When They Say Peace And Safety…

Biblical prophets have warned that this false peace will usher in the Great Tribulation after Christ takes His church to heaven in the “rapture,” and seven years later it will culminate in the most destructive war in earth’s history – Armageddon. In somber revelation the apostle Paul declares: On the one hand it seems incomprehensible that international peace at last attained should be the prelude to disaster. Yet it could not be otherwise, because the world’s leaders pursue their negotiations among themselves in utter disregard for the essential role that must be played by the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. If mankind could by its own efforts establish a just and lasting peace, it would prove that the Bible – which declares that true peace can only come through Jesus Christ reigning upon earth – is not true. Therefore, such humanistic attempts are doomed. When the Earth cries "PEACE" and "SAFETY" then SUDDEN DESTRUCTION will come upon them! Neighbor, we're close to that time.

TEXT: 1 Thes. 5:3 - For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

        A just and lasting peace has been the universal longing of mankind since the dawn of history. Worldwide peace, the end of war for all time! Nothing seems more desirable et less attainable. In all of man’s technological advances and increased education we have yet to find a formula for global peace. The nations of the world will actually establish an unprecedented international peace and probably fairly soon as we race toward the advent of the rapture, the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ. Of this we are certain because it has been foretold in Scripture that it would occur in the last of the “last days.”

        That time of peace is mentioned, however, not with joy but with sorrow, for the prophets declared that it would precede a holocaust on a global basis that would threaten the survival of all life on this planet. Why? The answer to that question actually comprises the entire subject matter of the Bible, which in fact promises the coming of TWO periods of global peace: the first to be realized under the Antichrist, and the second to be established by the return of the REAL Christ – the Lord Jesus in power and glory to this planet where He was so cruelly rejected and crucified.

        Earth’s war-weary inhabitants will greet the first period of peace ecstatically, convinced that the new “age” has dawned. And for a time it will appear that the world’s economic, social, and ecological problems have been solved. It will, however, be a great delusion. It will actually be one of the greatest delusions this world has ever known.

        Biblical prophets have warned that this false peace will usher in the Great Tribulation after Christ takes His church to heaven in the “rapture,” and seven years later it will culminate in the most destructive war in earth’s history – Armageddon. In somber revelation the apostle Paul declares:

1 Thes. 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

        On the one hand it seems incomprehensible that international peace at last attained should be the prelude to disaster. Yet it could not be otherwise, because the world’s leaders pursue their negotiations among themselves in utter disregard for the essential role that must be played by the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. If mankind could by its own efforts establish a just and lasting peace, it would prove that the Bible – which declares that true peace can only come through Jesus Christ reigning upon earth – is not true. Therefore, such humanistic attempts are doomed.

        This doesn’t mean that world leaders should abandon all attempts to achieve peaceful relations with each other. But efforts outside a sinful world repenting before a holy God for violating His holy laws, to receive Jesus Christ as the Savior who has died for the sins of the world, and then to ask Him to come back to this earth to reign.

        It may be objected that a Christian President of the United State would be ridiculed if he earnestly presented such a message to the United Nations! But speaking the truth in love is one of this nation’s few hopes for revival! One reason the liberal left and even some so-called Christians dislike President Bush is because he has not bought into the world “vision” of Globalism that the UN has. This global view takes God completely out of the equation and puts man solely in the forefront of the control and destiny of Planet Earth.

        Man cannot bring peace to a sinful planet. Until man has repented of his sin and been reconciled to God there can be no genuine peace on earth! The angels announced the birth of Christ with those words, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth PEACE, good will toward men.” The Prince of Peace had come through whom God’s kingdom of peace would be established. There is no other way.

Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Isaiah 57:21
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

        Some believe educating the masses to rely on their inner “good” will bring peace to this world. It won’t. That is the problem with the Purpose Driven Life message. It seeks to tap into man’s reservoir of “goodness,” and “god” as the source of finding each one’s own potential to bring about “good” on planet earth. Neighbor, man’s “goodness,” cannot deliver this planet from the evil that envelopes it! If man’s goodness could bring peace then Christ died in vain! Our goodness is never “good” enough. Our “knowledge,” is never enough!

        It was actually the dichotomy of the first temptation of the serpent to our first parents Adam and Eve. The Lord took great strides in stressing that in the day they partook of the tree of “KNOWLEDGE,” of “GOOD,” and “EVIL,” they would die. Even since man partook of this tree man’s quest for godhood in a sinful state has never stopped. Sadly, man’s search will lead him to embracing the ultimate source of all three – the Antichrist. Education in itself is not the answer. Knowledge coming from a wicked, perverted heart only breeds more evil! Man’s fall caused man to become so distorted that our thinking has become so evil that words cannot describe the depths of depravity fallen humanity reaches without Christ.

