The ‘Final’ Deception [v268]

JUNE 2021

There seems to be a ‘spirit’ of DECEPTION in today’s world, and it also seems to be getting worse! Is all of this ‘culminating’ in something?

INTRODUCTION
A few years ago this month (June 6, 2019), we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, which was the most decisive battle of World War II—the day that changed the war, in the war that changed the world.

It was the day of the long-awaited invasion of Northwest Europe by Allied Forces.
Years of planning and ‘DECEPTION’ generated a direct attack on Germany’s “Fortress Europe” which was finally executed on the beaches of Normandy, France.

It was the largest amphibious invasion in all of human history. Over 150,000 soldiers, 6,000 ships and boats, 11,000 airplanes, and 50,000 vehicles crossing the English Channel coming ashore and landing in France in one day. It was also combined with a 1,200-plane airborne assault that preceded an amphibious assault. It essentially was the FINAL ‘EVENT’ that broke the ‘hold’ Germany had on Europe since, less than a year later the war was over—in LARGE PART to the D-Day invasion.

[ VIDEO: “The World War II ‘Ghost Army’” ]

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<<< SUMMARY >>>

The following is a collection of ‘snippets’ from the post that aims to give you the overall ‘jest’ of this post. [ 10-15 Minute Read ].
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WORLD WAR II’s ‘FINAL’ DECEPTION
The elaborate deception and disinformation campaign started many years before the actual invasion. While “Operation Overlord” was the plan for the actual D-Day invasion, its success was in no small part thanks to MANY ‘deceptive’ tactics used previously to that day.

As complex as it was envisioned to be, the Allies needed nearly a year to prepare for the complicated offensive. However, they knew that the entire D-Day mission could be doomed to failure if the Nazis gained even 48 hours of advanced notice on its location and timing, so they launched an elaborate disinformation campaign, codenamed “Operation Bodyguard” (July 14, 1943 – June 6, 1944).

The new name had been chosen based on a comment by Winston Churchill to Joseph Stalin at the Tehran Conference: “In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.”

Operation Bodyguard drew on the experiences that were learned from “Operation Cockade” so the plan was sub-divided into a series of operations. The most complex and arguably most significant of those was “Operation Fortitude,” which consisted of two parts, “North” and “South.” The North aimed at convincing the Germans that the Allied invasion would come via Norway, while the South planned to convince them it was coming via France at the Pas de Calais region—the shortest and most obvious route both across the Channel and to Germany.

The use of German double agents—controlled by the Allies through the Double Cross—was probably the most effective, sending false information to the German intelligence services. B1A (the Counter-Intelligence Division of MI5), had done a good job in intercepting all of the German agents in Britain, and many of them were then recruited as double agents.

The Allies ‘spoon-fed’ reams of faulty information to these Nazi double agents to pass along to Berlin. For instance, a pair of double agents nicknamed “Mutt and Jeff” relayed detailed reports about the fictitious British Fourth Army that was amassing in Scotland with plans to join with the Soviet Union in an invasion of Norway. To further the deception, the Allies fabricated radio ‘chatter’ about cold-weather issues such as ski bindings and the operation of tank engines in subzero temperatures. The ruse worked, as Hitler sent one of his fighting divisions to Scandinavia just weeks before D-Day.

Operation Bodyguard and its components helped keep the Germans guessing. General Omar Bradley called Operation Bodyguard the “single biggest hoax of the war.”

D-DAY
“The combined deception around D-Day was so successful that it continued to work after the attack,” said Dr. Vince Houghton, historian, and curator at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. “It tricked the Germans so deeply that even as the Allies were breaking out from Normandy, Hitler didn’t want to release the troops from Calais because it was assumed Normandy was still just a diversion.”

[ The Allies launched a second invasion from the Mediterranean Sea of southern France (code-named “Operation Dragoon”) on August 15th, and the Liberation of Paris followed on August 25th. German forces retreated east across the Seine on August 30, 1944, marking the close of Operation Overlord ].

BATTLE OF THE BULGE
SO, the combined efforts DID PAY OFF in BIG ‘WAYS’! The Germans continued to believe for SEVERAL WEEKS waiting there for an invasion that never came! HOWEVER, even though, in December 1944, the German military was largely seen as a spent force and it seemed that the Germans were on the verge of defeat, the Germans launched an offensive campaign on the Western Front—using a number of deceptive tactics similar to its “Blitzkrieg” attack against France in the late spring of 1940—that has become known as the “Battle of the Bulge.” (The “bulge” in Battle of the Bulge refers to the shape, as depicted on maps, created by German troops that had wedged westward in the Ardennes through the Allies’ front line.)

After the firebombing of Dresden and other German cities that killed tens of thousands of civilians, the Western Allies crossed the Rhine River and moved eastward toward Berlin. As they closed in on the capital, Allied troops discovered the horror of the Holocaust as they liberated concentration camps such as Bergen-Belsen and Dachau. With both fronts collapsing and defeat inevitable, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker deep below the Reich Chancellery on April 30, 1945. Germany announced their surrender on May 7, 1945.

Even though deception goes back thousands of years—back to Sun Tzu and even the Greeks with the Trojan horse—the extent and depth of the Allied campaign of deceit was unlike anything ever seen in human history!

WHAT IS THE ‘FINAL’ DECEPTION?
Just like the deception the Allied forces used against Germany’s forces to ‘FINALLY’ END World War II, the Bible tells of a ‘THE’ FINAL DECEPTION that will be coming just before the ‘end’—Jesus’ “Second Coming.” Satan is going to ‘indwell’ a man (to ‘counterfeit’ how God indwells the believer).

Dr. Ed Dobson observes, “The Bible also predicts that this chaos will pave the way for the rise of a new world leader who will be able to negotiate world peace and deliver on the promise of security and harmony. This world leader is a person whom most Bible students call the Antichrist.”

[ NOTE: Last month I discussed, in-depth, what ‘deception’ is, examples of it, and what one can do about it. (If you haven’t read it yet, I would suggest you do so to get the ‘foundation’ for this post—there is a quick ‘summary’ located at the top of the post: https://markbesh.wordpress.com/the-ongoing-deception-v267/ ].

THE ANTICHRIST ‘SPIRIT’
Not only will there be a ‘specific’ future person known as the “Antichrist”—who comes to power in the future seven-year tribulation period (2 Thessalonians 2:1-9; Revelation 13)—there is also a ‘SPIRIT’ of the antichrist that is ALREADY ‘AT WORK’ today, promoting heretical and cultic doctrine: “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” [ 1 John 4:2-3 ].

In its broadest sense, the “spirit of the antichrist” is a satanically inspired and energized expression of lawlessness and rebellion against God, the things of God, and the people of God. It s the anti-Christian spirit that works feverishly to oppose, undermine, deny, twist, distort, and reject the truth about Jesus Christ.

So, how does one recognize the ‘spirit’ of the antichrist? Well, these “spirits” John spoke of were not merely disembodied, supernatural beings. John taught that a prophet or teacher was the actual mouthpiece for a spirit. Spiritual doctrines are promulgated through human spokespersons. Teachers of truth are filled with the Spirit of God and thus are agents who speak for God. Teachers of falsehood are spreading the “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Now, the apostle John warned centuries ago that the spirit of Antichrist was already at work back then through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. He added that there are “many antichrists” who “went out from us” because they “did not belong to us” (1 John 2:16-19; 4:1-4).

So, based on the Apostle John’s writings, one can conclude that the spirit of antichrist involves deception (2 John 7), denies that Christ came in the flesh (1 John 4:2-3), denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22), is already in the world (1 John 4:3), was even prevalent in apostolic times (1 John 2:18), and is solely related to false prophets (1 John 4:11).

As I mentioned in last month’s post, “The Ongoing Deception” (https://markbesh.wordpress.com/the-ongoing-deception-v267/) one must “Watch out that no one deceives you… and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people” [ Matthew 24:4,11 ].

‘THE’ ANTICHRIST
As opposed to the many antichrist’s of church history, Scripture reveals that there is a ‘SINGLE’ individual known as the “Antichrist,” who is to come and will come into power during the future tribulation period (see Daniel 8:9-11; 11:31-38; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, and Revelation 13:1-5; 19:20; 20:10).

This individual will be the ‘embodiment’ of all that is anti-God and anti-Christian. He will be the ‘supreme’ anti-christ of human history. More than any other, he will position himself as instead of Christ, against Christ, and opposed to Christ. He will set himself up against Christ and the people of God in the last days before Jesus’ Second Coming.

The real ‘power’ behind him is Satan. The “father of lies” is the perpetrator of the human manifestation of the world’s greatest liar, and will the source of THE lie that will condemn multitudes under divine judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:11).

THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS
The Apostle Paul warned of a man of lawlessness-the antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3,8-9). The Apostle John described this anti-God individual as the beast” (Revelation 13:1-10). This Satan-energized individual will rise to prominence in the tribulation period. He will head up a revived Roman Empire, and will initially enact a peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27). He will then seek to dominate the world, double-cross and seek to destroy the Jews, persecute believers, and set up his own kingdom (Revelation 13). He will speak arrogant and boastful words in glorifying himself (2 Thessalonians 2:4). His character will be one of perpetual self-exaltation.

ANTICHRIST’S PRIMARY ‘AGENDA’
Among the Antichrist’s objectives will be to gain a political platform that will lead to global influence. But his ambition is even deeper than this. He will be the human vessel through which the Devil finally realizes his blasphemous and long-sought wicked desires.

ANTICHRIST’S ‘CHARACTERISTICS’
The Antichrist will aggressively live up to his terrible name. He will be Satan’s ‘superman’ who persecutes, tortures, and kills the people of God, and leads the armies of the world into a climactic battle of Armageddon. He will be the most powerful dictator the world has ever seen, making Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Zedong seem weak and tame by comparison.

SATAN’S ‘SUPERMAN’
So, can the Antichrist do anything he wants? Will he possess ‘unlimited’ power? Well, he will have great power, unlike any person has ever possessed, and yet, even with all these powers, he will still under the sovereign control of God. He will not be able to do anything outside of the boundaries God allows—He alone determines the boundaries and powers of his enemies (Job 42:2; Psalm 115:3; 135:6; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 11:2). Satan and the Antichrist are on a ‘leash’.

HOW WILL THE ANTICHRIST ‘DECEIVE’ THE NATIONS?
The Antichrist’s deception of the world will happen because of several reasons. First, as a result of the Rapture, people will be desperate and panic-stricken, more so than at any time in history. Hysteria and madness will be ‘pandemic’. Like a starving person eating almost anything put before him, these desperate people will be hungry for answers, safety, and hope. The Antichrist’s agenda will be to provide these things to them, making promises he ultimately will not keep.

Secondly, the Bible tells us his persuasive promises will be authenticated by satanic signs and false wonders (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). Satan is a master counterfeiter, possessing the ability to do things that are virtually indistinguishable from actual miracles. He may even have the ability to perform real supernatural deeds during this unique period of history. Scripture uses the same words to describe these satanic signs and wonders as it does to describe those done by Jesus. In the context of the times, people will WANT to believe!

IS THE ANTICHRIST ‘ALIVE’ TODAY?
Many of the prophetic signs of the times seem to be coming to pass in our own day, or at least the stage is BEING ‘SET’ for the fulfillment of some of these signs. Consequently, many believe the Antichrist may just be alive in our world today.

WILL THE ANTICHRIST ‘KNOW’ THAT HE IS IT?
Will the antichrist know that he is antichrist as he is growing up as a child? Hmmm… Well, I don’t know of a single verse in Scripture that even ‘hints’ at this, but based on my general knowledge of biblical prophecy, however, my answer would be “No, I don’t think so.”

‘WHERE’ WILL THE ANTICHRIST COME FROM?
As you can imagine, there has been much speculation about the nationality or national origin of the Antichrist. People are naturally curious about where he will come from. I believe he will rise from a confederation of nations that in some way corresponds to the old Roman Empire.

‘CONTRASTS’ WITH JESUS

CHRIST >>> ANTICHRIST
The Truth >>> The Lie
Holy One >>> Lawless One
Man of Sorrows >>> Man of Sin
Son of God >>> Son of Satan
Mystery of Godliness >>> Mystery of Iniquity
Good Shepherd >>> Worthless Shepherd
Exalted on High >>> Cast Down to Hell
Humbled Himself >>> Exalted Himself
Despised >>> Admired
Cleanses the Temple >>> Defiles the Temple
Slain for the People >>> Slays the People
The Lamb >>> The Beast

THE ‘UNHOLY’ TRINITY
As I discussed in a post a few months ago (https://markbesh.wordpress.com/the-ongoing-deception-v267/), what most people think of when hearing the word “counterfeit” is paper money. While undeniably the most popular and tangible product counterfeited today, the truth is that intangible things can be counterfeited as well—things like faith, doctrine, leadership, and motives, to name just a few.

THE ‘FALSE PROPHET’
The Antichrist will not rise to power alone. His success will result from a worldwide spiritual deception perpetrated by the ‘FALSE PROPHET’. His ability to perform miraculous signs will enable him to convince the public that the Antichrist is a leader for whom they have been looking. His ability to perform stunning miracles, signs, and wonders will enable him to convince the world that the Antichrist is the leader they have been looking for—the man with a plan, the man who can solve the world’s problems.

‘PROPHECIES’ PREPARING THE WAY
One thing is clear about the rise of Antichrist, he can’t occur in a ‘vacuum’. The stage must be ‘set’ for his coming. So then, what are some of the necessary preconditions for his rise, according to Scripture?

Well, the ‘top five’ signs are, pretty much part of today’s daily news headlines which, for me (and MANY theologians), indicates that the Antichrist’s appearance could very well take place VERY SOON! These ‘signs’ are:

– The Regathering of Israel
– The Reuniting of the Roman Empire
– Globalism
– The Rebuilt Temple
– World Outcry for Peace

END TIMES ’SIGNS’
The Bible tells us that, although we are to NEVER ‘set dates’, we can know the general ‘season’ of Jesus’ return by virtue of the ‘signs’ of the times. Jesus instructed His followers—back then and today, too—to pay attention: “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates” [ Matthew 24:32-33 ].

GEOLOGICAL AND METEOROLOGICAL SIGNS
Scripture reveals that the future Tribulation period will include a great increase in frequency and intensity of earthquakes, famine, pestilence, and signs in the heavens (Matthew 24:7).

MORAL SIGNS
The world will take on a particularly dark moral climate in the end times (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Notice that in the last days, people will increase their love of self (we might call this “humanism”), love of money (we might call this “materialism”), and love of pleasure (we might call this “hedonism”). Humanism, materialism, and hedonism are three of the most prominent philosophies in our world today, and often go hand in hand.

RELIGIOUS SIGNS
There are also many religious ‘signs’ that point to the imminent end times:
– The emergence of false christs
– The emergence of false prophets and teachers
– The emergence of false apostles
– The escalation of apostasy

TECHNOLOGICAL SIGNS
Certain prophecies about the Tribulation period require specific technological advances to be fulfilled. Many theologians believe that the technology is NOW ‘in place’ for these things to occur.

– Global evangelism
– Economic control
– Nuclear detonations

ANTICHRIST’S ‘COMING’
I believe what precedes Antichrist’s rise to international prominence are not only the prophecies and global trends we currently are seeing in formation today, but also the Rapture of the church (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). When it occurs, this single event will trigger an avalanche of catastrophe, chaos, and panic worldwide. Fear will grip everyone on the planet, and into this crisis will step history’s ‘opportunist’, the Antichrist—Satan’s man of the hour—who will bring calm to the storm. His political platform will be simple—peace and safety for all (Daniel 8:25; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; Revelation 6:2).

THE ‘RESTRAINER’
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 ]. This passage clearly reveals that the Antichrist cannot be revealed until the One (the Holy Spirit) who restrains lawlessness is “taken out of the way.”

DO I NEED TO BE ‘CONCERNED’?
As Daniel and the book of Revelation reveal, the Antichrist will be the epitome of evil. He will be indwelt and controlled by Satan himself. Some might wonder if God will have any control over the Antichrist’s actions, or if he will be free to do whatever he pleases. Well, as we read Revelation 13, we dare not miss a little four-word phrase that appears six times—“was given to him.”

Antichrist and his ‘henchman’, the False Prophet, do NOTHING on their own! Everything is under the control of God s sovereign ‘hand’—their actions, words, duration, and miracles. As powerful as the Antichrist is, his power will be a limited, ‘delegated’ power. Just as in the Old Testament book of Job, Satan and the Antichrist will only be able to do the things that God allows. The Antichrist will wreak horrible havoc in the world BUT, it’s comforting to know that God will remain IN ‘CONTROL’ even during earth’s darkest hour! No one and nothing can exceed the boundaries He has set in His own wisdom!

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS ‘DON’T’ NEED TO BE CONCERNED!
Since a ‘born again’ believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and has been promised by Jesus to be on their ‘way’ to Heaven, they DO NOT need to be concerned about the Antichrist and the seven-year Tribulation! If they do not die before all this happens, they will be RAPTURED prior to the beginning of the Tribulation period (1 Corinthians 15:50-52; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-17:5:9). As mentioned previously, the Antichrist’s signing of a Covenant with Israel marks the actual beginning of the seven-year tribulation period (Daniel 9:26-27), so the Rapture of the Church must take place prior to the signing of this Covenant. At that moment, the Holy Spirit—who indwells the believer—will be taken out of the way so that the Antichrist can be revealed.

THE ‘REMEDY’
We are approaching the time when the words of the Apostle Paul will come true, “While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” [ 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ].

This is the perfect reminder that as we approach the end times the people of the world will be proclaiming a message that is vastly different from the truth. As we awaken to the truth we become better prepared to live for Jesus Christ during these last days.

SO, since ALL OF US are sinners and God requires a ‘price’ must be paid for our sins (a ‘blood’ sacrifice), God, knowing we could NEVER ‘pay’ for all our sins, sent His SINLESS Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14) to become the “atonement” (or that blood ‘sacrifice’) for our sins. As God, Jesus’ death was infinite and eternal in value, paying the full price for sin (1 John 2:2).

So then, God promises that anyone who REPENTS and BELIEVES in Jesus (John 3:16), trusting Him alone as the Savior (John 14:6), they will be saved—i.e., WILL NOT go to Hell!

