take away their sins (as stated, it will be done at the Second Coming [Zech. 13:1])” (Rom. 11:25–27).

~J. Swaggart

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2012-2024