        Just last week Rick Warren laid out his "global peace plan," to tens of thousands gathered in a southern California stadium. He boasted of thousands making a confession of faith. (FAITH IN WHAT?)

We have added a box with an article written by an evangelical religion writer who boasted the speech was something that the entire world needed to hear.

Sunday, April 17, 2005
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

RICK WARREN HITS HOME RUN WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF GLOBAL PEACE PLAN TO BATTLE THE GIANTS OF OUR WORLD

Speaking before 30,000 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, he said he believes it will herald in a new worldwide spiritual awakening in the 21st century. <We are not against a spiritual awakening, but the awakening Warren is pushing is not an awakening drawing people to Christ, but to "purpose," and man-made philosophies and doctrines>

ANAHEIM, CA (ANS) -- Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book, “The Purpose Driven Life” and founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, hit a home run with a dramatic announcement on Sunday, April 17, before 30,000 members and attendees at the church’s 25th anniversary celebration in Angel Stadium, home of the Angels baseball team. (Pictured: Rick Warren speaking at Angel Stadium).

Warren -– who is featured in the current “Time 100” cover story listing of most influential individuals for 2005 -- unveiled the church’s commitment to a new reformation in Christianity and vision for a worldwide spiritual awakening in the 21st Century through the PEACE Plan that he believes will mobilize one billion foot soldiers from the Christian church in missions by the year 2020.

PURPLE HAZE

        But before he made the announcement, he decided to have some fun and surprised the audience when he said, “I’ve always wanted to do in this stadium.” He then sang an impersonation of Jimi Hendrix’s hit song, Purple Haze. As the audience erupted into laughter, the church band joined in playing back up to it. (Pictured: Part of 30,000 crowd at Angel Stadium). < I won't take a cheap shot on this one - but this should give at least pause to ask the question what the man's focus is - the WORLD or CHRIST?>

        With that out of the way, Pastor Warren then settled down and thanked the thousands of ministry volunteers for their commitment over the years and then asked them to come onto the field. After they had received rapturous applause, he then said that the focus of the day’s celebration would be on the future, not the past.

        "My hope is for a new reformation in the Church and a new spiritual awakening throughout the world," Pastor Warren said. "But it will happen through ordinary people in small groups across the country and around the world."<I thought the HOLY SPIRIT is the ONE who births reformation and renewal??? According to Mr. Warren I guess not - it's small cell groups>

BATTLING THE GIANTS

        He then went on to unveil and outline the PEACE Plan, his aggressive and progressive vision to mobilize the American church to help churches in the developing world take on problems so big that no government - not even the United Nations -- can tackle what he called “these giants” alone. <See our article: The Gospel Of Self-Esteem>

        "Our goal will be to enlist 'one billion foot soldiers for the Kingdom of God,' who will permanently change the face of international missions to take on these five "global giants" for which the church can become the ultimate distribution and change agent to overcome Spiritual Emptiness, Self-serving Leadership, Poverty, Disease and ignorance (or illiteracy)," he said.

        Warren further explained that through the PEACE plan, small groups from hundreds of thousands of churches will attack these giants, armed with "five smooth stones" of (P) - Planting Churches, (E) - Equipping Leaders, (A) - Assisting the Poor, (G) - Caring for the Sick and (E) - Educating the Next Generation. <THESE FIVE STONES ARE given to small groups of MEN; His outlook for world peace has nothing to do with the proclaming of CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED! It's a humanistic effort to bring in world peace!!!!! Friend, these cell groups can't conquer their own giants, how they conquer the world's? It must be CHRIST-CENTERED, not man!>

        The special Sunday afternoon service celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Saddleback Church and the founding of the Purpose Driven Movement, which has transformed millions of lives through tens of thousands of churches in 150 countries. The church has grown to 20,000 members since the humble beginnings of the ministry with seven people meeting in Pastor Rick and Kay Warren’s apartment in 1980.

        Since the Purpose Driven Movement began, millions of lives have been transformed through tens of thousands of churches in 150 countries. Over 350,000 pastors and leaders in 120 countries have been trained in Purpose Driven Seminars, and over 20,000 churches in 28 countries have completed 40 Days of Purpose.