[ NOTE: THE ‘FINAL-FINAL’ DECEPTION ]
The ‘FINAL’ DECEPTION, for you and me, is the ANTICHRIST. However, after the 1,000-year reign of Jesus (“Millennial Kingdom”) on a ‘near-perfect’ earth, Satan will be released from being “bound in the bottomless pit,” and will be able to deceive the people. This is God’s final ‘TEST’ of mankind (Revelation 20:7-9).

Satan’s violent hatred of God and Jesus will not be altered by his 1,000 years of imprisonment in the abyss! When he is released, he will immediately set out on his final act of rebellion (Revelation 9:20-21; 16:9; 16:11; 16:21).

WRAP-UP
Of course, this topic has been of interest and even fascination for many centuries throughout church history. For example, in the late second century, Irenaeus, the bishop of Lyons in Gaul wrote a volume entitled “Against Heresies” (5.30.1) in which he discussed the Antichrist and his mark. One of Irenaeus’s disciples, Hippolytus, a presbyter of Rome, wrote a rather detailed volume entitled “On Christ and Antichrist” in about AD 200. Tertullian, a Christian apologist who lived in approximately AD 160-220, wrote a volume titled “Against Marcion” (an early heretic) in which he discussed the Antichrist. Many other examples are available, but I think these are sufficient to illustrate that from the beginning of Church history the Antichrist has been a topic of interest.

AVOID ‘EXTREMES’
Two ‘extreme’ attitudes should be avoided when discussing the doctrine of the Antichrist. One extreme is to ignore the doctrine altogether. Some Christians seem to think that this is a topic of ‘division’ and should be avoided. Such a view, however, fails to recognize that it is a focus of God’s revelation in the Bible, and God desires that His people understand all that is contained in His Word (Act 20:27). More than 100 Scripture address the person, words, and works of the Antichrist.

The other extreme is to focus on this doctrine to the exclusion of other important doctrines contained in Scripture. I’m thinking that the proper approach is to seek to understand the whole of Scripture on ALL doctrines. The Word of God protects and edifies believers, so to be ignorant of any portion of Scripture is spiritually self-defeating.

PROPHECY >>> FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Luke 1:26-35
Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1
Isaiah 7:14 Called Immanuel Matthew 1:23
Isaiah 9:1-2 Ministry in Galilee Matthew 4:12-167
Zechariah 9:9 Triumphal entry Matthew 21:1-11
Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Matthew 26:20-25
Psalm 35:11 Falsely accused Matthew 26:59-68
Isaiah 53:7 Silent before accusers Matthew 27:12-14
Psalm 22:16 Hands and feet pierced John 20:25
Isaiah 53:12 Crucified with robbers Matthew 27:38
Psalm 22:18 Lots cast for clothes John 19:23-24
Psalm 34:20 Bones not broken John 19:33
Psalm 22:15 Thirsted on the Cross John 19:28
Isaiah 53:9 Buried in rich person’s tomb Matthew 27:57-60

[ Approximately 2,500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, and about 2,000 have already have been literally fulfilled to the letter—with NO ERRORS! ].

THE ‘SAVIOR’
The Antichrist will come at an economically difficult time. There will be war in different parts of the world, and he—through brilliant political moves along with an incredible charisma—will be able to do what no one else has ever done: bring ECONOMIC STABILITY to the world’s monetary system and create a WORLD PEACE.

“NEW WORLD ORDER”?
We live in a critical time of world history, right at the end of the “Church Age” (dispensation), and shortly before the revelation of Satan’s world empire—which will be headed by the Antichrist and the False Prophet. Christians proclaim the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the future revelation of His Kingdom, while the non-Christian world is preparing for a “NEW WORLD ORDER” which will be in direct opposition to the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan are heading for a physical confrontation which will lead to the Second Coming of Jesus and the battle of Armageddon at the end of the Great Tribulation.

[ FYI: For more details about the battle of Armageddon and the Great Tribulation, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/ ].

FEARLESS LIVING
– MAINTAIN AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to live your life as if the Rapture could happen today but plan your life as if you will be here your entire life expectancy. That way you will be prepared for time and eternity.

Regardless of what happens in this world, we need not be troubled, since the believer ‘knows’ the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. He is the source of peace, and the peace He gives does not depend on circumstances (John 14:27). Therefore, we need not worry! We need not fear. Besides, as Jesus said, He is now preparing our eternal homes (John 14:1-3). Then, one day—maybe even today—Jesus will come back for us and ‘rapture’ us, BEFORE the Antichrist manifests himself in the world.

– BE SOUND MINDED
As the believer lives their lives in these ‘end-times’, they should sit to keep a sound mind by maintaining a strong prayer life, and being loving toward others (1 Peter 4:7-10). The best way to do this is to regularly ‘feed’ their minds with the Word of God. Keeping their minds ‘stayed’ on the Scriptures will keep them ‘on track’ in their thinking and their life choices, all in the light of biblical prophecy.

– LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
When God reveals the future to the believer, He does it to change the way they live—it ought to have an effect on their behavior (Romans 13:11-14; 2 Peter 3:10-14; John 3:2-3). The believer is to desire to live a life of purity and godliness while waiting for Jesus’ return to rapture them.

– NEVER SET DATES
God controls the timing of all end-time events, and he HAS NOT provided us the specific details, so we SHOULD NOT be ‘setting dates’ for events like the Rapture. however, God HAS given us ‘SIGNS’ to know the “times and seasons” (Acts 1:7). This then means that, although we CAN BE accurate ‘observers’ of the times—as Jesus instructed (Matthew 24:323-33; Luke 21:25-28)—we DO NOT have ‘pinpoint’ details on the precise timing of these events.

– GOD’S GOT IT!
Biblical prophecy—being 100% accurate—just points to the awesome greatness, wisdom, and might of God (Isaiah 44:6-8; Daniel 2:20-22), so we DON’T HAVE TO WORRY and simply TRUST God with ALL the details!

So, all this to say, DON’T worry about the Antichrist—LIVE ‘FEARLESSLY’!

SO, please don’t say, “I will wait and see if the Antichrist comes as you said, and if he really comes, I will make sure that I will love the truth then.” This is like saying, “I will wait until the boat starts to sink before I go and look for a life jacket.” NO ONE knows how much time they have left before the day of God’s grace ends and the ‘door’ shuts on them!

DON’T be complacent! The ‘END’ IS NEAR! The question for all who are still unsaved is: Will you be ‘delivered’ by Christ or will you be ‘deceived’ by the Antichrist? Your ONLY HOPE of ‘AVOIDING’ HELL is to receive the love of God’s truth NOW! (Mark 1:15, 16:16; Acts 2:38, 17:30; Matthew 3;3, 4:17; Romans 10:9; Acts 3:19, 8:22; 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16).

Just like the elaborate deception and disinformation campaign the Allied forces used against Germany’s forces to ‘FINALLY’ END World War II, the Bible tells of a ‘THE’ FINAL DECEPTION that will be coming just before Satan ‘indwells’ a man (to ‘counterfeit’ how God indwells the believer) that the Bible calls the “Antichrist.”

So, WHY WAIT? For those left behind after the Rapture, if they are ‘blinded’ by Satan’s deceptions today, imagine how hard it will be to overcome an even ‘GREATER’ DECEPTIVE POWER under the sway of the Antichrist!

The ‘GOOD NEWS’ is that God has provided a way the ‘AVOID’ all of this, demonstrating His love toward us while we were still sinners, sending His Son, Jesu to die for us (Romans 5:8). God ‘placed’ all of His wrath for sin upon Jesus, and His ‘work’ on the Cross paid our ‘penalty’ for ALL our sins, so we don’t have to go to Hell! This is certainly REALLY good news!

SO, don’t be ‘DECEIVED’ by what the ‘world’ (Satan, the “prince of this world”) is telling you about the future. It IS NOT ‘GOOD’, and it (the Antichrist and the Tribulation) will be here BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!

It is ‘DANGEROUS’ to put off this decision! Every day more than 150,000 people die each day in the world (About 500 died while you read that last sentence!). SO, let me encourage you to TRUST in what Jesus has ‘provided’ for you! It is ALL YOU WILL EVER NEED to ‘ASSURE’ your ‘place’ in Heaven—and ‘AVOID’ HELL!!!

SO, even though this post ‘focused’ on the Antichrist, we SHOULD BE putting our complete ‘attention’ on the ‘SECOND COMING’ OF JESUS, not the Antichrist!

BE READY for Jesus to ‘return’ at ANY MOMENT!

It could be TODAY!!!

<<< END OF SUMMARY >>>

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ALL THE ‘DETAILS’

The following is a comprehensive presentation of the topic that follows the ‘headings’ laid out in the Summary.
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One of the most notable examples of a successful British deception effort was “Operation Mincemeat” (April 1943), to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. A homeless man—who died from eating rat poison—was dressed as an officer of the Royal Marines and a briefcase, that contained “secret documents,” was attached to him identifying him as the fictitious Captain (Acting Major) William Martin. It contained correspondence between two British ‘generals’ which suggested that the Allies planned to invade Greece and Sardinia, with Sicily as merely the target of a feint.

The plan began by transporting the body to the southern coast of Spain by submarine and releasing it close to shore, where it was picked up the following morning by a Spanish fisherman. The nominally neutral Spanish government shared copies of the documents with the Abwehr, the German military intelligence organization, before returning the originals to the British. Forensic examination showed they had been read and “Ultra” decrypts of German messages showed that the Germans fell for the ruse.

Final proof that the Germans had been passed the information from the letters came on May 14th when a German communication was decrypted by “Ultra” the Allied system for decrying German communications. [ Since the Allies had cracked the German “Enigma” code, they could track and monitor the success of the false information they were handing the enemy. ]

Then, on July 9th, the Allies invaded Sicily in “Operation Husky.” Even four hours after the invasion of Sicily began, Hitler was still convinced that an attack on the Balkans was imminent, and by the time the German high command realized the mistake, it was too late to make a difference.

Operation Mincemeat was described as perhaps the most successful ‘singular’ deception operation of the entire war, tricking the Germans into thinking that the invasion was happening elsewhere. [ D-Day would be the most successful ‘multiple’ deception operation. ]

So, to increase the deceptions, there was “Operation Cockade.” It was intended to further confuse the German high command as to Allied intentions, and to draw them into air battles across the Channel.

[ By 1943, Hitler was defending the entire western coast of Europe, with no clear knowledge of where an Allied invasion might land. His tactic was to defend the entire length and to rely on reinforcements to respond to any landings quickly. ]

Then, when Operation Cockade was winding down, a draft plan, codenamed “Jael,” (a reference to the Old Testament heroine who killed an enemy commander by deception), would have attempted to deceive the Germans into thinking that the Allies had delayed the upcoming invasion, but instead concentrated on the Balkan theatre and on-air bombardment of Germany through 1944.

The early ideas recognized that the Germans would expect an invasion, so instead, the core of the plan suggested misleading the Germans as to the exact time and location of the invasion by keeping them on their ‘heels’ once the invasion had been executed.

The entire plan aimed to deceive the Nazis as to the timing, size, and direction of the prospective Allied invasion in France. It had three main goals: To make the Pas-de-Calais appear to be the main invasion target; To mask the actual date and time of the assault; and to keep German reinforcements in Pas-de-Calais (and other parts of Europe) at bay for at least 14 days after the landing.

Fortitude South was the larger and arguably the more important of the two. This one resulted in the creation of an entire fake army group, the 1st U.S. Army Group (FUSAG), with General Patton as its commander. The Germans had recognized his role in the success of the Allies’ campaigns in North Africa and Sicily, so it was reasonable to think he would be chosen to lead the invasion. The key point of Fortitude South was to make the Germans think the main thrust would be at Calais.

While FUSAG was, in essence, fictional and hence a “phantom” or “ghost army” several clever deception tactics were also used to further make it seem real. This included the display of dummy landing craft, which were made of wood and canvas (nicknamed “Bigbobs”), as well as inflatable tanks (a deception tactic that had been used in North Africa and prior to the landings in Italy in 1943).

[ Fortitude South invented an entire new field army with dummy Sherman tanks, and a dummy aircraft, modeled after the Douglas A-20 Havoc were also created. After the actual real invasion had landed, the story would change with dummy landing craft, suggesting to the Germans that several assault divisions remained in England that were ready to conduct a cross-channel attack once the Normandy beachhead had drawn German defenses away from Calais. Specifically, “Operation Skye” was the codename for the radio deception component of Fortitude North, involving simulated radio traffic between fictional army units. ]

“Operation Quicksilver” entailed misleading the Germans that the Allied force consisted of two army groups, 21st Army Group under Montgomery (the genuine Normandy invasion force), and 1st US Army Group (FUSAG, a fictitious force under General George Patton), positioned in southeastern England for a crossing at the Pas de Calais, included radio deception, including the movement of real units and to increase activity around Dover in southeast England to support the impression that Calais was the target. Another important facet of Operation Quicksilver was the bombing effort around the Pas de Calais region immediately before D-Day.

To aid in the ruse, fake military buildings were created while inflatable tanks and dummy landing craft were deployed across locations in the southeast. To further cement the ruse, Patton was photographed touring these fake FUSAG camps.

Their most successful operation was “Operation Viersen,” which took place from March 18 to March 24, 1945. For that mission, the Ghost Army used 600 inflatable vehicles, fake uniform patches to impersonate soldiers from other units, and recordings of pontoon bridge-building, all to deceive the Germans into believing that the 30th Infantry Division and the 79th Infantry Division were preparing to cross the Rhine River—and IT WORKED! The Germans moved the bulk of their defenses across the river from the suspected location of the two divisions, shelling an army that didn’t exist!

Now, to even increase the deceptions, even more, the Allies had developed several methodologies, which were referred to as “special means.” They included combinations of physical deception, fake wireless activity, leaks through diplomatic channels, and double agents.

The physical deceptions that were briefly mentioned above, were to mislead the enemy with nonexistent units by fake infrastructure and equipment, such as dummy landing craft, dummy airfields, and even decoy lighting. The controlled leaks would pass through diplomatic channels, which hopefully would then be passed on via neutral countries to the Germans. The wireless traffic was created to simulate actual units to mislead the enemy.

The most famous of these double agents was Juan Pujol Garcia, a Spanish national supposedly working for German intelligence but who was actually loyal to the Allies. The British gave him the codename “Garbo,” in German, “Alaric,” famous for being the leader that sacked the city of Rome in 410AD.

It wasn’t just the double agents that were crucial to misleading the Germans in advance of D-Day, it was also the MASSIVE amounts of radio communication that were being sent out. There was so much that the Germans simply couldn’t go through all of the intercepted communication. (The ‘volume’ of messages was just as important as what the Germans may have heard.)

The fact that there was so much radio communication helped make the Germans believe that it was about something important. That is what is called “traffic analysis,” and even today the NSA sends out massive amounts to confuse those listening.

[ Remember Edward Snowden? Well, more details about him and being a ‘whistleblower’ is in this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/heed-the-warning-v251/ ].

Now, many were saying that the quantity of communications were an overkill, since virtually all the Germans agents were sympathetic to the Allies. However, at the time, it was considered “insurance.”

So, in the early spring of 1944, British commandos attacked targets in Norway to simulate preparations for invasion. They destroyed industrial targets, such as shipping and power infrastructure, as well as military outposts. That also coincided with an increase in naval activity in the northern seas and in political pressure on neutral Sweden.

Another recurring theme for Operation Bodyguard was the use of political deception. So, in early 1944, it was proposed that a wholly political ploy, “Operation Graffham” would be implemented.

Operation Graffham’s political target was Sweden, and its main aim was to support the goals of Fortitude North. It was intended to imply that the Allies were building political ties with Sweden in preparation for an upcoming invasion of Norway.

Operation Graffham was envisioned as an extension of existing pressure the Allies were placing on Sweden to end its neutral stance, hoping to convince the Germans further that Sweden was preparing to join the Allies.

Then “Operation Royal Flush” built on the approach of Operation Graffham, hoping to support other Operation Bodyguard deceptions in the Western and Mediterranean ‘theaters’ by making political overtures to Sweden, Spain, and Turkey.

Another deception plan, “Operation Zeppelin,” was the Mediterranean equivalent of Operation Fortitude. It was intended to tie down German forces in the area by threatening landings in the Balkans, particularly Crete or Romania. Although German high command believed that the forces were real, only three under-strength divisions were actually in the area.

“Operation Copperhead” was then another small ‘decoy’ operation within the scope of Operation Bodyguard undertaken just prior to D-Day, which was intended to mislead German intelligence as to the whereabouts of Bernard Montgomery. It was theorized that as a well-known battle commander, if Montgomery were outside England, that would signal to the Germans that an invasion was not imminent.

Operation Bodyguard and its components helped keep the Germans guessing. General Omar Bradley called Operation Bodyguard the “single biggest hoax of the war.”

Operation Bodyguard succeeded and the Normandy landings took the Germans by surprise. The subsequent deception suggesting that the Normandy landings were a diversion led Hitler to delay sending reinforcements from the Pas-de-Calais region for nearly SEVEN WEEKS! (As mentioned, the original plan had hoped for just 14 days.)

D-DAY
The first phase, the amphibious invasion and establishment of a secure foothold, was code-named “Operation Neptune.” To gain the required air superiority needed to ensure a successful invasion, the Allies launched a bombing campaign (codenamed “Operation Pointblank”) to target German aircraft production, fuel supplies, and airfields. Under the “Transport Plan,” communications infrastructure and road and rail links were bombed to cut off the north of France and to make it more difficult to bring up reinforcements. These attacks were widespread to avoid revealing the exact location of the invasion. Elaborate deceptions were planned to prevent the Germans from determining the timing and location of the invasion.

To help draw further German strength away from the Normandy area, around 400 three-foot-tall dummies, known as “Ruperts,” were parachuted into areas East and West of Normandy under Operation Titanic on the night of June 5th. In addition to the dummies, 10 members of the SAS jumped with them and operated loudspeakers on the ground, blasting out sounds of gunfire and men shouting. The idea was to simulate an airborne invasion and distract German forces from the imminent attack.

As D-Day kicked off the deceptions were far from over. Allied aircraft dropped aluminum foil, known as “Window,” attempting to fool German radar that a large force was heading for the Calais area. Small boats and aircraft headed in the same direction to further ‘sell’ the idea.

Even after the D-Day invasion was almost over, the double agent Juan Pujol Garcia continued to feed information back to his German handlers that Normandy was a ‘red herring’ and the larger force under Patton was still to strike at the Calais region. So trusted was Garcia that Hitler delayed releasing reinforcements from Pas de Calais to Normandy for seven weeks after D-Day as the Allies gained the toehold they needed to achieve victory in Europe, a result that may not have been possible without the audacious scheme to fool the Nazis. (As proof he pointed out that Patton had yet to move from England.)

“The combined deception around D-Day was so successful that it continued to work after the attack,” said Dr. Vince Houghton, historian, and curator at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. “It tricked the Germans so deeply that even as the Allies were breaking out from Normandy, Hitler didn’t want to release the troops from Calais because it was assumed Normandy was still just a diversion.”

Then—we’re not done yet!—“Operation Ironside” had two divisions sailing from the United Kingdom and landing on the Garonne estuary 10 DAYS AFTER D-Day! After a beachhead had been established, a further six divisions would arrive directly from the United States. The force would then capture Bordeaux before it linked up with the supposed “Operation Vendetta” another deception operation, forces in the south of France.

Following the landings, some other small tactical deceptions were used to add further confusion. “Operation Paradise” established a number of decoy exits and staging areas around the Normandy beaches to draw German attacks.

The Germans amassed more than 400,000 men, and just over 1,400 armored vehicles including tanks, tank destroyers, and assault guns. In the initial attack the Germans had an almost two-to-one advantage in manpower and for the first time on the Western Front outnumbered the Allies in terms of tanks and other armored vehicles. More importantly, the Germans utilized deception effectively, and that was something that helped catch the Allies off guard. The German radio traffic talked about the “defensive battle in the West,” which gave the impression that they are standing on defense as effectively as they could. This was a case of good deception by the Germans and bad intelligence by the Americans.

Robert Citino, the senior historian at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans said that “The Germans historically had not been good at deception with the Allies being the ‘gold standard’ of military intelligence throughout World War II, but in the Ardennes campaign the Germans did a good job with comprehensive subterfuge and deception.” Citino added that “This included false radio traffic from an army that didn’t exist, and the Allies fell for some of it.” HOWEVER, the Ardennes would prove to be the battle that finally broke the ‘back’ of the Wehrmacht.

The Germans also employed several deceptive tactics that included false flag operations (led by Waffen-SS commando, Otto Skorzeny). Dubbed “Operation Greif,” it included German soldiers wearing captured Allied uniforms and using captured vehicles to confuse. Around 150 of the best English speakers were organized into a commando unit named “Einheit Stielau,” but in the end, both the lack of enough equipment and the failure of the Germans to master American idioms reduced the effectiveness of the unit.

Robert Citino quipped that “It is an exciting story, and makes a good narrative in a movie, but it didn’t really change the outcome.”

The “Bulge” was the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the United States in World War II (and the third-deadliest campaign in American history). The Germans lost between 63,222 and 98,000 men (either being killed, missing, wounded in action, or captured), and the Americans had 89,000 casualties of which some 19,000 were killed.

WHAT IS ‘THE’ FINAL DECEPTION?
Just like the deception the Allied forces used against Germany’s forces to ‘FINALLY’ END World War II, the Bible tells of a ‘THE’ FINAL DECEPTION that will be coming just before the ‘end’—Jesus’ “Second Coming.” Satan is going to ‘indwell’ a man (to ‘counterfeit’ how God indwells the believer).

As prophecy teacher Ed Hindson notes, “The New Testament authors assures that the spirit of antichrist was active in their day over 20 centuries ago. It has remained active throughout the whole of church history, expressing itself in persecutions, heresies, spiritual deceptions, false prophets, and false religions. Satan has battled the church at every turn throughout its long history, waiting for the right moment to indwell the right person—the Antichrist—his final masterpiece.”

The antichrist spirit—the mystery of lawlessness that we see at work all around us—is just a faint forecast of what will flood the world when the full, vicious manifestation of this spirit of rebellion against Christ erupts and is headed up by its final embodiment, THE Antichrist.

The Apostle John warned, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour” [ 1 John 2:18 ]. So, what does John mean by this statement?

Well, many scholars suggest that the entire time span between the first and second Comings constitutes the “last hour” (see 1 Timothy 4:1; James 5:3; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:3; and Jude 18). During this time span, various ‘manifestations’ of antichrist will take place.

With this backdrop in mind, the lexical meaning of the term antichrist makes good sense. It is a compound word composed of two Greek words “anti” and “christos.” Anti can mean “instead of” or “against” or “opposed to.” So, antichrist can literally mean “instead of Christ” or “opposed to Christ.” The false Christ proposed by the Gnostic and Docetic antichrists of the Apostle John’s day were offered instead of the true Christ, against the Christ, and opposed to the true Christ.

So, the first test relates to theology or doctrine: “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:2). We can ask, does the content of the person’s teaching acknowledge that Jesus Christ—fully God and fully human—has come in the flesh? If the answer is yes, then we know the Spirit of God inspires that person. If not, his entire teaching ought to be rejected. This particular test was especially apropos in John’s day, as the heresy of Gnosticism was becoming prevalent; Gnosticism taught that Jesus only appeared to have a human body but was not actually a flesh-and-blood person.

Next, John says, “But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist” (1 John 4:3). Anyone who does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Bible presents Him is inspired by the spirit of the antichrist.

The word antichrist means “against Christ.” People who say that Jesus is not from God are controlled by the spirit of the antichrist. Satan opposes Christ, and he desires to deceive people into a false view of who Jesus is. The spirit of the antichrist teaches against Christ. To twist the truth about Jesus Christ is to pervert the gospel. Satan works to spread lies about Christ and keep people in the dark: “Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist” (2 John 1:7).

The spirit of the antichrist is the birds that eat the seeds along the path in Jesus’ parable (Mark 4:4, 15). It is “the god of this age” who blinds the minds of unbelievers, keeping them from seeing “the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). The spirit of the antichrist is “the great dragon… who leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12:9).

Even given the pervasive influence of the spirit of the antichrist, there is no need to fear. As John reminds us, the Spirit of truth indwells all believers and provides protection from the spirit of the antichrist: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” [ 1 John 4:4 ].

We have some practical ways to distinguish the false spirit of the antichrist from the true Spirit of God: “[False prophets] are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood” (1 John 4:5-6). Those who are influenced by the spirit of the antichrist are of the world. They have the same values as the world; therefore, the world listens to them. Those who acknowledge Christ have His Spirit of truth, and they embrace the apostles’ message. The Gospel the apostles preached is never popular in the world, but it is that very Gospel that holds the power to save, through God’s Spirit of truth (Romans 1:16).

The believer’s job is to test the spirits carefully (1 John 4:1). We must be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16, ESV). We should not automatically embrace the message of any preacher or teacher simply because of his or her reputation or credentials; rather, we must listen cautiously to their Christology. What they say about Jesus is of utmost importance.

Spiritual deception by false prophets is not a new phenomenon. False prophecies have been around as long as there have been legitimate prophets of God.

He will be BOTH the “antichristos” (denies that there is a Christ) and a “pseudochristos” (affirms himself to be Christ). Initially, he presents himself as the “savior” of Israel by making a Covenant to protect her (Daniel 9:27). In this manner, he appears to be her long-awaited Messiah. But in reality, he is against all that the messianic prophecies foretell about the ‘true’ Messiah, Jesus.

This individual will arise in the last days and be the catalyst for global change. Scripture describes him as being both delightful and deceptive, diplomatic yet diabolical, charismatic and charming, but corrupt to the core! Like a subterranean monster volcano, this man will be beautiful and calm on the surface, but hiding underneath will be a heart from ‘hell’. Without warning, he will emerge onto the world stage, rising from the waters of mankind. His persona will marry the charisma of John Kennedy, the mystique of Barack Obama, in the arrogance of Alexander the Great.

Though many kings and presidents from centuries have preceded him, none will rival his raw ambition or success at world domination. They were all amateurs in his ‘shadow’. The whole earth will ‘swoon’ over him.

He will be an international celebrity—bigger than any rock star, more powerful than the U.S. President, and more influential than the most popular Social Media ‘darling’. According to the book of Revelation, he will dramatically impact the planet and EVERY person living on it!

Intelligent, cunning, and deceptively delusional, this unparalleled opportunist well positioned himself to be in the right place at the right time. But, his true character will eventually be revealed. Exuding egotistical self-adoration and armed with a Satanic agenda, he will propagate pure evil like no human before him. He will ‘crown’ himself “King of kings and Lord of lords” (counterfeiting what Jesus calls Himself in Revelation 17:14 and 19:16).

This ‘final’ Antichrist will be the culmination of the evil workings of Satan throughout the centuries. The Antichrist of the end times will embody all the deception and perversion of truth that the spirit of the antichrist has always promoted. The same spirit that will empower the Antichrist of the last days is currently operating in the world to bring confusion and deception.

Part of Satan’s appetite is to kill Christians, as he understands how important they are to God. However, Antichrist will also ‘bait’ the Jews and Israel, because he knows God s plan is for the Jewish Messiah to return and save His ‘Covenant’ people. If this happens, Satan will be prevented from having the world for himself. So, if the Antichrist can kill all the Jews, there won’t be anyone for the Messiah to come back to rescue. (Satan also hates the Jews because through that chosen race came the Savior, Jesus Christ, who defeated death and him at His first coming on the Cross.)

Even though the Antichrist is identified by that name only four times in the Bible, he appears many more times under various ‘aliases’. He is also called:

– The Beast
– The Man of Destruction
– The Lawless One
– The Abomination
– The Little Horn
– The Insolent King
– The Ruler Who Is to Come
– The Despicable Person
– The Strong-willed King
– The Worthless Shepherd

This individual will be a ruthless, ravenous individual. The fact that he is characterized by Satan himself further confirms this image. However, he has many other traits that will contribute to his rise to power and his pursuit of political world dominance.

Scripture indicates that:

– He will rise to power in the Last Days
– He will be a military genius
– He will rule the whole world
– He will be an intellectual genius
– He will be unbelievably persuasive
– He will be a philosophical genius
– He will rule by international consent
– He will be an oratorical genius
– He will rule by deception
– He will be a political genius
– He will control the global economy
– He will be a commercial genius
– He will make a peace treaty with Israel
– He will be a religious genius
– He will break the treaty and invade Israel
– He will be diabolical to his core
– He will be the wonder of the world
– He will be intoxicated by personal power
– He will claim to be God

He will masquerade as an “angel of light” only to plunge the world into spiritual darkness. Like Satan, he is a destroyer. Promising peace, he pushes the world into the worst war in human history. In every conceivable way, he is just like Satan—who ‘indwells’ and ‘empowers’ him.

Perhaps the most telling of his characteristics is depicted in Daniel 11:21, which tells us that he will come to power and “seize it through intrigue (“flatteries”). He will be a “master of deception,” empowered by the “father of lies.”

Because Satan is the father of lies and the deceiver of the whole world, it makes sense that the one whom he energizes—the Antichrist—will also be characterized by lies and deception. The “false signs and wonders the antichrist performs” (2 Thessalonians 2:9) will cause all the more deception. The antichrist is full of poisonous, lethal deception, and will blind the minds of unbelievers so they cannot perceive the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Theologian J. Dwight Pentecost aptly summarizes the biblical meaning of the Antichrist:

“Satan is seeking to give the world a ruler in place of Christ who will also be in opposition to Christ so that he can rule over the world, instead of Christ.”

The Antichrist will be one of the most powerful and popular leaders the world has ever known. Theologian A.W. Pink wrote:

“For six thousand years Satan has had full opportunity afforded him to study fallen human nature, to discover its weakest points, and to learn how to best make man do his bidding. The Devil knows full well how to dazzle people by the attraction of power… He knows how to gratify the craving for knowledge… he can delight the ear with melodious music the eye with entrancing beauty. He knows how to exalt men to dizzy heights of worldly greatness and fame, and how to control that greatness when attained, so that it may be employed against God and His people.”

Bible commentator John Phillips gives this chilling description:

“The world will go delirious with delight at his manifestation. He will be the seeming answer to all its needs. He will be filled with all the fullness of Satan. Handsome, with a charming, rakish, devil-may-care personality, a genius, superbly at home in all the scientific disciplines, brave as a lion, and with an air of mystery about him to tease the imagination or to chill the blood as occasion may serve, a brilliant conversationalist in a score of tongues, a soul-captivating orator, he will be the idol of all mankind.”

The world will be in a panic, and he will bring peace. The world will be in chaos and he will bring control. Satan will finally have his Superman in this Antichrist! Daniel’s description of him, it’s describing the Antichrist’s ability to out-think and overpower these other kings—appearing as something little and soon becoming something great. In a very short period of time leaders and kings will hand over their power and make give their allegiance to this man. The Apostle John said this power would be handed over clearly, saying they will “hand over their power and authority to the beast.” (Revelation 17:13)

No one will be able to ‘stand’ in his way, his power will be far greater than every king, president, or prince before him. He will be worshiped and his kingdom on earth will seem to have no end.

Not only will he politically unite leadership under his power. He will as well unite all religions under his reign. He will do what neither Buddha nor Mohammed could ever do, nor any Pope or Pastor. He will unite the world in worship. Not of Jesus but of himself! Through his demonically powered plans, he will arise as the last and the final Caesar of the revived Roman Empire!

To help us better envision what the Antichrist will be like, H.L. Willmington has provided this helpful analogy with American presidents. He says the Antichrist will possess…

– The leadership of a Washington and Lincoln
– The eloquence of a Franklin
– The charm of a Teddy Roosevelt
– The charisma of a Kennedy
– The popularity of an Ike
– The political savvy of a Johnson
– The intellect of a Jefferson

Again, John Phillips described the Antichrist in this way.

“The Antichrist will be an attractive and charismatic figure, a genius, a demon-controlled, devil-taught charmer of men. He will have answers to the horrendous problems of mankind. He will be all things to all men: a political statesman, a social lion, a financial wizard, an intellectual giant, a religious deceiver, a masterful orator, a gifted organizer. He will be Satan’s masterpiece of deception, the world’s false messiah. With boundless enthusiasm, the masses will follow him and readily enthrone him in their hearts as the world’s savior and god.”

Finally, Scripture says that because those left behind at the Rapture previously refused to believe the truth of God and the Gospel, God will send a deluding influence on them so that they might believe what is false (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). This is one of the damning consequences of rejecting the Gospel, and is God’s abandonment wrath against sinful humanity:

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” [ Romans 1:18-32 ].

Today, the world today is looking for a ‘leader’. With growing dangers and uncertainties everywhere and the global economy spiraling downward, people everywhere are hungry for leadership and direction unlike any other time in human history.

The world’s prospects for the future are gloomy and are getting worse—and everyone knows it. Everyone knows that we need someone who can offer hope and chart a clear course for solving the world’s mounting crises. Arnold Toynbee wisely noted that “The nations are ready to give the kingdoms of the world to any one man who will offer us a solution to our world s problems. In Forbes Magazine, Paul Johnson, an eminent British historian said that “There’s one lesson to be learned above all others: There is no substitute for prudent, strong and courageous leadership. This is what the civilized world currently lacks and must find—soon.” As mentioned previously, the Bible does predict that just such a leader is coming, and in fact, he may already be ‘IN THE WINGS’.

I believe that—based on 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7—the identity of the Antichrist WILL NOT be revealed until after believers have been ‘RAPTURED’ into Heaven. So if you are trying to figure out whether some particular person in Washington, DC. London, Paris, or Rome is the Antichrist, for me, you are ‘wasting’ your time!

Second, while no one knows if ‘THE’ Antichrist is alive today, we can be certain that ‘AN’ antichrist is alive in the world at this very moment. I believe that in every generation, Satan has a man—a ‘satanically-prepared’ vessel—ready to take center stage and rule the world. It seemed like Caesar Nero, Nimrod, King Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) were the ones in ancient times, and Napoleon, Mao Zedong, Lenin, Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler were the men Satan had chosen in recent times (I’m sure I missed a few others.) After all, to be worshipped as a god has been Satan’s goal all along:

“I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” [ Isaiah 14:12-14 ].

Because God has stated that He will rule the world through His Son, Jesus Christ, Satan’s goal is to usurp God and rule the world through his man, the Antichrist. The problem for Satan is that he doesn’t know when the Second Coming of Jesus will occur. That’s why he likely has had someone prepared in every generation since Jesus’ ascension into Heaven. Also, Satan is left guessing when the Rapture might occur, so he must have a man in every generation whom he is ready to indwell as he waits on God’s timing of the Rapture.

Third, while I want to reemphasize that no one can say for sure whether the Antichrist is alive today, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is. Many of the key ‘pieces’ to the prophetic puzzle for the Last Days seem to be coming together. We have the “United States of Europe” coming together before our eyes in the form of the European Union. Globalism is pretty much here now, and the advanced technology necessary for setting up a one-world government and economy already exists. Crises of epic proportion w erupting with sobering frequency and regularity, paving the way for more and more change. The world is ‘ripe’ for a great peacemaker, especially one who can bring peace to the Middle East.

Prophecy teacher Gary Frazier paints this chilling picture:

“Somewhere at this moment there may be a young man growing to maturity. He is in all likelihood a brooding, thoughtful young man. Inside his heart, however, there is hellish rage. It boils like a cauldron of molten lead. He hates God. He despises Jesus Christ, He detests the Church. In his mind there is taking shape the form of a dream of conquest. He will disingenuously present himself as a friend of Christ and the Church. Yet, he will, once empowered, pour out hell itself onto this world. Can the world produce such a prodigy? Hitler was once little boy. Stalin was a lad. Nero was a child. The tenderness of childhood will be shaped by the Devil into the terror of the Antichrist.”

Again, all the indicators that that end times are on the horizon seem to be coming together. The emergence of Antichrist could take place very soon. Which would mean the coming of the Lord is even closer!

[ FYI: For more information about the ‘indicators’ of the End Times—sometimes referred to as “convergence”—vie this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/got-your-attention-yet-v255/ ].

Because Satan is not omniscient like God is, he does not know God’s timing of end-time events with pinpoint precision. So, he has to guess about this timing, as well as the timing of the initial emergence of a full-grown adult Antichrist.

Satan’s inability to pinpoint prophetic events even a few decades down the road would seem to make impossible the idea of a child growing up who knows that he is the Antichrist. It is difficult to fathom how a child could know he is the Antichrist, and then three or four decades later emerge as an adult political leader in perfect synchronization with God’s overall prophetic plan—a plan requiring the Rapture first (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), followed by the emergence of a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 2,7), with its leader (him, the Antichrist) signing a Covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:26-27). I’m thinking this is a HIGHLY speculative issue.