<IN those last three paragraphs, please let me know how many times CHRIST received glory for transforming lives?>

COURTHOUSE SHOOTING

Following its publication in 2002, "The Purpose Driven Life" went on to become the best selling book for 2003 and 2004, and the best-selling non-fiction hardback in history, with sales of more than 22 million copies. Pastor Warren and his wife, Kay, have set up three foundations to distribute 90 percent of the proceeds from the book back into global ministry, including assistance to individuals in developing countries who have been infected and affected by AIDS.

It was during a ministry trip to Rwanda that Rick and Kay Warren took, that the news broke of the role the message of "The Purpose Driven Life" had played in the manhunt following the March 11 courthouse shooting in Atlanta. Extensive broadcast and print news reports revealed that hostage Ashley Smith was able to gain strength and courage -- and eventually freedom from her captor, alleged gunman Brian Nichols -- after reading to him from Chapter 33 of the book entitled, "How Real Servants Act."

FIRST TIME SUCH A HUGE GATHERING FOR THE CHURCH

For the first time in more than 20 years, the 30,000 members and regular attendees of Saddleback Church convened in one location, joined by Christian leaders and other guests from around the world, including Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, who gave a message of support from his African nation.

Other program participants included Chuck Colson from Prison Fellowship and A. Larry Ross, who has been Billy Graham’s press officer for 22 years. Ross read a special message of support from Mr. Graham. Also participating was Gaddi Vasquez, Director of the Peace Corps who read a message of support from President George W. Bush. (Pictured: Rick and Kay Warren and Chuck Colson at 25th anniversary event).

Musical guests included musical guests Michael W. Smith, Michael Tait and Salvador.

For Prison Fellowship founder, Chuck Colson, he said he was delighted to be back in Orange County, California, the home of Richard Nixon.

In an interview with ANS, Colson said, “I have been here before to visit the Richard Nixon Library and, of course, I was also here many times with the President. I always get happy memories of those years; happy in the sense that even though the Nixon Administration collapsed and I went to prison, it was a great era in my life and a great experience working for Richard Nixon and it was all a result of going to prison that I have been able to do more in the last 30 years of my life than I was ever able to do before. So I am grateful for all the memories.”

COLSON SAYS THAT RICHARD NIXON WOULD HAVE LOVED THE PEACE PLAN

        When asked if he thought that Nixon would support Warren’s PEACE Plan, Colson replied, “I think he would love this. The whole idea that people taking the initiative to rebuild communities and do the good work in the community was something very close to Nixon’s heart. It’s also very close to George Bush’s heart. I’ve gotten to know President Bush quite well and this is the kind of thing that he really just loves to see happen; people getting out to do the things that are needed and not waiting for the government to do it.

        “I am endorsing the PEACE Plan because I have huge admiration for Rick Warren. I think it he one of the great men of our age and he has the vision and capacity to bring into being the kind of things that I have worked my soul for this last 30 years. My great passion has been to get the Church out of the sanctuary and into the mainstream of life. That’s what we do. We have 50,000 volunteers and they are working in the prison and along comes Rick Warren.

        “In the last six months, Rick and I have spent a lot of time talking with one another. We have the same vision, but he’s got a bigger one and a great capacity to pull it off and we are going to work together and we are going to give him whatever expertise that we have and we are teach worldview to people through his churches and it the fulfillment of my life’s dream.”

BAPTISMS AT THE STADIUM

        A unique event at the celebration was the baptisms that took place in a large heated pool that was set up outside two of the gates for people to be baptized.

Unlike a typical church gathering, before the event the parking lot was filled with tailgate parties, a children's music concert, a motorcycle jumping exhibition and a jazz band. And inside the stadium, contemporary worship music, "on the spot" live interviews, and video clips entertained the congregants before the start of the program. (Pictured: Logo for 25th anniversary).

Saddleback Church was started 25 years ago on Easter Sunday. To mark this milestone, Pastor Warren preached his signature "Purpose Driven Life" message on which the church has been built, during 12 Easter services. More than 30,000 attended -- up 6,000 from last year -- of which over 4,000 made faith commitments, a 100 percent increase in response over a year ago.

Unless you have your head in the sand and refuse to see the truth for yourselves, it is impossible to read this above statement and see that CHRIST is never mentioned in this article extolling Warren's plan! There can be no peace outside CHRIST and the transforming power of the cross!