HOWEVER, as I have said, many of the end-times prophecies are currently in formation, and as a result, Satan’s probably getting pretty ‘excited’ about this right now. He realizes his ‘time to shine’—the seven-year Tribulation—may not be far off!

First, in both Daniel and the book of Revelation, the Antichrist is always associated with the final form of the Roman Empire. Secondly, the main point in favor of the Roman origin of the Antichrist also comes from the book of Daniel. The only passage in Scripture that conclusively tells us about the Antichrist’s nationality is Daniel 9:26, which states that Antichrist (“the prince who is to come”) will be of the same nationality as the people who destroyed the second Jewish Temple in AD 70. “The people of the prince who is to come [ the coming Antichrist ] will destroy the city and the sanctuary” [ Daniel 9:26 ]. Of course, we know from history that the Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. Therefore, we know that the Antichrist will be of Roman origin. This does not necessarily mean that he will be Italian, but simply that he will rise from somewhere within the ‘reunited’ Roman Empire.

Now, for many theologians, it is most likely he will be a Gentile, who will have no regard for the religion or pagan gods his ancestors worshiped. Further, where Revelation 13:1 pictures this beast “coming up out of the ‘sea’,” the Apostle John chose a word he used elsewhere in Revelation that refers primarily to Gentile nations (17:15). The coming world ruler will preside over the nations during what Jesus called “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). Lastly, the Antichrist will seek to destroy the Jewish people and commit blasphemy in the Jewish Temple (Daniel 7:25; 9:27:11:41,45; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:2; 12:6; 13:7). It is NOT LIKELY a Jew would do such things.

‘CONTRASTS’ WITH JESUS
Since Satan wants to ‘counterfeit’ Jesus, what does the Bible say about the ‘CONTRASTS’ between the two? Well, just as the term “beast” is often used of the Antichrist in the Book of the Revelation, so is the term “Lamb” used of Jesus.

– The “Lamb” is the Savior of sinners; the “beast” is the persecutor and slayer of the saints.

– The “Lamb” calls attention to the gentleness of Christ; the “beast” tells of the ferocity of the Antichrist.

– The “Lamb” reveals Jesus as the harmless one (Hebrews 7:26); the “beast” points to the Antichrist as the cruel and heartless one.

– The Holy Spirit came upon the “Lamb” in the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism; the one who comes upon the Antichrist is ‘THE ‘BEAST’, Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 12:9).

CHRIST ANTICHRIST
The Truth The Lie
Holy One Lawless One
Man of Sorrows Man of Sin
Son of God Son of Satan
Mystery of Godliness Mystery of Iniquity
Good Shepherd Worthless Shepherd
Exalted on High Cast Down to Hell
Humbled Himself Exalted Himself
Despised Admired
Cleanses the Temple Defiles the Temple
Slain for the People Slays the People
The Lamb The Beast

So, in what ways will the Antichrist ‘mimic’ Christ?

– Just as Christ performed miracles, signs, and wonders (Matthew 9:27-33; Mark 6:2), so the Antichrist will engage in counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9).

– Christ will appear in the Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 43:6-7); the Antichrist will sit in the Tribulation Temple (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

– Jesus is God (John 1:1-2; 10:36); the Antichrist will claim to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

– Jesus is the Lion from Judah (Revelation 5:5); the Antichrist will have a mouth like a lion (Revelation 13:2).

– Jesus causes human beings to worship God (Revelation 1:6); the Antichrist will cause human beings to worship both Satan and himself (Revelation 13:3-4).

– Jesus’ 144,000 Jewish followers are sealed on their foreheads (Revelation 7:4; 14:1); followers of the Antichrist will be sealed on their forehead or their right hand (Revelation 13:16-18).

– Jesus has a worthy name (Revelation 19:16); the Antichrist will have blasphemous names (Revelation 13:1).

– Jesus will be married to a virtuous bride—the Church (Revelation 19:7-9); the Antichrist will be affiliated with a vile prostitute—a false religion (Revelation 17:3-5).

– Jesus will be crowned with many crowns (Revelation 19:12); the Antichrist will be crowned with ten crowns (Revelation 13:1).

– Jesus is the King of kings (Revelation 19:16); the Antichrist will be called “the king” (Daniel 11:36).

– Jesus was resurrected (Matthew 28:6); the Antichrist will experience an apparent resurrection (Revelation 13:3, l4)

– Jesus will have a 1,000-year worldwide Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6); the Antichrist will have a three-and-a-half-year worldwide kingdom (Revelation 13:5-8).

– Jesus is part of the Holy Trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14); the Antichrist is part of an unholy trinity—Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet (Revelation 13).

To put an exclamation point on how Christ and the Antichrist are REALLY different, here a few more ‘dissimilarities’ to consider:

– Christ came to do the Father’s will (John 6:38), the Antichrist will do his own will (Daniel 11:36).

– Christ was energized by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14); the Antichrist will be energized by Satan, the unholy spirit (Revelation 13:4).

– Christ submitted Himself to God (John 5:30); the Antichrist defies God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

– Christ humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8); the Antichrist exalts himself (Daniel 11:57).

– Christ cleansed the Temple (John 2:14,16); the Antichrist defiles the Temple (Matthew 24:15).

– Christ was rejected of men (Isaiah 53:7); the Antichrist will be—by force—accepted by men (Revelation 13:4)

– Christ was slain for the people (John 11:51); the Antichrist slays the people (Isaiah 14:20).

– Christ was received up into Heaven (Luke 24:51); the Antichrist goes down into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

The ‘formal’ definition of counterfeit means “To imitate something authentic, with the intent to steal, destroy, or replace the original, for use in illegal transactions, or otherwise to deceive individuals into believing that the fake is of equal or greater value than the real thing”—and the ‘king’ of fake that TOTALLY ‘emulates’ this is Satan. Boldly wearing a counterfeit ‘crown’ throughout the centuries, Satan has ingeniously woven himself into the fabric of faith, doing his best to distort the truth and destroy our understanding and belief in God as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—the “Trinity.”

The word trinity comes from “tri,” meaning “three,” and “unity,” means one. Though the Bible does not overtly use the term “trinity,” Christians understand that God is One God and has revealed Himself in three roles performing different functions. (There are many Bible verses and Scriptures about the trinity that help us have a better understanding of who God is.)

From the time of the Garden of Eden, Satan has challenged the Holy One, enticing God’s creation to worship him instead. Since Adam and Eve were both deceived by the enticer, they chose to reject God’s Tree of Life (His wisdom and understanding) and elected instead to choose the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, thus deciding for themselves what was good and evil and what was right or wrong. They chose to believe the cunning “snake” (connotes to one who is a liar or deceiver) and so, instead of trusting in their Creator, they believed they could become their own god. Thus, man gave dominion to the evil one allowing Satan to rule (Ephesians 6:12).

Together, Satan (the “dragon”), the Antichrist (“beast of the sea”), and the False Prophet (“beast of the earth”) comprise an “unholy trinity” that is a ‘counterfeit’ of the Triune God of the Bible. Satan opposes the Father (the anti-Father); Antichrist opposes the Son (the anti-Christ); and the False Prophet opposes the Holy Spirit (the anti-Spirit). This ungodly alliance is Satan’s final attempt to overthrow the work of God on earth.

The ultimate deception of the end times will involve the worldwide worship of the Antichrist. This will be encouraged by the False Prophet (Revelation 19:20; 20:10), also known as the second “beast” (Revelation 13:11-17). Like the Antichrist, his identity is not dearly revealed, but several clues are given to help us know who he is.

There have always been false prophets and teachers, and one of Satan’s chief methods of operation is to counterfeit and corrupt the true message of God through false messengers—and he will do this ALL THE MORE during the end times!

The Bible says that in the last days of the planet, there will come many false prophets who will perform great signs and wonders and spew out deceiving lips (Matthew 24:24). In this mass of deception, one false prophet will rise high above all the rest in his ability to capture the world’s attention.

Donald Gray Barnhouse said that,

“The devil is making his last and greatest effort, a furious effort, to pin power and establish his kingdom upon the earth. He knows nothing better than to imitate God. Since God has succeeded by means of an incarnation and then by means of the work of the Holy Spirit, the devil will work by means of an incarnation in Antichrist and by the unholy spirit.”

Prophecy authors Thomas lce and Timothy Demy commented in their book, “15 Future Events That Will Shake the World,” that:

“The Antichrist and the False Prophet are two separate individuals who will work toward a common, deceptive goal. Their roles and relationship will be that which was common in the ancient world between a ruler (Antichrist) and the high priest (False Prophet) of the national religion.”

Revelation 13 presents 10 identifying features of the False Prophet:

– Rises out of the earth (13:11)
– Controls religious affairs (13:11)
– Motivated by Satan (13:11)
– Promotes the worship of the beast (13:12)
– Performs signs and miracles (13:13)
– Deceives the whole world (13:14)
– Empowers the image of the beast (13:15)
– Kills all who refuse to worship (13:15)
– Controls all economic commerce (13:17)
– Controls the Mark of the Beast (13:17-18)

The False Prophet is a man who exercises religious and military authority in the name of the Antichrist. He does miraculous things to cause the whole world to bow down and worship the Antichrist and his image. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” [ Matthew 7:15 ].

The False Prophet is the epitome of every false prophet who has gone before him. We need to be warned against false prophets who come with the voice and personality and calmness of a lamb, but who speak the words of Satan himself.

According to Revelation 13:11, he looks like a “lamb” but “speaks like a dragon.” So, why would Satan make the False Prophet look like a ‘lamb’? Well, he is continuing to do everything possible to deceive people by counterfeiting the ministry of Jesus—the Lamb of God who was slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

The False Prophet will be the Antichrist’s religious leader and will have the power to counterfeit the miracles of God (Revelation 13:13). The specific miracle mentioned in the text is the calling down “fire from heaven.” The False Prophet may try to ‘imitate’ Elijah, when he called down fire from on Mount Carmel—to make people think he IS Elijah who is coming before the great and terrible day of the Lord. He deceives people into building an image as a central point of worship for the Beast (v. 14), and with his occultic powers, he will enable the image to speak (v. 15).

The False Prophet will plan a special building project to erect a statue of the Antichrist in the rebuilt Jerusalem temple. There will be no need for an all-member canvass or pledges from the faithful. When the Antichrist recovers from his fatal wound and becomes the proclaimed world leader, his followers will worship him.

No sculptor in any age of man has formed a statue like this one. The image of the Antichrist will speak and issue a decree that anyone who refuses to fall down and worship it will be killed (a 3D ‘hologram’?)

We don’t know how this evil magic will be performed, but it is another evidence of the pervasive power of demons in those days.

Because of the signs, it was given the power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given the power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed (Revelation 13:14-15)

The setting up of the image of the beast is evidently what Jesus had in mind when He said in His Olivet Discourse: “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” [ Matthew 24:15-16 ].

Another thing the False Prophet is identified as is the “great prostitute.” Dr. John Walvoord observed that “Prostitution was often a part of pagan worship, but the adultery mentioned here refers to spiritual adultery. The woman is guilty of compromise and association with apostate religions.”

Spiritual deception is the goal of the False Prophet as he encourages people to embrace the social, economic, and religious program of the Antichrist. These sweeping changes will occur more rapidly using the power of television and the widespread access to information through computer technology. As we approach the end of the age, false prophets, new religions, and spiritual darkness will engulf the world.

Puritan scholar John Owen observed that apostasy is brought about by the great apostate himself. He wrote, “The devil, that greatest of all apostates, has it as his chief desire to destroy Christ’s church on earth, and failing that, to utterly corrupt it and so make it his church.”

Owen goes on to list the danger signs of apostasy:

– Loss of all appreciation for the Gospel
– Loss of conviction that the Gospel is true
– Contempt for the promises of God
– Rejection of the true Christian religion
– Despises and rejects people of God
– Despises and rejects the Spirit of God
– Open declaration of hatred for Christ

The Bible clearly warns us that in the last days, people will “abandon the faith and follow deceiving [‘seducing’] spirits and things [doctrines] taught by demons (1 Timothy 4:1). These false teachings will come through hypocritical liars whose minds have been captured by Satan’s lies (1 Timothy 4:2)

There is something selfish enough in all of us to want to believe that we all know what no one else knows. Lay theologian C.S. Lewis said,

“What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods.’… Out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we can call human history… the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

Once you accept the premise of false teaching all the rest falls consistently in line. Believing the basic lie, one doses his mind to the truth and throws away the key of logic. From that point on, anything and everything can and will make sense to the cultic mentality—even worshiping the Antichrist!

The fact that false prophets have been on the rise for the past 100 years would seem to indicate that Satan’s final deception is almost complete. The stage is set for the ultimate False Prophet to perpetuate the final deception.

The ultimate goal of the False Prophet’s supernatural acts is to induce people around the world to worship the Antichrist—worship that rightfully should be rendered to God alone. Because the Antichrist puts himself in the place of Christ, the Antichrist seeks worship, just as Jesus was worshipped many times during His three-year ministry on earth (see Matthew 2:11; 8:2; 9:18; 15:25; 28:9, 17; John 9:38, 20:28). An important theological backdrop to all this is found in Exodus, which instructs us, “You shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” [ Exodus 34:14 ]. Clearly, by demanding worship, the Antichrist places himself in the position of deity.

The Apostle John then tells us that the False Prophet continues his controlling influence:

“[He] causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,[e] to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666” [ Revelation 13:16-18 ].

During World War II it was necessary to have stamps or a card to buy certain food. Gasoline was scarce, and many other goods were in short supply. In America, the hardships were minor, for the winning of the war was a national effort, but rationing was a way of life. During the Tribulation, there will be no surge of patriotism. It will be moment-by-moment survival. The law of the Antichrist will be, “Worship me or starve.”

So, why is the mark of the beast 666? Well, superstitions about this number and its meaning could fill volumes. Here are some interesting facts about this: Goliath was six cubits in height, his spear’s head weighed six shekels and he had six pieces of armor. Nebuchadnezzar’s image was sixty cubits in height, and six cubits wide.

Then, man was created on the sixth day. He has to work six of seven days, and a Hebrew slave could not be a slave for more than six years. (Also, the fields of the Jews could not be sown for more than six years running.)

So, the most logical explanation for the mark is that the number six in the Bible is the number of man. The beast represents the ultimate in human ingenuity and cleverness.

The number 666 reminds us that something is missing. That missing something is Someone (Jesus). He is a ‘seven’, and that is the number for “completeness.”

God has His seven-headed Lamb of God, the second person of the Trinity. He has His seven spirits of God, the third person of the Trinity. Then, He has His saints singing the sevenfold doxology.

Satan has his ‘six’… but God has His ‘seven’. The old counterfeiter will never be able to fool all of the people all of the time, only some of them some of the time.

So, the three key elements of the False Prophet’s work (as described by Revelation 13:11-18) are his ‘DECEPTIVE’ appearance (Revelation 13:11), his ‘DEVILISH’ authority (Revelation 13:12), and his ‘DEADLY’ activity (Revelation 13:13-18).

In his activities, he will:
– Bring down fire from heaven, and perform other miracles (13:13-14).
– Erect an image to the Antichrist for all the world to worship (13:14)
– Raise the Antichrist from the dead (13:14).
– Give life to the image of the beast (13:15).
– Control world commerce on behalf of the Antichrist, forcing everyone to take the “Mark of the Beast” (13:16).

[ For more details about the “Mark of the Beast,” view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/heed-the-warning-v251/ ].

– The Regathering of Israel
– The Reuniting of the Roman Empire
– Globalism
– The Rebuilt Temple
– World Outcry for Peace

There are many prophecies that tell about Antichrist. The following are the ‘major’ passages:

“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.”
[ Daniel 7:8 ]

“And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.”
[ Daniel 8:23-25 ]

“And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
[ Daniel 9:26-27 ]

“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.”
[ Daniel 11:36-39 ]

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
[ Matthew 24:23-24 ]

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”
[ 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 ]

“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour… Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.”
[ 1 John 2:18, 22 ]

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”
[ 1 John 4:1-3 ]

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
[ 2 John 7 ]

“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”
[ Revelation 13:1-10 ]

“This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.”
[ Revelation 17:9-17 ]

Jesus indicated in this passage that God has revealed certain things in prophecy that out to cause believers who know the Bible to understand that a fulfillment of prophecy IS taking place, or perhaps, in our present day, that the ’stage’ is being set for a prophecy to eventually be fulfilled. Jesus was—and is—informing His followers to become accurate observers of the times so that when biblical prophecies are fulfilled, they will recognize what is happening:

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” [ Luke 21:25-28 ].

The following are some of the ‘primary’ signs of the End Times:

MORAL SIGNS
The world will take on a particularly dark moral climate in the end times (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

– Global evangelism
– Economic control
– Nuclear detonations

Prophetic signs are now casting their ‘shadows’ before them. We are even now experiencing the foreshocks of some of these prophetic signs. The stage is NOW being set for the future seven-year Tribulation period! Consequently, we can logically infer that the Antichrist MAY BE ALIVE somewhere in the world today, waiting in the ‘wings’ to step onto ‘center stage’ to rule the world!

The prophet Daniel told us that when the Antichrist signs a “Covenant” with Israel (to keep them safe and allow them to build their Temple), then the world will know who the Antichrist is (although the believer will not, since they will have been raptured before this):

“And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator” [ Daniel 9:27 ].

Deception has been operating for centuries and is intensifying daily. Believers need to be aware that their ‘end’—the rapture—is most likely VERY NEAR!

While no one knows the exact details of how his rise will be orchestrated, everyone knows that our world today is desperately looking for leadership. In the face of mounting international crises, the world is looking for someone with the charisma, leadership, and savvy to bring the world together to meet these critical challenges.

One of the chronic problems the world faces is the perpetual Middle East conflict, which has given rise to what appears to be a never-ending and ill-named “peace process.” Solving the Middle East crisis is undoubtedly the most coveted prize in the history of international diplomacy. The world is clamoring for peace. Every leader wants to be the one who adds this victory to the resume of his accomplishments, and the Bible says that the Antichrist will pull it off. He will make his debut on the world scene with an ‘olive branch’ in his hand and forging some kind of agreement or treaty with the nation of Israel.

Pastor and author John MacArthur aptly describes the world situation that will give rise to the Antichrist:

“In the chaotic times of confusion, uncertainty, and unrest that will prevail during the Tribulation, the world will long for a leader. People will be desperately hoping for someone powerful and influential to unite the divided and contentious nations of the world; someone to bring hope in the midst of hopelessness; someone to provide a sense of security in an unsettled time of apprehension and fear. People will be desperately seeking, a strong, charismatic, authoritative leader to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. These longings will be fulfilled. The powerful leader people will desire will come and unify the world under his rule. He will appear at first to be everything people thought they were looking for. And for a brief time he will bring peace and prosperity. But he will turn out to be far more than the world bargained for. He will be a dictator more cruel and powerful than any other leader the world has ever known. This man, often called the Antichrist, will be the culmination of a long line of would-be conquerors, What men like Alexander the Great and the Roman emperors in ancient times and Hitler and Stalin in modern rimes only dreamed of doing, the Antichrist will actually do—he will rule the entire world and receive its worship.”

For me—and MANY other theologians—the world stage is already set for age Antichrist’s coming. The signs all point toward his entrance in the not-too-distant future!

The Bible describes the Antichrist’s empire in Daniel 2:31-45 (“ten toes”) and in Daniel 7:19-28 and Revelation 13:1-9 (“ten horns”). Satan’s man will lead a ten-nation alliance, or confederation of nations, perhaps somewhat similar to the current European Union, only much stronger. This group of nations will effectively be a ‘revived’ Roman Empire.

Then, six separate times in Revelation the city of Babylon refers to Antichrists capital city (14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2,10. 21). There are many practical reasons why the Antichrist would warn to rebuild ancient Babylon and establish his headquarters there. The area is rich with oil reserves and sits in a strategic geographical location between continents. Ancient Babylon is also located on the bank of the Euphrates River, a river that is mentioned in Revelation for demonic activity and as playing a key role for the armies of the East marching to Armageddon (Revelation 9:14; 16:12).

While one cannot be dogmatic, it would appear that during the Tribulation, the ancient city of Babylon will either be rebuilt or added onto and modernized to accommodate Antichrist’s headquarters for his economic, political, and religious agendas.

So, what is Antichrist waiting on? Well, according to Scripture, the man of lawlessness will not be revealed until the ‘RESTRAINER’ “is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). I believe this “restrainer” to be the Holy Spirit’s influence through the ‘bride’ of Christ, the Church. In other words, the only thing holding back a complete ‘tsunami’ of sin in the world is the BELIEVERS in Jesus—HOPEFULLY, you and me!

What is the mystery of lawlessness? Well, the “Bible Knowledge Commentary” points us toward answers to these questions:

“A mystery in the New Testament is a new truth previously unknown before its revelation in the present dispensation. In this case the mystery is the revelation of a future climax of lawlessness in the world. Then and now a movement against divine law directed by Satan was and is operative. But it is being restrained somewhat, and this restraining will continue until the time appointed for revealing the man of sin and the climax of lawlessness.”

The “man of sin,” of course, is the Antichrist. He will embody sin and will promote sin as it has never been promoted before. Everything about him will be ‘rooted’ in sin. Truly, he is the ‘definitive’ man of sin—for all time!

So, the only One powerful enough to restrain the Antichrist is God—specifically the Holy Spirit. The “Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary” points out that, “The word “restrain” (Greek, “katecho,” “to hold down”) is a present active participle. Such usage also occurs in reference to the Spirit of God. The Greek word for “spirit,” “pneuma,” is a neuter gender word, but the masculine pronoun is used when referring to the person of the Holy Spirit.”

Note also that the word “restrain,” in the Greek, carries the idea “to hold back from action, to keep under control, to deprive of physical liberty, as by shackling.” This is what the Holy Spirit does in our day to prevent the Antichrist from arising.

Pastor and prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock notes that “The Holy Spirit is spoken of in Scripture as restraining sin and evil in the world (Genesis 6:3), and in the heart of the believer (Galatians 5:16-17).”

The Spirit presently specially abides in the world in this age through the Church, and once this special ‘abiding’ is removed, the Antichrist will manifest himself.

The well-known theologian Donald Grey Barnhouse describes the identity of the “restrainer” like this:

“Well, what is keeping the Antichrist from putting in his appearance on the world stage? You are! You and every other member of the body of Christ on earth. The presence of the church of Jesus Christ is the restraining force that refuses to allow the man of lawlessness to be revealed… For when the church is removed at the rapture, the Holy Spirit goes with the church insofar as His restraining power is concerned.”

When the rapture occurs, the Spirit-indwelt Church and its restraining influence will be removed from the earth. Satan will then be able to put his plan into full swing by bringing his man onto center stage to take control of the world. The rapture will throw the ‘door’ wide open for the Antichrist to come to power and bring forth an outbreak of evil unlike any that has ever occurred before. The fact the restrainer is still in place right now man’s that Satan must wait on God’s timing before he can unveil the Antichrist. That God is sovereign in this way also assures us that Satan’s eventual defeat is certain long before he ever even begins his last-days assault on God and His people. He can’t make his final diabolical move until God ‘releases’ him to do so, by removing the restraining power of the Spirit in the Church.

We must remember this important fact: The Antichrist will not be revealed until after the Church is taken to Heaven. That’s why no one can know the identity of the Antichrist until all believers are raptured.

This also explains why believers are never told to look for Antichrist, but for Christ. We will meet the Lord in the air before the man of sin is unveiled and begins his nefarious career. The believers are looking for the One whose name is above every name, the One before whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

So then, God promises that anyone who REPENTS and BELIEVES in Jesus (John 3:16), trusting Him alone as the Savior (John 14:6), they will be saved—i.e., WILL NOT go to Hell!

God does not want anyone to go to Hell (2 Peter 3:9). That is why God made the ultimate, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice on our behalf. SO, if YOU DON’T WANT to go to Hell, then receive Jesus as your Savior. It is as simple as that. A ‘simple’ faith—from the depths of your ‘heart’—‘REPENTING’ of your sins and ‘TRUSTING’ in Jesus Christ as your Savior, is how YOU CAN ‘AVOID’ GOING TO HELL!

[ Note: The “Prayer of Repentance” below can give you some guidance about how you might ‘talk’ to God about this. ]

FINAL REBELLION
Satan will collect the deceived people from “the four corners of the earth” (Revelation 7:1; Isaiah 11:12). Rebels will come from all over the globe.

Amazingly, the number of rebels will be like the “sand of the seashore”—a figure of speech used in the Bible to describe a vast, uncountable multitude (Genesis 22:17). As mentioned previously, the ideal conditions of prosperity and peace that will prevail during the Millennium, coupled with the long life spans of its inhabitants, will lead to a massive population explosion. Vast numbers of those people will join Satan in his final act of rebellion against God.

The rebel forces will “come up on the broad plain of the earth and surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city” (Jerusalem).

Unlike Armageddon 1,000 years earlier (Revelation 19:11-21), the “battle” will, in reality, be an ‘EXECUTION’. As the rebel forces move in for the attack, “fire will come down from heaven and consume them” (Revelation 20:9). They will be INSTANTLY EXTERMINATED! Satan’s forces will be physically killed, and their souls will go into the ‘realm’ of punishment, awaiting their final sentencing to eternal Hell (Revelation 20:11-15).

When God let Satan out of the bottomless pit, he was demonstrating to the world two great principles: Punishment is not the answer and changing the environment is not the answer. It is the human ‘heart’ that must be changed, and that can be done only through the power of the Holy Spirit.

[ FYI: For more details about the “Millennial Kingdom” and Satan’s ‘ultimate’ fate, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/mankinds-destiny-v247/ ].

There is another reason we need a balanced understanding of this doctrine. Scripture exhorts us to be ‘accurate’ observers of the times:

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from Heaven.

“He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” [ Matthew 16:1-3 ].

What a rebuke! These were the religious elite of the time, men who were supposed to know the reaching of Scripture, and yet they were completely unable to properly discern the times! The Pharisees and Sadducees had been surrounded by signs pointing to Christ’s true identity, and they had missed them all. They were ‘blind’ to the reality that the Messiah was in their midst! Jesus’ miracles were clear signs of His divine identity, just as dark clouds in the sky are a sure indication of impending rain.

The Old Testament had predicted the Messiah would perform these miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6), and the Pharisees and Sadducees—“experts” in the Old Testament—should have recognized that Jesus fulfilled these messianic verses. But, in their blindness, they could not interpret the signs of the times!

[ This is the reason I am writing this post—so you don’t follow their example! Rather, hopefully, learn from the prophetic Scriptures so you can determine whether the stage is being set for the eventual emergence of the Antichrist. ]

Jesus also urged, “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door” [ Matthew 24:32-33 ]. Jesus indicates that God has prophetically revealed certain things, and people who know the Bible should understand that a prophecy is being fulfilled—or perhaps the stage is being set for a prophecy to eventually be fulfilled. Jesus is encouraging His followers to be accurate observers of the times so that when biblical prophecies are fulfilled, they will recognize what is happening (see also Luke 21:25-28). All of this is simply to say that we should not be ignorant of what the prophetic Scriptures teach about the Antichrist, one of the central figures of the “End Times” biblical prophecy.

SO, can we really trust what the Bible reveals about the person, words, and works of the Antichrist in the future? Well, the Bible contains hundreds of prophecies, that ALL have been literally fulfilled with 100% ACCURACY! The following are just a FEW prophesies to consider:

[ Approximately 2,500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, and about 2,000 have already have been literally fulfilled to the letter—with NO ERRORS! ].

He will solve the Middle East peace puzzle. He will even convince the Jewish nation and the Arab nations to sign a peace treaty, paving the way for the long-awaited third Jewish Temple.

He will rid the world of terrorism. He will be hailed as THE “greatest peace-maker” ever! His accomplishments will be so spectacular, so far-reaching, and unprecedented, that many will hail him as the “Messiah.”

HOWEVER, we are warned in Scripture that he is a DECEIVER and behind that ‘façade’ will be a satanic ‘superman’ will be the EVILEST man who has EVER walked on the earth!

The Antichrist will be history’s vilest embodiment of sin and rebellion: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that Day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ].

Lawlessness can be translated “wickedness.” The Antichrist totally opposes every law of God. Halfway into his ‘power play’—the middle of the Tribulation—he will show his true ‘colors’, committing the “abomination of desolation” (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15). [ This is when the Antichrist ‘stands’ in the rebuilt Jewish Temple and announces that he is god and demands worship ]. He will show himself to be a blood-thirsty dictator who will make Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong—combined together and multiplied by 100X—look like ‘lightweights’ in comparison.

Dictators rarely take over nations by brute force. Political or economic problems almost always pave the way for tyranny. This has already proven true in history. Rome set the precedent, seeking out nations who were in political and economic turmoil. They came with seeming benevolence, only to turn to tyrannical suppression and demand worship of Caesar.

Adolph Hitler did the same. In 1930, Germany was in desperate financial straits. Inflation was so bad, that literally thousands of people were starving. Communists stirred up riots in the streets, and there was general chaos.

Then Adolph Hitler came on the scene—a voice of authority in the midst of chaos. He spoke of a people of destiny and promised glories to come. But it was not meant to be.

Even though a ‘monster’, Hitler was but a ‘pale’ version of the Antichrist, who will work through a revived Roman empire. He, like the Romans and Hitler, will bring political, military, and economic answers, and he will persecute Jews and Christians.

But, different than all other dictators, the Antichrist will not act alone. There will be a “False Prophet” working with him. “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” [ Revelation 19:20 ].

This is Satan’s counterfeit of the biblical “Trinity” made up of Good the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Satan will imitate God, the Antichrist will masquerade as the Son, and the False Prophet will impersonate the Holy Spirit.

The Antichrist will also bring about a new religious system that will ‘accommodate’ everyone. The thing is, it seems that we are in the midst of a worldwide ‘spiritual’ explosion today. Consciousness-raising techniques like Dianetics, EST, goddess worship, reincarnation, astrology, holistic healing, are very popular and are searching for some mystical divine unity. Even the recent Coronavirus got people thinking about end-of-life issues and “the divine.” It seems that the time might just be ‘ripe’ for a world religion.

The Antichrist will also harness the world’s economic system. “He required everyone—great and small, rich and poor, slave and free—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666” [ Revelation 13:16-18 ].

Before computers were such a vital part of our lives, it was hard to imagine how this prophecy could be enforced. In our generation, however, we have seen the developments of all the parts of the electronic system necessary for one person to wield total economic control (credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, ATM, etc.). Now we have supercomputers that are so fast, they can perform thousands of operations on each person’s files in the world every second!

Satellites can link the whole world together instantly, receiving unbelievable amounts of data simultaneously. Fiber optics that service our homes and computers are able to carry thousands of conversations, video images, and data transfers at the same time. Our cell phones can do this wirelessly. The Internet links large and small businesses around the globe together instantly. In addition, we all have several numbers assigned to us (Social Security, driver’s license, etc.) that enable easy access to our records.

Modern technology has made it possible for the Antichrist to do what the Bible predicts: to literally control the right of individuals to buy and sell. For example, we can buy most of what we need by use of our debit or credit cards. Cards, however, can be lost.

However, this problem could be solved by inserting tiny electronic ‘transponders’ (chip implants) somewhere in our body (which is already being done with livestock and household pets). Thus, the stage is ‘set’ for that “mark on the right hand or on the forehead” that is called the “Mark of the Beast”.

[ FYI: For more details on the “Mark of the Beast,” view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/ ].

So, how will we be able to know who is ‘THE’ Antichrist? Well, he will have these
‘characteristics’:

– He is a Man (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
– He has a number, 666 (Revelation 13:16-18)
– He will arise from the revised Roman Empire (Daniel 9:26)
– He is a deceiver (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
– He will perform miracles by the power of Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10b)
– He is known by many names (See last month’s post)
– He will desecrate the third Temple (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
– He will appear to rise from the dead (Revelation 13:3)
– He will be in power for seven years, but the great devastation will last three and one-half years (Revelation 13:5)
– He will behead believers of God (Revelation 20:4)
– He will have influence in all the world (Revelation 13:7b)
– He will become so arrogant that he will dare to fight against God (Revelation 19:19)
– He will go down in defeat (Revelation 19:20-21)

[ NOTE: Don Stewart’s book, “The Final Antichrist, The Coming Caesar,” answers these and a few other questions about the Antichrist in a bit more depth. The information about the book is in the “Resources” section below ].

The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan are heading for a physical confrontation which will lead to the Second Coming of Jesus and the battle of Armageddon at the end of the Great Tribulation.

[ FYI: For more details about the battle of Armageddon and the Great Tribulation, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/ ].

Because of all of the ‘signs’—that were mentioned previously—Christians have reason to expect the imminent coming of Jesus. That is why I and many others think that Satan is intensifying his efforts to bring humanity under the power of delusion to such an extent that they will rather engage in preparing the way for his false kingdom than waiting for Jesus. Deceived people do not realize that they are advocates for Satan’s kingdom since they have lost the ability to discern between the truth and the lie. Their minds have been blinded by the god of this world, Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4).

This deception is so subtle and convincing that even those many Christians who have a poor knowledge of the Bible are falling for it (“If you stand for nothing you will fall for anything”). Consequently, they will “depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Jesus also warned against this serious deception: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many… For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect” [ Matthew 24:4-5, 24 ].

The deception is aimed at perverting and falsifying the principles and characteristics of God’s Kingdom and then applying them to Satan’s kingdom. Changed thinking caused by spiritual deception will be the driving force behind people’s actions to support Satan’s alternate kingdom rather than the true kingdom of God.

However, people refer to this as a “paradigm shift,” the emergence of a new, ‘ecumenical’ belief system, and a “new world order.”

When Satan’s most important strategies for the revelation of his kingdom are investigated, it becomes evident that he is implementing a plan for the final deceiving of the world—to take it over. The application of the plan leads to such distortion and misrepresentation of God’s kingdom that humanity—including a large segment of the nominal Christian church—is becoming involved with efforts to reveal the alternate kingdom of Satan. They are doing it under the false assumption that they are still involved with God’s kingdom.

Satan’s major ‘battle’ is, and has been, against the Bible—as it contains facts on the revelation of God, His plan of salvation for humanity through Jesus Christ, as well as clear prophecies on what the future holds for the world and its inhabitants. The subversive works of the kingdom of darkness are also revealed in the Bible—as well as God’s judgments upon Satan and his kingdom. These divine truths stand out like a ‘beacon of light’ in a dark world, and refute everything that is contrary to it. God is truth, His Word is truth, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth who guides us into all truth (John 14:6; 16:13; 17:17).

Satan realizes that he first has to try and do away with the Bible as the source of Christian doctrines before he will be able to institute his plans for an alternate faith. When the basic statements of faith in the Bible have been successfully questioned, spiritualized, or distorted, any possible meaning can be ascribed to them. That will lead to a far-reaching transformation of thinking in support of a satanic new world order.

Professor Johan Malan says that this new way of thinking—which is propagated by false prophets—is spiritual in nature and occurs in the following ‘arenas’:

– The truth of God’s Word is presented as a lie.
(Isaiah 59:12-14; Matthew 24:4-5; Revelation 6:2, 13:3-4)

– The lies of the non-Christian religions are presented as truth.
(1 Corinthians 10:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

– The true Christ becomes the Antichrist or ‘cosmic’ Christ.
(Revelation 13:2-4, 17:3-6, 19:11-16)

– The Triune God becomes the universal God of all faiths.
(2 Thessalonians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

– Spiritual rebirth becomes a mystical spiritual experience.
(John 3:3)

– The narrow way to heaven becomes the false road of conflict.
(Matthew 7:14; Luke 13:24; John 14:6; 1 John 5:12)

– The broad way to hell becomes the accepted way to harmony and peace.
(Revelation 13:15, 17:3-6; 17:16)

– Prayers to God become meditation and the invoking of spiritual powers.
(altered state of consciousness)

– The Christian faith becomes an ecumenical alliance of all faiths.
(2 Corinthians 4:4)

– The temple of God in Jerusalem becomes Satan’s temple of all faiths.
(2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 11:31; Matthew 24:15-21)

– Divine revelations in the Bible become extra-biblical revelations.
(False prophets)

– The futuristic kingdom of God becomes a humanistic kingdom-now.
(Revelation 13:3-4, 16:13-16, 9:19-21; Zechariah 14:12-13; Joel 3:2; Isaiah 13:9-13)

– The rapture of believers becomes the removal of rebels.
(Luke 21:36; John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8)

Satan’s plan is composed of religious lies which are used as propaganda for the revelation of his kingdom. These lies are successfully proclaimed by his large number of collaborators, since public support is vital for the implementation of his plan to take over the world.