        Others suggest that we must persuade everyone, for their own benefit and the survival of mankind, to follow the prefect example set by Jesus. Still others suggest that we must somehow convince world leaders of the futility of aggression. Still others are convinced that the message of the “universal Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man” will respect for each other’s rights and allow us to live together in peace. Yet all of the above have been tried repeatedly and failed.

        The Bible is very clear. Peter explained to the first Gentile converts after Christ’s resurrection that PEACE was to be PREACHED through Jesus Christ. This is a radical thought to most of today’s Christians. What pastor or evangelist on radio or television is preaching PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST? Paul declared that this peace was both “to you which were afar off (GENTILES) and to them that were near (JEWS) and that this peace was only possible through Christ having died for the sins of the world.

        To put in more in layman terms – PEACE COMES THROUGH THE CROSS and what Christ accomplished there through His death, burial and resurrection. It does not come through purpose driven seminars!

Ephes. 2:17
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Acts 10:36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

See what Paul said to the Colossians:

Col. 1:20-22
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. [21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled [22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

2 Cor. 5:18, 19
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

        God has made peace with man AND THE WORLD only through the blood of the CROSS OF CHRIST! It is through the cross that sinful man has been reconciled to a Holy God. This is the message of the gospel. Yet the gospel that is being preached today takes the reconciliation of sinful man out of the equation for world peace and substitutes repentance and godliness for a New Age based theology of enlightenment, inner self, inner deity and the like. Sounds a lot like the theology of a popular book on the shelves of every major book store in America. Man's efforts to bring peace is to feed the hungry, educate the masses, and the like. Warren's formula is: (P) - Planting Churches, (E) - Equipping Leaders, (A) - Assisting the Poor, (G) - Caring for the Sick and (E) - Educating the Next Generation. Are these things wrong in themselves? Or course not. Any human being who has any type conscience would not applaud these things and say these things are "good" things. But these things will not bring in a lasting global peace. The Bible says that the world is about to experience something far beyond anything any theology can stop -the rise of the man of sin and the shedding of blood and warfare never known in human history - EVER!

Matthew 24:13-15
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

        The church of the living God needs to present the GOSPEL as the ONLY remedy for personal sin and procurement of an eternal home in heaven. This is neglected in most preaching today as the God’s means of bringing peace to a sinful planet, as did the angels at the birth of Christ and as did the early church. It is the duty of every Christian political leader, whether president, ambassador, or other official, to make very clear to the entire world that all human efforts to achieve peace are in vain unless Jesus Christ is invited back to this earth to reign in individual hearts and over all nations!

        He is called the “GOD OF PEACE” five times in the New Covenant. That tells us that God has a peace plan for planet earth – a plan that is set aside in the world community today in the every act of trying to establish a humanistic peace. Sadly, the church has bought into the world’s plan hook line and sinker. And the world’s plan neighbor will NOT bring peace - even if it's wrapped up in religious jargon and terminology! It will only bring destruction! In fact, the world’s plan will play right into the hands of the coming Antichrist, who is necessarily embraced when the true Prince of Peace is left out of human plans.

        Indicting Israel’s leaders for their hardness of heart, Christ explained the consequences of rejecting HIM as Israel’s Messiah – a rejection in which the entire world would one day join:

John 5:43
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Of that impostor, the Antichrist, the prophet Daniel warned, “by PEACE he shall destroy many.”

Daniel 8:25
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

        Ever since the fall of Communism a global peace movement has caught fire among many in the world community including many religious leaders. The fall of the Berlin Wall marks a giant step toward the first deceptive time of peace which the prophets had in mind.

        Events that were considered impossible through “peace” came about right before our eyes. Inexplicably the Iron Curtain between Hungary and Austria was drawn aside, allowing tens of thousands of East Germans to flee to the West. That astonishing event was followed by the dismantling of the Berlin Wall and a delirious floodtide of humanity pouring across it in both directions in joyous reunion.

        Then as it by supernatural command, Eastern Europe’s seemingly invulnerable Communist dictatorships fell in rapid succession like dominoes. They were not brought down from without but from within, not by invading armies but by unarmed citizens marching through the streets in the hundreds of thousands to overwhelm their oppressors by sheer numbers. The only exception was Romania, where it took the army and much bloodshed to dislodge the evil regime.

        ALL OF THIS WITHOUT A SHOT AND WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OF THE SOVIET UNION! It is the feeling of our ministry that a principality was taken down in the heavenlies in 1989 and another replaced it. I personally believe that the principality replacing this one that had controlled most of Europe from 1917-1989 (a period of 70 years, a prophetic number) is the one seen by John in Revelation 17 which will control the Antichrist and events in the world of the man of sin’s domain – the MIDDLE EAST.