The first half of the Antichrist’s worldwide rule (3-1/2 years of the Tribulation) will predominantly be characterized by DECEPTION. During this phase, he will voluntarily be recognized and worshipped by virtually all people. It will only be towards the middle of the Tribulation when opposition against him will be mounting, and that will induce him to institute the most severe military dictatorship in the entire history of humanity. Jesus describes it as a Great Tribulation (the second 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation) such as has not been since the beginning of the world, and that it will bring humanity to the very edge of total annihilation (Matthew 24:21-22). Only then will He intervene at His Second Coming to save a remnant of Israel and the nations (Matthew 24:29-30).

FEARLESS LIVING
So, what should believers do now? Well, first off, we need to be “watchmen” (and “watchwomen”) and heed the “warnings.”

[ FYI: For more details on being a “watchman” and “heeding the warnings,” view these previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” posts:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-a-watchman-v250/
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/heed-the-warning-v251/ ].

Pastor, author, and prophecy expert David Jeremiah says that the events taking place in our world today seem to indicate that Antichrist’s arrival may occur soon. He summarizes how world conditions today are ripe for his coming:

“Today it is much easier to envision the possibility of such a world leader. Technology has given us instant global communications. CNN is seen everywhere in the world. The Internet and satellite cell phones reach every country on the face of the earth. Air transportation has shrunk the planet to the point where we can set foot on the soil of any nation in a matter of hours. I am total there are now missiles that can reach any part of the world in fewer than 30 minutes. Men and nations no longer live in isolation. There are also other factors that make the ascendance of a global leader more plausible than ever before. The Bible predicts that worldwide chaos, instability, and disorder will increase as we approach the end of this age… The devastation wrought by these disasters will spur a worldwide outcry for relief and order at almost any cost. That will set the stage for the emergence of a new world leader who will, like a pied piper, promised they solution to all problems.”

God has used prophecy to inform us what the future holds in order to encourage us and stimulate our faith. Many have said, “I have read the last chapter in the book…and we win!”

If we learn one thing from biblical prophecy, it is that God is IN ‘CONTROL’ of human history, and He is ‘guiding’ history toward its ‘CULMINATION’. One day, all who believe in Jesus will live in a new heavens and a new earth, never having again to give consideration to Satan or even anything negative! SO, the believer therefore ought to LIVE ‘FEARLESSLY by following a few guiding principles.

– MAINTAIN AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE: One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to live your life as if the Rapture could happen today but plan your life as if you will be here your entire life expectancy. That way you will be prepared for time and eternity.

– BE SOUND MINDED: As the believer lives their lives in these ‘end-times’, they should sit to keep a sound mind by maintaining a strong prayer life, and being loving toward others (1 Peter 4:7-10). The best way to do this is to regularly ‘feed’ their minds with the Word of God. Keeping their minds ‘stayed’ on the Scriptures will keep them ‘on track’ in their thinking and their life choices, all in the light of biblical prophecy.

– LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY: When God reveals the future to the believer, He does it to change the way they live—it ought to have an effect on their behavior (Romans 13:11-14; 2 Peter 3:10-14; John 3:2-3). The believer is to desire to live a life of purity and godliness while waiting for Jesus’ return to rapture them.

– NEVER SET DATES: God controls the timing of all end-time events, and he HAS NOT provided us the specific details, so we SHOULD NOT be ‘setting dates’ for events like the Rapture. however, God HAS given us ‘SIGNS’ to know the “times and seasons” (Acts 1:7). This then means that, although we CAN BE accurate ‘observers’ of the times—as Jesus instructed (Matthew 24:323-33; Luke 21:25-28)—we DO NOT have ‘pinpoint’ details on the precise timing of these events.

– GOD’S GOT IT!: Biblical prophecy—being 100% accurate—just points to the awesome greatness, wisdom, and might of God (Isaiah 44:6-8; Daniel 2:20-22), so we DON’T HAVE TO WORRY and simply TRUST God with ALL the details!

Puritan preacher Richard Baxter had a daily habit to “dwell on the glory of the heavenly life to which [he] was going.” The hope of Heaven brought him joy, and that joy brought him strength. Baxter wrote:

“A heavenly mind is a joyful mind; this is the nearest and truest way to live a life of comfort… A heart in heaven will be a most excellent preservative against temptations, a powerful means to kill thy corruptions.”

This comment reflected the exhortation that the Apostle Paul made to the Colossians: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” [ Colossians 3:1-2 ]. The original Greek communicates the idea of diligently, actively, and single-mindedly pursuing the things above. Moreover, the ‘present’ tense in the original Greek communicates the idea of ‘perpetually’ seeking the things above—make it an ‘ongoing’ process in your life!

So, all this to say, DON’T worry about the Antichrist—LIVE ‘FEARLESSLY’!

NOW, with all I have said here, MANY are ‘shaking their heads’ in agreement. HOWEVER, one can ‘know’ God’s truth and NOT BE ‘SAVED’!

Saving faith will not only produce a love for the truth, it will also produce a ‘hatred’ for sin: “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:12]. This reveals the sinful heart of man. If not for God’s grace we who are now saved would have remained in this condition—loving sin and deriving pleasure in unrighteousness. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” [ John 3:19 ].

So, if you are not ‘saved’ yet, I must urge you now not to delay obeying God’s ‘call’ to love the truth. This is because of what will come to all who willfully choose not to love the truth in the end-times: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:11 ].

The lie mentioned here is the specific lie that the Antichrist is the Savior of the world, the lie that He is worthy of worship as God, the lie that will be well-supported by his powerful miracles, and signs and wonders as I mentioned previously. This verse states that many will believe this lie as a result of a strong delusion from God—and this strong delusion is the awful price they will pay for refusing to love the truth which they receive. Please delve to understand this clearly, so that you will not misinterpret what is being taught here.

Firstly, we must understand that God is always just and fair in all that He does. If God sends strong delusion to anyone, it is not because He delights in seeing them perish in their sins, it is only because they ‘asked’ for it. He had already shown them much grace by sending the truth to them through His ‘witnesses’. Since they despised His truth, the demands of justice must now be met.

Secondly, we must understand that God never leads anyone into false belief. “God is not a man, that he should lie” [ Numbers 23:19 ]. He is a God of truth, and truth characterizes everything that He does. Actually, the phrase “God shall send them strong delusion” (v. 11) is more literally translated as, “God shall send them a working of straying.” The idea is that God withdraws His grace which had enabled them to distinguish truth from error. This leaves them free to wander astray and makes them very susceptible to the Antichrist’s deception. When we understand this correctly, we will see that those who refuse to love the truth are reaping what they have sown. Since they willfully despised God’s grace in sending the truth to them, it is only right that God withdraws from them His grace of being able to distinguish truth from error.

Now, this STRONG ‘DELUSION’ will come to all who ‘WILLFULLY’ CHOOSE not to love the truth when the Antichrist comes, and that may be soon! This means that if you have not responded to the Gospel yet, please do not wait any longer to respond with faith in Jesus Christ—because when the Antichrist comes, it will be too late for you! His deception will have a subversive impact on all unbelievers. Just like a strong magnet, it will draw them all into his ‘web’ of sin and deceit.

Because one refuses to love the truth of God, God ‘withdraws’ His grace from them, and they will certainly be deceived into believing all the false claims of the Antichrist—and be damned for not believing the truth! It will be a most horrible thing to be damned, as it means that they will share the same fate as the Antichrist. When Christ comes with all His saints in His second coming, they will be consumed with the spirit of His mouth and destroyed with the brightness of His coming. That’s not all! After that, their soul will spend eternity in the endless torments of Hell!!!

Biblical prophecies clearly predict the rise of the Antichrist in the end times. Many people believe the great millennial end-game has already begun. As civilization speeds toward its final destiny, the appearance of a powerful world ruler is inevitable. The ultimate question facing our generation is whether he is already alive and well and moving into power. BUT, the ultimate question FOR YOU is, “ARE YOU ‘READY’ to meet Jesus at His Second Coming BEFORE the Antichrist arrives?

[ FYI: For more details about mankind’s ‘final destiny’, view this previous “life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/mankinds-destiny-v247/ ].

Some say that they will wait to see the Antichrist appear on the scene, then they will ‘believe’ in Jesus. HOWEVER, Scripture teaches that when the Antichrist appears, MOST people will still refuse to accept Jesus. Instead, they will turn to follow the lawless one:

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 ].

Just like the elaborate deception and disinformation campaign the Allied forces used against Germany’s forces to ‘FINALLY’ END World War II, the Bible tells of a ‘THE’ FINAL DECEPTION that will be coming just before Satan ‘indwells’ a man (to ‘counterfeit’ how God indwells the believer) that the Bible calls the “Antichrist.”

Make TODAY the day of your salvation!

[ Isaiah 49:8; 2 Corinthians 6:2; John 16:8; Psalm 95:7-8; Hebrews 3:7-8; 1 Timothy 4:2; Romans 1:28; Acts 3:19; Proverbs 28:13; Matthew 25:1-13 ].

SO, even though this post ‘focused’ on the Antichrist, we SHOULD BE putting our complete ‘attention’ on the ‘SECOND COMING’ OF JESUS, not the Antichrist! The Apostle Paul said this better than I can:

“Live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” [ Titus 2:12b-13 ].

One should be ‘fixated’ on the return of Jesus, and He Himself said that we should be:

“Dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him” [ Luke 12:35-36 ].

BE READY for Jesus to ‘return’ at ANY MOMENT!

It could be TODAY!!!

[ Excerpts by: History Channel; Peter Suciu; Got Questions; Victoria Sarvadi; Charles Seet; Ron Rhodes; Ed Hindson; Mark Hitchcock; Jeff Kinley; David Jeremiah; Greg Laurie; Bob Millsaps; Johan Malan; Don Stewart; J.B. Hixson ]

RELATED POSTS:

“The ‘Ongoing’ Deception”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/the-ongoing-deception-v267/

“Being ‘Discerning’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/

“Being ‘Misunderstood’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-misunderstood-v265/

“Gaining A Deep ‘Understanding’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/

“‘Kingdoms’ Past, Present, and Future”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/kingdoms-past-present-and-future-v262/

“Got Your ‘Attention’ Yet?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/got-your-attention-yet-v255/

“Are You ‘Blind’?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/are-you-blind-v252/

“‘Heed’ The Warning!”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/heed-the-warning-v251/

“Being A ‘Watchman’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-a-watchman-v250/

“Mankind’s ‘Destiny’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/mankinds-destiny-v247/

“‘Final’ Tribulation”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/

“Ready For ‘Battle’?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/ready-for-battle-v235/

“New ‘Identity’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/new-identity-v220/

‘PRAYER’ OF REPENTANCE
In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).

If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus.

There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.

Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].

[ FYI: This is a great sermon on the “Call to Repentance” by John MacArthur from his book “The Gospel According to Jesus”: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-22/the-call-to-repentance
(Transcript: http://www.spiritedesign.com/TheCallToRepentance-JohnMacArthur(Jul-27-2019).pdf) ].

[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].

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RESOURCES

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“National D-Day Memorial”

THE FINAL SALUTE: D-DAY PLUS 75 YEARS

On June 6, 1944, Bedford, Virginia lost 20 of the 32 sons it sent to the invasion of Normandy, a devastating blow to the tiny community of just over 3,200 souls. Over time, grief gave rise to solemn pride and deep commitment to ensuring the story of D-Day and its costs and consequences were not lost on future generations. That commitment, along with the distinction of sustaining the highest per capita D-Day losses, placed the monument to D-Day here rather than elsewhere in the country. Dedicated in 2001 with some 24,000 in attendance, the Memorial has since hosted hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe.

The Memorial’s motto – “Commemorating Their Valor, Fidelity, and Sacrifice” – places education squarely at the center of its mission and “The Final Salute,” the 75th anniversary of D-Day, promises to be the Memorial’s biggest educational undertaking yet, and its largest event since the national dedication in 2001.

“The Final Salute” combines the best of the Memorial with the best of the D-Day story: a gathering of veterans and the general public at the nation’s memorial to the invasion of Normandy for reflection and remembrance – the story of ordinary people in extraordinary moments.

Website: https://www.dday.org/75th/

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“D-Day Deception: Operation Fortitude and the Normandy Invasion”
By: Mary Kathryn Barbier

Before landing in France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Allies executed an elaborate deception plan designed to prevent the Germans from concentrating forces in Normandy. The lesser-known first part, Fortitude North, suggested a threat to Norway. The more famous Fortitude South indicated that the invasion would occur at the Pas de Calais rather than Normandy, largely by creating a fictitious army group under Gen. George S. Patton. While historians have generally praised Operation Fortitude, Barbier takes a more nuanced view, arguing that the deception, while implemented well, affected the invasion’s outcome only minimally.

– A much-needed reassessment of the deception operation that preceded the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II
– Involves double agents, fake equipment, phantom units, and famous commanders

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“Fortitude: The D-Day Deception Campaign”
By: Roger Hesketh

The objective was to persuade the enemy that the long-awaited landings would take place in the Pas-de-Calais, and that any attack in Normandy would be nothing more than a diversionary feint that could be safely ignored. Hundreds of bogus agent reports were manufactured, an entire US Army Group was invented, false radio signals transmitted, and inflatable tanks, dummy bombers built of balsa wood and canvas landing craft were positioned where they could be photographed by the Luftwaffe. Each itemed an imminent amphibious assault from Dover, across the shortest stretch of the English Channel. Operation Fortitude was an extraordinary success. In this volume, the classified official history of the entire operation, written by Roger Hesketh as head of the team of D-Day deception specialists, has been declassified and released.

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“The Ghost Army of World War II”
WORLD WAR II’S ARTISTS OF DECEPTION

The Book
The Ghost Army of World War II, by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles, details the fascinating story of this top-secret WWII unit that used inflatable tanks, sound effects, and illusions to fool the Germans on the battlefields of Europe. It is published by Princeton Architectural Press.

The Documentary Film
This award-winning film premiered on PBS in 2013, and has been seen in more than 25 countries. It is available on Amazon and other home video outlets.

The Ghost Army Legacy Project
A non-profit dedicated to honoring and preserving the legacy of The Ghost Army by building a Ghost Army archive, encouraging exhibit development, and seeking official recognition for the unit.

The Tour
Please join joins us for the D-Day to the Rhine Ghost Army Tour. It traces the route of the unit from England, across the Channel to France, through Luxembourg, and Belgium, all the way to Germany.

The Exhibit
The National World War II Museum in New Orleans hs opened a new exhibit, Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II, created in conjunction with the Ghost Army Legacy Project. it is the largest and most ambitious exhibit on the unit ever created. It will remain on display until January 2021.

Website: https://ghostarmy.com/

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“The Ghost Army”

War, deception, art and glory come together in the documentary film “The Ghost Army,” the astonishing true story of American G.I.s — many of whom would later have illustrious careers in art, design and fashion — who tricked the enemy with rubber tanks, sound effects and carefully crafted illusions during WWII. Filmmaker Rick Beyer tells a remarkable story of a top-secret mission that was at once absurd, deadly and amazingly effective.

Website: https://www.pbs.org/show/ghost-army/

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“The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery”
by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles

“A riveting tale told through personal accounts and sketches along the way—ultimately, a story of success against great odds. I enjoyed it enormously.” —Tom Brokaw

The Ghost Army of World War II is the first book to tell the full story of how a traveling road show of artists wielding imagination, paint, and bravado saved thousands of American lives.

In the summer of 1944, a handpicked group of young GIs—including such future luminaries such as Bill Blass, Ellsworth Kelly, Arthur Singer, Victor Dowd, Art Kane, and Jack Masey—landed in France to conduct a secret mission. From Normandy to the Rhine, the 1,100 men of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the Ghost Army, conjured up phony convoys, phantom divisions, and make-believe headquarters to fool the enemy about the strength and location of American units. Every move they made was top secret and their story was hushed up for decades after the war’s end.

Hundreds of color and black and white photographs illuminate how their creations supported the war tactics that helped open the way for the final drive to Germany. The stunning art created between missions offers a glimpse of life behind the lines during World War II:

• Lavishly illustrated with original paintings, sketches, maps, and photographs
• Presents personal accounts and never-before-seen artwork by some of twentieth-century America’s leading visual artists
• Shows first-hand the inflatable tanks, counterfeit patches, and highly orchestrated fake maneuvers created by the Ghost Army

Any collector of World War II books will find The Ghost Army of World War II an essential addition to their library.

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“The Ghost Army of WWII”

During World War II, a massive recruitment effort targeted students from the top art schools across the country. These young designers, artists, and makers were being asked to help execute a wild idea that came out of one of the nation’s most conservative organizations: the United States Army.

[ 99 Takes Productions ]

Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-Sec5gvkj0

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“Ardennes 1944: The Battle of the Bulge”
By: Antony Beevor

The prizewinning historian and bestselling author of D-Day, Stalingrad, and The Battle of Arnhem reconstructs the Battle of the Bulge in this riveting new account

On December 16, 1944, Hitler launched his ‘last gamble’ in the snow-covered forests and gorges of the Ardennes in Belgium, believing he could split the Allies by driving all the way to Antwerp and forcing the Canadians and the British out of the war. Although his generals were doubtful of success, younger officers and NCOs were desperate to believe that their homes and families could be saved from the vengeful Red Army approaching from the east. Many were exultant at the prospect of striking back.

The allies, taken by surprise, found themselves fighting two panzer armies. Belgian civilians abandoned their homes, justifiably afraid of German revenge. Panic spread even to Paris. While some American soldiers, overwhelmed by the German onslaught, fled or surrendered, others held on heroically, creating breakwaters which slowed the German advance.

The harsh winter conditions and the savagery of the battle became comparable to the Eastern Front. In fact the Ardennes became the Western Front’s counterpart to Stalingrad. There was terrible ferocity on both sides, driven by desperation and revenge, in which the normal rules of combat were breached. The Ardennes—involving more than a million men—would prove to be the battle which finally broke the back of the Wehrmacht.

In this deeply researched work, with striking insights into the major players on both sides, Antony Beevor gives us the definitive account of the Ardennes offensive which was to become the greatest battle of World War II.

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“The Battle of the Bulge: The Allies’ Greatest Conflict on the Western Front”
By: Martin King

“Martin King tells the human side of the story of the Battle of the Bulge better than anyone.”
Commander Jeffrey Barta, US Navy (retired)

“I have walked the battlefields with Martin King, who has traversed them countless times with veterans of the Bulge. No one knows this story like Martin, and no one can tell it quite the way he does.”
Rick Beyer, New York Times bestselling author of The Ghost Army of World War II

The vortex of a tornado is a vacuum, and that is where we were, in the centre of a storm of armour and artillery pushing forward into the Ardennes.
– John Hillard Dunn, 106th Division, US Army

The Battle of the Bulge was the largest land engagement of World War II. The German counter-attack, spearheaded by three Panzer armies, found the Allies unprepared and ill-equipped. As the fighting raged across the frosty forests of the Ardennes, it was left to a few untested US Infantry divisions to hold the Allied lines. Written by one of the world’s leading experts on the subject, this account provides an essential introduction to the events of winter 1944-5 and to the many soldiers who risked their lives in defence of freedom.

Drawing on personal interviews, extensive research, and an unparalleled knowledge of the region, Martin King explores one of the most important battles of World War II.

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“Patton at the Battle of the Bulge: How the General’s Tanks Turned the Tide at Bastogne”
By: Leo Barron

In Patton at the Battle of the Bulge, Army veteran and historian Leo Barron explores one of the most famous yet little-told clashes of WWII, a vitally important chapter in one of history’s most legendary battles. Includes photographs!

“Barron captures the fiery general’s command presence and the pivotal commitment of his Third Army tanks to relieve the embattled crossroads town of Bastogne.”—Michael E. Haskew, Author of West Point 1915: Eisenhower, Bradley, and the Class the Stars Fell On

December 1944. For the besieged American defenders of Bastogne, time was running out. Hitler’s forces had pressed in on the small Belgian town in a desperate offensive designed to push back the Allies. The U.S. soldiers had managed to repel repeated attacks, but as their ammunition dwindled, the weary paratroopers of the 101st Airborne could only hope for a miracle.

More than a hundred miles away, General George S. Patton was putting in motion the most crucial charge of his career. Tapped to spearhead the counterstrike was the 4th Armored Division, a hard-fighting unit that had slogged its way across France. But blazing a trail into Belgium meant going up against some of the best infantry and tank units in the German Army. And failure to reach Bastogne in time could result in the overrunning of the 101st and turn the tide of the war against the Allies.

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“The End of World War II in Europe: The History of the Final Campaigns that Led to Nazi Germany’s Surrender”
By: Charles River Editors

*Includes pictures *Includes accounts of the fighting during D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Berlin, and more. *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents By the end of 1943, with Allied forces firmly established in Italy and the Soviets on the verge of turning the tide in Russia, the British and Americans began to plot the invasion that would liberate Europe from the Nazis. During the first half of 1944, the Americans and British commenced a massive buildup of men and resources in the United Kingdom, while Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower and military brass planned the details of an enormous and complex amphibious invasion of Europe. Though the Allies used misinformation to try deceiving the Germans, the most obvious place for an invasion was just across the narrow English Channel, and the Germans had built coastal fortifications throughout France to protect against just such an invasion. The invasion across the Channel came in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944. That day, forever known as D-Day, the Allies commenced Operation Overlord by staging the largest and most complex amphibious invasion in human history. The complex operation would require tightly coordinated naval and air bombardment, paratroopers, and even inflatable tanks that would be able to fire on fortifications from the coastline, all while landing over 150,000 men across nearly 70 miles of French beaches. Given the incredibly complex plan, it’s no surprise that General Eisenhower had already written a letter apologizing for the failure of the invasion, which he carried in his coat pocket throughout the day. After the successful amphibious invasion on D-Day in June 1944, the Allies began racing east toward Germany and liberating France along the way. It was Hitler’s belief that by splitting the Allied march across Europe in their drive toward Germany, he could cause the collapse of the enemy armies and cut off their supply lines. Part of Hitler’s confidence came as a result of underestimating American resolve, but with the Soviets racing toward Berlin from the east, this final offensive would truly be the last gasp of the German war machine, and the month long campaign was fought over a large area of the Ardennes Forest, through France, Belgium and parts of Luxembourg. From an Allied point of view, the operations were commonly referred to as the Ardennes Offensive, while the German code phrase for the operation was Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein (“Operation Watch on the Rhine”), with the initial breakout going under the name of “Operation Mist.” Today, Americans know it best as the Battle of the Bulge. After resisting the German attack, the Allied armies began advancing, and with that, the race to Berlin was truly on. In April 1945, the Allies were within sight of the German capital of Berlin, but Hitler refused to acknowledge the collapsed state of the German military effort even at this desperate stage, and he confined himself to his Berlin bunker where he met for prolonged periods only with those that professed eternal loyalty, even to the point of death. In his last weeks, Hitler continued to blame the incompetence of military officers for Germany’s apparent failings, and he even blamed the German people themselves for a lack of spirit and strength. As their leader dwelled in a state of self-pity, without remorse or mercy but near suicide, the people of Berlin were simply left to await their fate as Russians advanced from the east and the other Allies advanced from the west. The battle would technically begin on April 16, 1945, and though it ended in a matter of weeks, it produced some of the war’s most climactic events and had profound implications on the immediate future. In the wake of the war, the European continent was devastated, leaving the Soviet Union and the United States as uncontested superpowers.

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“Battle of the Bulge” (Movie)

In mid-1944, it looked as if the war in Europe was coming to an end. Adolf Hitler was on the run; the Allies had triumphantly regained Paris, as well as Casablanca, Naples, and Rome. After five hard years of war, Allied soldiers were breathing easier — even stopping to enjoy dances and parties.

Hitler, however, had one final card to play. In December 1944, he struck back with a counterattack that has come to be known as the Battle of the Bulge — the single biggest and bloodiest battle American soldiers have ever fought — in which nearly 80,000 were killed, maimed or captured in an infernal test of courage and endurance.

Battle of the Bulge looks at the battle through the eyes of the U.S. soldiers and combat officers in the field — the young men charged with holding the line and closing the bulge. In their own words, they describe the events leading up to the attack, unpreparedness and surprise of the Allied forces, and the grueling physical and psychological conditions under which they fought.

Packed with newsreel and Army footage, Battle the Bulge offers an intimate, compelling chronicle of war that captures both the action on the battle’s front lines and the strategy behind the scenes. The program uncovers the unique mixture of faith, fear, and prudence that sustained American soldiers in battle and led to their ultimate victory — as well as the horror that still haunts their memories.

It came as a total surprise when, on December 16, 1944, 30 German divisions — a quarter of a million men strong — roared across an 85-mile Allied front, from southern Belgium to the middle of Luxembourg. Secretly planned down to the detail by Hitler himself, the invasion was designed to split the American-British alliance, setting them to quarreling and permitting the Führer to negotiate a peace. The losses on the first day were massive; in some places, the Allies were outnumbered ten to one.

By Christmas, the German offensive had opened a bulge some 50 miles into the Allied lines, forcing the biggest mass surrender of American soldiers since Bataan — some 4,000 men in a single day.

But General Eisenhower decided that this was the Allies’ chance to end the war once and for all. Across the rolling hills and dark forests of Belgium and Luxembourg, more than half a million young men were thrown into the cause.

The soldiers often fought in zero-temperature conditions and driving snow, that prevented them from seeing more than 10 or 20 yards in front of them. With equipment and uniforms that were designed for warmer times, frostbite became a terrible reality. Because soldiers were often cut off from their divisions in foxholes, the wounded, in some cases, literally froze to death.

“Both the enemy and the weather could kill you,” says Private Bart Hagerman of the 17th Airborne in the film. “And the two of them together was a pretty deadly combination.”

“It seems like you’re in this deadly struggle under miserable conditions and the whole universe is united against you,” recalls Sergeant Ed Stewart of the 84th Infantry.

As the battle wore on and the Americans suffered more and more casualties, men had to be found to take their places. As a result, physical standards were lowered, and training was cut short. In one of the film’s most moving sections, Ben Kimmelman, a captain in the 28th Infantry, describes how soldiers who had been physically wounded or disturbed by combat were given cursory treatment and shipped back to the front:

“Men who were wounded and were redeemable were in a very bad position,” recalls Kimmelman.”… It’s very hard to forget the expressions on their faces … a kind of hollow-eyed, lifeless, slack-jawed expression. … It’s almost as though they’re going to a hopeless doom.”

The Battle of the Bulge ended in the last few days of January 1945, when American troops made their way back to the original lines: the ones they had held when the battle began. Sixteen thousand Americans had lost their lives and 60,000 were wounded or captured; German casualties were said to be twice that. And for many veterans, the terrible battle has never ended:

“It doesn’t go away,” says Sergeant Ed Stewart of the 84th Infantry. “It sleeps sometimes, but then it awakens again … It’s an enormity of an experience. And everything after that has been a footnote.”

[ American Experience ]

Website: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/bulge/

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“Practise to Deceive: Learning Curves of Military Deception Planners”
By: Barton Whaley

Written by the undisputed dean of U.S. denial and deception experts, Practise to Deceive is the most in-depth look at deception as a military strategy. Barton Whaley knew the history of denial and deception across time, disciplines, and culture. He was the foremost authority on the intricacies of denial and deception strategy and tactics. For Whaley, deception was a mind-game, requiring imagination, deep critical thought, a profound understanding of the enemy as well as one’s self (a variation of Sun Tzu), and patience and fortitude.

This book presents 88 vividly descriptive case studies to serve as a handbook for intelligence and military professionals. In Whaley’s analysis, variations in guilefulness between opposing individuals or groups can be crucial in deciding who achieves victory in combat.

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“Stratagem: Deception and Surprise in War”
By: Barton Whaley

Out-of-print and out of the hands of military professionals for years, Artech House answers the demand, making the sought-after, classic work, Stratagem: Deception and Surprise in War, available once again. This timeless and widely cited volume offers professionals a model and template for studying and analyzing deception operations. Readers get an historical analysis of deception and surprise, over 100 real-world case studies, and a set of methods that underlie and pervade the entire book. This unique resource takes a broad and deep look at surprise operations, presenting intriguing questions and hypotheses about the possible causes of surprise, including deception. Thoroughly referenced and supported with clear data tables, the case studies concentrate on goals, planning, expectations, security, leaks, warnings, intelligence assessments, and final results. The book concludes with analytical lists of battles from 1914 to 1968, systematically laid out in columns for cross-tabulation.

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“The Art and Science of Military Deception”
By: Hy Rothstein and Barton Whaley

It is said that deception among people in a civilized society is something to be loathed even though it seems to be part of human nature; but deception in war is a virtue. This title provides the reader with sufficient knowledge to pursue General Eisenhower’s vision for the proper role of deception in support of the national interest.

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“The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War”
By: Thaddeus Holt

Secret codes, ciphers, strategic misdirection, and more: Deception was one of the most powerful weapons utilized by the Allies in World War II. Here are some of the amazing tricks and leaked misinformation—many revealed for the first time—that helped lure the Axis powers into false, even dangerous, positions. The collection of incredible codes, surreptitious spies, and false battle plans is made all the more enjoyable by Thaddeus Holt’s masterful writing, as well as the accompanying photos. His novel-like storytelling includes many illuminating profiles of the war’s central figures and the roles they played in specific deceptive operations.

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“SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR”

THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD
Translated from the Chinese
By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910)

I. LAYING PLANS
II. WAGING WAR
III. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM
IV. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS
V. ENERGY
VI. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG
VII. MANEUVERING
VIII. VARIATION IN TACTICS
IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH
X. TERRAIN
XI. THE NINE SITUATIONS
XII. THE ATTACK BY FIRE
XIII. THE USE OF SPIES

[This is the basic text of Sun Tzu on the Art of War. It was extracted from Mr. Giles’ complete work as titled above. The commentary itself, which, of course includes this work embedded within it, has been released as suntzu10.txt (or suntzu10.zip). This is being released only as an adjunct to that work, which contains a wealth of commentary upon this text.]

Web Page: https://fas.org/man/artofwar.htm

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“Who Is the Antichrist?: Answering the Question Everyone Is Asking”
By: Mark Hitchcock

With the growing interest in the Antichrist these days, curiosity runs high for both Christians and unbelievers―with good reason. In books, movies, and even everyday conversation, so many different ideas about who he is, what he will do, and the timing of his arrival abound that it’s difficult to separate biblical fact from human speculation.

Bestselling Bible prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock looks to the one source readers can trust―the Bible―and answers questions such as…

Where will the Antichrist come from?
When will he appear on earth’s stage?
What is the significance of the number 666?
How will he rise to power, and what will finally happen to him?
Will we know who he is before the rapture happens?
Using a friendly question-and-answer format, Mark takes readers on a fascinating tour of all the Bible’s key passages about the Antichrist―and shares how this information applies to their lives today.

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“Antichrist Rising: The Coming Global Storm”
By: Ed Hindson

Is the Antichrist alive today? How will we recognize him? Will he take over control of the world government? As powerful forces pull us toward a one-world government, a one-world religion, and an international leader, theories and wild conjectures about the Antichrist abound. Who is he? What will he do? Avoiding speculation, Ed Hindson turns to Scripture to discover the truth about this master deceiver. Along with compelling evidence that every age has an Antichrist ready to take control, youll discover how you can further Christs kingdom during this crucial time before Antichrists rise to power. “Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus…this is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” I John 4:3

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“The Final Antichrist: The Coming Caesar”
By: Don Stewart

There are many questions which arise regarding this figure known as “Antichrist.” Is it a force, a religious system, or an actual person who is in view? If it is a person, is he a mere human being, or is he a supernatural character, perhaps even the offspring of the devil himself! Has this person already appeared on the stage of history, or should we expect to see him in the future? What does the Bible have to say about these questions? These matters have been debated throughout the centuries. Indeed, there is tremendous curiosity and fascination among believers and non-believers alike on this subject of Antichrist. Fortunately, the Bible gives us much detail about the origin, background, evil character, inglorious career and eventual doom of the coming final Antichrist, the coming Caesar. This book will look at what Scripture has to say about this personage. Our goal is to discover exactly how we should understand the biblical references to the Antichrist. Our Focus Is Upon Jesus The ultimate goal, however, is not to focus on Antichrist, but rather upon Jesus Christ. Antichrist will appear for only a short time while our relationship with Jesus Christ will last forever. Consequently, we should always have this eternal perspective as we study this subject. With this in mind, let us now look at what the Bible has to say about “The Final Antichrist: The Coming Caesar.”

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“Interview with the Antichrist”
By: Jeff Kinley

The story you are about to read is told from the perspective of Julien, a young journalist in close proximity to a person the Bible calls the “Beast.” Julien will give us a window into the character of the Antichrist and how our last days could unfold according to Scripture’s ultimate plot. This imagined prophetic narrative will also reveal how this coming prince may alter reality and impact humankind–and eventually transform into the most malevolent human in history.

But what can be known about this man? What does the Bible actually say about this nefarious individual? How close are we to his unveiling?

More than a suspenseful mystery, however, this speculative account will arouse your prophetic curiosity, whetting your appetite for more information, more solid biblical food on the subject. And you’ll find that in the last section of the book.

Your imagination and curiosity will soar in this raw, rugged, often shocking account of the rise of the Antichrist.

He is real, my friend. And he is coming.

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“Unmasking the Antichrist: Dispelling the Myths, Discovering the Truth”
By: Ron Rhodes

The identity of the Antichrist is a topic of hot debate today. Adding fuel to the flame of rampant speculation are voices saying the Antichrist might be a Muslim or a Jew—a view that respected Bible scholar and bestselling author Ron Rhodes argues against in this revealing, Scripture-based exploration of:

what God’s Word does and does not tell us about the Antichrist
the advance signs, power moves, and eventual fall of this person
the mysterious “Gog”―leader of Northern military coalition mentioned in Ezekiel
It is time for a trustworthy study of this topic to take the place of emotion-based suspicions. Believers, followers of end-times news, and anyone anxiously watching the turmoil of today’s political landscape will be thankful for this thorough, straightforward resource. Excellent for church and personal libraries.

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“Bible Prophecy Answer Book: Everything You Need to Know About the End Times”
By: Ron Rhodes

Studying Prophecy Can Change Your Life

Strengthen your faith and find real hope for the future in this extensive resource that provides concise answers to your most burning questions about Bible prophecy and the end times. Topics include everything from how to interpret prophecy to clarifying the perplexing specifics of the rapture, the antichrist, and the afterlife.

Respected Bible scholar Ron Rhodes addresses questions many are asking, such as…

Is it important that we be aware of the signs of the times?
Do Christians agree about the role of America in Bible prophecy?
Is there biblical evidence that the church will escape the tribulation period?
Will only believers enter into Christ’s millennial kingdom?
In what way will the heavens and earth be made “new”?
Whether you’re looking for quick instruction or you’re eager to go deeper, this accessible Q&A-style guide will help you navigate prophetic Scripture passages and better understand matters of eternal significance.

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“The End Times: A Guide to Bible Prophecy and the Last Days”
By: Britt Gillette

Terrorism. Mass shootings. Drug resistant superbugs. Everywhere you look, it seems as though the end is near. Is it? What does the Bible say?If you’ve ever wondered what will happen in the end times, this is the book for you. In simple language, you’ll learn what the Bible says about the last days and why it matters to your life. In The End Times, you’ll get answers to pressing questions, such as:• What is the Tribulation? And what will it bring?• Who is the Antichrist? And what will he be like?• What is the rapture? And when will it happen?• What is the mark of the beast? And who is the man behind it?• How will the world end? And much more…Once you finish reading this book, you’ll have a full grasp of the people, places, nations, and events pivotal to the end times. You’ll learn who the key figures and personalities are, what major events are set to take place, and God’s purpose in planning it all. Learn what the Bible says, and you’ll gain new insight into current events. Most of all, you’ll gain an inner peace that comes from knowing God’s plan and purpose for your life.

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“The Antichrist: A Systematic Study of Satan’s Counterfeit Christ”
By: Arthur W Pink

Except for Jesus Christ, the Antichrist will one day be the most powerful and influential person the world has ever known. His eventual demise into the lake of fire will be preceded by unfathomable evil, hypocrisy, and worldwide calamities. The son of Satan himself, this false messiah’s masterful deception–intended to destroy God’s eternal plan–will actually bring the plan of God to its much-anticipated climax.