        As we have witnessed since 2001 the world’s attention has now shifted from the fear of Communism to a battle with Islam. This battle actually started 10 years earlier in 1991 when the U.S. invaded Iraq in the first Gulf War to get Sadaam Hussein out of Kuwait. Since that time the world’s fixation has been on events in the Middle East, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. These countries are going to be part of the Revised GRECIAN Empire that will be the “seat of the Beast,” during the Great Tribulation. It is the EIGHTH Kingdom spoken of by John and seen as the Prince of Grecia in Daniel’s writings concerning the man of sin and the last days.

Rev. 17:10-18 - And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. [11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. [12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. [14] These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. [

Daniel 10:20 - Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. [21] But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

        The prince of Grecia and the beast seen in Revelation 17 are one and the same. It is the POWER behind Antichrist and how Satan will give him the power to deceive, delude and bring death to the world during his reign. (Notice the prince of Grecia comes AFTER the prince of Persia- Persia speaks of the region known as Iran, Iraq where we are currently involved with military operations as a nation).

        I think it’s safe to say that even after 9-11-2001 that spiritual canopy over the earth changed again and the intensity of the growing hatred of Christians and a deeper cry for world peace became louder. Even when our enemies attacked us there were certain elements in this country clamoring for “peace,” “peace,” instead of the United States taking an active role in confronting terror.

        The exuberant talk of global peace that began in 1991 has taken on a whole new form now that democracies are being planted in formerly Islamic controlled countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.

        It is our feeling that since we are in the last days prior to the rapture the world situation on the short term may actually get better. There may be seasons when the world situation on all fronts may seem to be improving. Increased prosperity will come to countries that have been deadlocked in poverty for decades. The leaders of the world may even seem to patch up differences, easing tensions and forging agreements that would bring new hope and apparent peace to out troubled planet.

        The “coming new age of unprecedented peace and prosperity” is actually just over the horizon. There is a lot more drama to be played out before the man of sin is revealed but suddenly the world’s prospects of peace and thus the rapture of the church and resulting revelation of Antichrist are much closer perhaps than MANY are ready to deal with! The church is asleep at this very moment and in many realms helping produce a spiritual atmosphere that will be most conducive to the rise of Antichrist.

        We do well to remind ourselves that an optimistic confidence that peace was assured characterized Europe just before it exploded into World War II. William Manchester’s gripping biography of Sir Winston Churchill confronts us also with unpleasant and haunting reminders of Hitler – a man who came extremely close to being the Antichrist yet deceived the whole world with his promises of peace:

“Thomas Jones, who had been in and out of Whitehall for a quarter century, wrote in his diary: “all sorts of people who have met Hitler are convinced that he is a factor for peace…<He> does not seek war…<but> friendship.”

        Meeting the press after he had been closeted with Hitler for an hour, Lloyd George said he regarded him as “the greatest living German.” A year later he wrote, “I only wish we had a man of his (speaking of Hitler) supreme quality at the head of affairs in our country today.” Nazi goals were even applauded by Anglican clergymen, a group of whom expressed “boundless admiration for the moral and ethical side of the National Social program, its clear stand for religion and Christianity, and its ethical principles.”

        Sir John Simon, His Majesty’s foreign secretary from 1931 to 1935 saw in Hitler not arrogance but a man “rather retiring and bashful and unconcerned with the affairs in Western Europe.” Later he described him to King George as “an Austrian Joan of Arc with a moustache.” Arnold Toynbee equally spellbound by the Reich chancellor declared that he was “convinced of his sincerity in desiring peace in Europe and close friendship with England.”

        Winston Churchill was not deceived by Hitler, but he stood almost alone in warning the world that the Fuehrer’s real intentions would envelop Europe in war. Looking back with the clear view the future always gives to the past, it seems incredible that the leading figures of the day were so deceived and unanimous in their praise of the irrational demigod who had become Germany’s leader, and in their confidence peace was assured. The deception was dangerously universal in scope. Yet the hero everyone praised was a dangerous demonically controlled leader who plunged the world in its greatest bloodshed of the 20th Century. He had revealed his evil design from the beginning yet the painful truth was overlooked by almost everyone.

Can we honestly look at what the mainstream church is preaching today and say we are not hearing the exact same theology today concerning global peace? The apostate church will always seek to produce peace outside the realm of redemption and righteousness. You can't have peace through humanistic means! I'm all for feeding the hungry, building churches and assisting the poor. God forbid we do any less, but friend if we think that by "doing" those things it will change the EVIL that is in the hearts of those we minister to - we're mistaken and deceived! ONLY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST CAN DESTROY THE EVIL IN MAN'S HEART! Get man's heart right and you will destroy poverty! Get man's heart right with God through Christ and the Cross and you will see an end to apartheid, genocide and war! Get man's heart right through Christ and the Cross and the AIDS virus killing millions will no longer be the greatest global threat ever in the history of man. AIDS is the result of SIN, not the result of poor teaching and education! I know that sounds mean to some and in this politically correct atmosphere of the 21rst Century I probably sound like an old relic or worse.

But JESUS CHRIST is the only one who can set the captive free. HE IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE who can change man's heart and in changing man's heart change society as we know it today! The Bible says that such deception and delusion will sweep the Earth prior to Rapture that man will seek to bring peace to the Earth Himself, embrace a false Messiah and enter into a pact with Satan himself. As we stated in our last message (An Echo Warning From A Church Deceived) the Antichrist will have to have the Church's acceptance to make his bid for world domination.

Just pause for one second and think about this. If Mr. Warren is already promoting a global peace plan the church needs to implement and the Antichrist came on the scene promoting the same plan what would the church do with the Antichrist? What if the Antichrist was a political leader, which he will be, and offered those in the church governmental funds to back this plan while at the same time being the devil incarnate and knowing that the end result of this "peace" plan would be total control and domination by Antichrist, the Beast and the False Prophet? It does not take a theological genius to see that there would be a union of the Antichrist and the church and a validation of the man of sin by those who supposedly are the representatives of God on earth. Even though they are apostates, they will have a "FORM OF RELIGION and deny the power of God thereof!"

Former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev said recently: “We see a budding world order in which peaceful co-existence and mutually beneficial cooperation based on goodwill will be universal norms.” Other world leaders are expressing the same confidence. Former President Bush said after 1991’s Gulf War: “We’re beginning a new era. This new era can be full of promise, an age of freedom, a time of peace for all peoples. But if history teaches us anything, it is that we must resist aggression or it will destroy our freedoms. Appeasement does not work.”

It all sounds great and many applaud these statements but friend the Word of God warns us that things are about to explode on Planet Earth. This explosion of war, bloodshed, famine, pestilences and supernatural judgment is not going to bring earth's inhabitants to God, yet it will harden men's hearts, just as God hardened Pharaoh's heart prior to Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage 3,500 years ago. We're in the same season neighbor. It's getting late!

Rev. 16:1-11- And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. [2] And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. [3] And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. [4] And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. [5] And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. [6] For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. [7] And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. [8] And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. [9] And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. [10] And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, [11] And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Rev. 9:1-20-21 -And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: [21] Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

If there was ever a time when we needed to ask God for wisdom and seek to understand what His Word has prophesied for our own day - it is TODAY! Why is this so complicated and hard for people to see? It's in the Bible and takes child like faith to accept. With the flood of all these modern day translations we are seeing an onslaught of Satan's greatest effort to dilute the Word of God and make man think there is a better way than the way of Scripture. THERE IS NOT! There is a way man thinks will lead to life but it always lead to death.

Psalm 14:1-7
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. [2] The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. [3] They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [4] Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord. [5] There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. [6] Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge. [7] Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Psalm 7:11
God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Psalm 11:3
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Some will never come to the truth even though they are always learning and learning. I don't want to "learn" and "learn" and be deceived. I'd rather sit at the feet of Jesus and hear what His Spirit is saying to our hearts and to the church in these last days. We MUST hear the Spirit of God in this hour. It's imperative we not get carried away with vain deceit and empty philosophy of man-made doctrines! But carried away with these doctrines so many people are! And the numbers will only grow higher.

I pray you know the Prince of Peace neighbor. If your life is raging right now with turmoil and trouble, there is ONE whose name is JESUS who has died for you and came to bring peace to your troubled heart. He loves you today. He wants to fellowship with you and bring peace to the rooms of your heart. He wants to LIVE inside you and break the powers of darkness over you! His BLOOD did this at Calvary 2,000 years ago and the Holy Spirit wants to always be sure He is pointing you TO CHRIST - and HIM CRUCIFIED as the source of all victory, grace and life.

1 Thes. 5:1-3
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. [2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.