In this captivating study of Satan’s false messiah, the author arranges biblical teaching on the Antichrist around his origin and identity, the time of his appearance, his work and doom, as well as tracing all references to him in the Psalms, the Prophets, the Gospels, the Epistles, and Revelation. This vivid biography of the Lawless One, the full embodiment of human wickedness, is an essential resource for the student of the Scriptures.

https://www.amazon.sg/Antichrist-Systematic-Satans-Counterfeit-Christ/dp/0825435021

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“The Great Last Days Deception”
By: J.B. Hixson

We live in an era where “virtual reality” has replaced reality. Image trumps truth. Style supersedes substance. It has become very difficult to separate fact from fiction. This is because Satan is the prince of this world and he, “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). The lies of Satan are not limited to mere theological or philosophical discussions. They have very real implications. His fabrications have swept the globe and continue to dominate the headlines of our time. These lies serve to advance his agenda in very direct ways. Even many Christians have become unwitting and unknowing captives of Satan’s global deceptive scheme. As the great deceiver, Satan’s primary goal is to blind the hearts of mankind to the truth (2 Cor. 4:4). In this book, we will examine Satan’s agenda of deception in great detail. We will learn that his deception has grown more and more powerful with each passing generation (2 Tim. 3:13). The Bible tells us that the age in which we live is an “evil age” where the “whole world is under the sway of the wicked one” (Gal. 1:4; 1 John 5:19). We will see how Satan’s murderous intention to kill, steal, and destroy all lifehas gained momentum (John 10:10). It will become clear that the cosmic struggle between good and evil is far more real … far more active than perhaps you ever imagined. The struggles we face are, “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Deception does not have to be forceful; it is often subtle. We live in a frightening world of lies and hidden agendas. It is a world of spiritual realities, cosmic battles, unseen enemies, and demonic principalities. It is imperative that we “examine everything carefully” and “hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). When we wake up to the world as it really is, it can be terrifying. Yet, wake up we must if we are to survive this Great Last Days Deception.

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“Identifying the Antichrist: Revealing Truths, Confronting Myths & Misconceptions”
By: Paul R Wild

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed…”

2 Thessalonians 2:8

In his third book in a series that includes The Timing of the Rapture and Is the United States Mentioned in Bible Prophecy: With a Treatise on the Ezekiel 38 and psalm 83 wars, Paul Wild addresses the incorrect views regarding the antichrist’s origin and characteristics. Much of the speculation regarding the identity of the pivotal person in end-times prophecy has hinged more on identifying powerful, influential men who are perceived as evil rather than uncovering the subtle details of his persona.

Paul will:

– Identify his country of origin and his religious and cultural background
– Provide details on his physical and intellectual traits
– Provide details on the timing of his arrival and speculation on his age at that time
– Challenge the focus on Rome and Europe as his seat of power and place the focus on the Middle East
– Settle the argument on who Magog is from the Ezekiel 38-39 war narrative and how that war affects the rise and fall of modern nations leading to his ascension
– Show that the last three yearly Feasts of Israel set the pattern for the rapture of the Church, the repentance of Israel, the ruination of the antichrist, and the return of Jesus.

This book is designed to provide the tools for the Body of Christ to identify the wicked man before he emerges on the world scene in order to prepare for the chaos that follows.

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“ANTICHRIST: How To Identify The Coming IMPOSTER”
By: Charles Crismier

As panic and chaos mushroom globally, the nations clamor for a “New World Order” – a global government to “save” us amid rising fear. The Bible clearly warns that the planet, having abandoned faith in the Creator God, will embrace a charismatic “savior” who will gain dominion “by flattery” and deceptive seduction. This counterfeit “Christ” -the IMPOSTER- indeed the ANTICHRIST, will be presented gloriously and globally, promising a false salvation, and will soon sweep the world into unprecedented tyrannical rule under Satan’s authority.

PREPARE YOUR HEART! What will be read here is neither fear mongering nor sensationalism. Rather, it is a sincere, yet sobering, translation of biblical truth intended to woo, to warn and to prepare the peoples of our planet to identify the characteristics of the most tyrannical and terrifying leader ever and soon to rule the world.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Jesus himself warned that most, having abandoned the “fear of the Lord,” will be seduced by fear of man to receive a mark -the “mark of the beast,” thus declaring their eternal allegiance to Satan. The jury is now out for each of us as we lurch toward history’s final hour.

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“Antichrist, The Vatican and the Great Deception”
By: Bob Mitchell

Prepare to have your world view shattered as best selling author Bob Mitchell takes you on a journey from ancient Babylon and Nimrod, the first world ruler, to the mystics and Freemasons of the Middle Ages and modern day; to the strange ceremony the Freemasons carry our every time a new president is elected in the USA invoking a spirit into the new leader, to the EU and its link back to Babylon and the Tower of Babel; to the unsolved, nagging mysteries of 9/11 and the stripping of our individual freedom; the possible 9/11 link to Black Magician Aleister Crowley and the release of demonic forces onto the earth; to the apparent plans of the world’s elite for a coming global crisis and a one world government; to the mystical Illuminati symbolism of the 2012 London Olympics hastening a global disaster; to the Vatican and its search for UFOs and an alien saviour and the mysterious object Jesuit astronomers are watching as it approaches earth; to the strange prophecies of St Malachy regarding the final pope who will take the Roman Catholic Church into the Great Tribulation; to the predictions of ancient Hebrew Prophets about the Last Days; the current plans in Israel for a Third Temple, a Temple the prophets warned will be desecrated by the Antichrist and the rise of a pagan based false Christianity based in Rome. All this and more is merely part of the age old preparation for the appearance of the Antichrist and his False Prophet, both of whom will bring such calamity and demonic deception to the earth only to be brought to a halt at the physical return to earth of Jesus Christ. Those days are almost upon us. Be informed and be ready to be shocked by these revelations. Illustrated and referenced.

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“Can We Know?: Why the Church Can Discover the Identity of the Antichrist!”
By: Charles K. Bassett

Did you know? Most scholars say we cannot learn the identity of the Antichrist today. Indeed, they believe that looking for him at the present time is a waste of time.

But how many people realize that Scripture says:

• It is the duty of the Church to solve the 666 code (Rev. 13:18).

• It is the duty of Christians to recognize false christs (Mt. 24:5).

• God will guide us into “all truth” concerning “things to come” (Jn. 16:13).

Now, author Charles K. Bassett takes these Scriptures―and many others―and shows why the conventional wisdom is almost certainly wrong, and why it’s not only possible to determine the identity of the Antichrist today, but why God actually wants us to try and determine it!

We guarantee: Your entire outlook on this issue will be changed by what is revealed in Can We Know?

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“What Every Christian Should Know About the Antichrist: Discovering the Truth About the End Times”
By: A. W. Pink

“The contents of this book were first given out by the author at Bible Conferences, and then appeared in their present form in Studies in the Scriptures. As the subject of them is of such importance to students of prophecy, and as so little has been published thereon, we have deemed it advisable to issue them, complete, in book form. So far as the writer is aware, only two or three comparatively brief booklets and essays have appeared on this particular theme, though to their contents we are indebted for a number of helpful suggestions. Our aim has been to present as comprehensive an outline as our space would allow. Much of what we have advanced will no doubt be new to the great majority of our readers. Frequently we have been obliged to deviate from the interpretations of those who have gone before us. Nevertheless, we have sought to give clear proof texts for everything advanced, and we would respectfully urge the reader to examine them diligently and impartially.

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“Expectations of the Antichrist”
By: Chuck Missler and Ron Matsen

There are many diverse anticipations concerning the Coming World Leader, commonly referred to as “The Antichrist.” This study will explore the Biblical descriptions with the specific expectations of the globalists, Islam, the Vatican, Freemasonry, and others. Will he be a Nephilim? Why is the Vatican openly preparing to receive an “alien” visitor? Will he be a resurrection of Nimrod? Is his DNA a factor? What are the expectations of transhumanist technologists in this regard? Clearly, the Bible has much more to illuminate this issue far beyond the popular conceptions; and yet the composite perspective will astonish most. Furthermore, is there a climactic cosmic deception being prepared that, if it were possible, “it would deceive the very elect”? Jesus commanded us, “Be not deceived.” But, how? How close are these events to our current horizon?

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“Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices”
By: Thomas Brooks

‘The strange opposition I met with from Satan, in the study of the following discourse, hath put an edge upon my spirit, knowing that Satan strives mightily to keep these things from seeing the light that tend eminently to shake and break his kingdom of darkness, and to lift up the kingdom and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the soul and lives of the children of men…’

This is one of the seven reasons for writing this book which the author Thomas Brooks gives in his preface.

Among the publishers’ reasons for this reprint is the fact, noted by George Smeaton, that the best Christian authors of former times treated the seductive influence and terrible power of Satan in a way ‘greatly more full and suggestive than in the literature of the present day.’ William Grimshaw, in the eighteenth century, was not the first nor the last to learn this lesson from Brooks’ ‘Precious Remedies’, and our modern age greatly needs the message which is thrust back into preeminence in these pages.

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“Satan’s Deception from the Beginning: That good people can reject the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus and find their own path to God”
By: Robert Medlin

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:41-47 NIV)

In the above scripture, Jesus was talking to people who claimed to believe in God, but they were totally deceived. They vehemently declared that God was their father. But these same people were rejecting Jesus. Jesus explained to them that if God were truly their father, they would love Jesus and believe in him. Jesus was speaking the words of God. If God were their father, they would believe the words of Jesus. Jesus came from the Father to reveal the Father to us. It should have been obvious to them that Jesus was not like other human beings. Jesus was God in human form. Jesus was sinless.

Jesus said that God was not their father. Jesus said that, in actuality, Satan, the father of lies, was their father.

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“The Day Approaching: An Israeli’s Message of Warning and Hope for the Last Days”
By: Amir Tsarfati

Are You Noticing the Signs of the Times?

In the Bible, Jesus spoke about the signs that would make it clear His return is near. What are those signs? And are they evident today?

As a Jewish native Israeli who is a Christian, Amir Tsarfati has a distinct perspective that weaves biblical history, current events, and Bible prophecy together to shine light on the mysteries about the end times. From his vantage point in the Middle East and through careful Bible study, Amir points to evidence that informs us the return of the Lord is imminent.

In The Day Approaching, you will learn…
God’s plans for the world, Israel, the church, and you
that the signs of Christ’s return are visible all around us
about the smoke screen of deception that will lure people away from truth
how even now God is revealing Himself to people and changing their hearts
of the wonders that await us in Jesus’ future millennial kingdom
As you seek hope and clarity about earth’s final days, let the Bible alone be the resource you turn to for answers.

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“The Last Hour: An Israeli Insider Looks at the End Times”
By: Amir Tsarfati

Avoiding sensationalism and date-speculating, respected Bible teacher Amir Tsarfati uses his unique perspective as an Israeli Christian to lead you through a fascinating modern-day description of God’s plan for the end of the world.

Grounded from start to finish in Scripture, the book reveals how the Rapture, the imminent rise of the Antichrist, and the tragic horrors of the Great Tribulation will play out in our world today. He also helps you understand the roles–and fates–of Russia, Iran, Syria, Turkey, the European Union, the United States of America, and Israel in the end times, showing just how biblical prophecies are being fulfilled in our time. But above all, he offers hope that in the midst of chaos and horror, God is ultimately in control, and those who belong to him will be safe with him.

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“Satan’s Secret: Exposing the Master of Deception and the Father of Lies”
By: D A Teunis

The author radically addresses conflicting denominational beliefs associated with established Christian doctrinal teachings including the immortality of the soul, hell-fire/eternal torment, miracles, God’s Kingdom, prayer, the Trinity and the salvation and eventual resurrection of the entire human race. Then, through extensively detailed scriptural research he provides a thought provoking and inspirational conclusion attributing these differences to the true source of universal deception,Satan, the father of lies and beguilement.Other topics that reveal Satan’s influence onChristian thought and moral character covers abortion, homosexuality, capital punishment, occultism and the heinous terrorist attacks perpetrated on a country known for its Christian values. These are covered at length, in detail and are explained in conjunction with the plan of God and its revelation through an intense study of His Word.Being a devoted non-denominational Bible student with 30 years of experience and personal connections has its reward as these dilemmas are explained through the eyes of this movement?s most knowledgeable leaders. The author enlightens the reader to ‘lost’ unparalleled dimensions in thinking, slicing through traditional parameters and exposing the ‘truth’ which has been hidden from the majority of the followers of Christ for so many centuries.It’s time the world is reintroduced to the God of eternal love and not the God of wrath and punishment, says the author. Come, let us reason together!

https://www.amazon.com/Satans-Secret-Exposing-Master-Deception/dp/14107358

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“The Morning of the Magicians”
By: Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier

A classic of radical literature, this revolutionary study has challenged conventional knowledge and assumptions for decades, offering unique perspectives on everything from alchemy, politics, history, and supernatural phenomena to magic, Nazi occultism, and mankind’s place in the universe. Drawing from the work of Charles Fort and Carl Jung, among others, the authors explore the importance of history and its varied perceptions and propose new ways of interpreting reality. Through these visionary ideals, they assert that mankind can ultimately achieve cosmic interconnectedness.

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“The Prophecy Answer Book”
By: David Jeremiah

For anyone curious about prophecy and the signs of the end times, this book links the pieces of the prophecy puzzle in plain, simple language.

There are 1,000 prophecies in the Bible so it’s natural to wonder, have any prophecies been fulfilled? Do they really explain the future? Can we really know what will happen at the end of time? In succinct and clear answers to most frequently asked questions, Dr. Jeremiah decodes and clarifies prophecy for the average person. He explains in simple lay terms what could otherwise be mysterious and even frightening, allowing readers to gain a balanced and assuring perspective of the significance of prophetic events to their personal lives as believers in Christ. He also helps readers understand how prophecy is directly related to world events today.

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“What in the World is Going On?: 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore”
By: Dr. David Jeremiah

In the New York Times best-selling book, What in the World Is Going On?, Dr. David Jeremiah answers the hard questions, including these: “How is prophecy playing out in modern Europe?” “Why does Israel matter?” “How are oil reserves and Islamic terrorism related?” “Does the United States play a role in prophecy?” “How should we live in the end times?”

The Bible has plenty to say about end times. But until now, there has been no other book that—in straightforward prose that’s easy to understand —gathers ten scriptural prophecies, lays out a chronological checklist, and offers a guideline for sorting it all out. In What in the World Is Going On? Dr. David Jeremiah answers the hard questions, including these: “How is prophecy playing out in modern Europe?” “Why does Israel matter?” “How are oil reserves and Islamic terrorism related?” “Does the United States play a role in prophecy?” “How should we live in the end times?”

Events unfolding in today’s world are certainly unsettling, but they need not be confusing or frightening. Now you can know the meaning behind what you see in the daily news—and understand what in the world is going on!

“A clear, compelling primer on God’s heart for Israel and the dramatic Bible prophecies that will unfold in these last days. What I loved most is that David Jeremiah unashamedly examines and explains the biggest global trends of our day through the Third Lens of Scripture. And his description of Jesus’ unconditional love and compassion for Jews and Muslims is alone worth the read!”
—Joel C. Rosenberg, New York Times best-selling author, The Last Jihad and Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your World

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“Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist”
(Left Behind Series Book 3)
By: Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Book 3 in the 12-book series that has sold over 63 million copies!

Read the books that launched a cultural phenomenon!

“This is the most successful Christian fiction series ever.”
―Publishers Weekly

“Combines Tom Clancy–like suspense with touches of romance, high-tech flash, and biblical references.”
―New York Times

“Call it what you like, the Left Behind series . . . now has a label its creators could have never predicted: blockbuster success.”
―Entertainment

Are you ready for the moment of truth?
Mass disappearances
Political crisis
Economic crisis
Worldwide epidemics
Environmental catastrophe
Military apocalypse
And that’s just the beginning . . .
of the end of the world.

The 12 books in the series by New York Times best-selling authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins cover the events of biblical prophecy surrounding the rapture and the seven-year period known as the tribulation that follows.

Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist
Rayford Steele and Cameron “Buck” Williams find themselves pressed into service for the man they believe could be the Antichrist. Nicolae Carpathia takes over the United Nations, signs a peace treaty with Israel, and begins to lure the nations of earth together to form one global village. As believers band together following the Rapture, their peaceful world is destroyed again when global war erupts.

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“OF Antichrist, AND HIS – RUIN: AND Of the Slaying the Witnesses”

I. Of Antichrist.
II. Of the ruin of Antichrist.
III. Of the manner of the ruin of Antichrist.
IV. Of the signs of the approach of the downfall of Antichrist.
V. Of the instruments that God will use to bring Antichrist to his ruin.
VI. Of the causes of the ruin of Antichrist.

[ John Bunyan ]

Online book: http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.John.Bunyan/Sermons.Allegories/Antichrist.Ruin/1.html

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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

SPECIAL ‘GENERAL’ RESOURCE

“ApologetiX Songbook”
(An interactive PDF)

It features the lyrics to every song on every CD and every “download” from 1993-2020

Special features:
– indexed by title, original song, original artist, subject, and Bible verse
– each song’s page has icons showing what albums it appears on
– each song’s page has a commentary from lyricist J. Jackson
– each album’s page includes liner notes and track listing
– print any pages you like or use for slides in church
– photos from ApologetiX’s debut concert in 1992
– discography of out-of-print cassettes
– downloadable in PDF format

New features in this edition:
– all song commentaries from J. Jackson updated and expanded
– also indexed by year when original song spoofed was a hit
– J.’s original handwritten rough lyrics to 40 ApX classics
– scads of photos from ApX 25th-anniversary concerts
– list of 40 ApX parodies most likely to be redone
– over 200 new parodies and journal entries
– list of the first ApX concerts in each state
– six new full-length feature articles
– DVD discography and synopses
– never-before-seen rare photos
– lyrics for over 700 parodies
– over 1000 pages!

Interactive features:
– click on any page number in indexes or TOC to go to that page
– click on any album icon to go to its liner notes and track listings
– click on any song title on an album page to go to that song

Note: This e-book is a download-only and doesn’t include sheet music.

The songbook is available for a donation of $50 or more. After we receive your donation, we’ll send you a follow-up email with the link.

Get the Songbook for a donation:
http://www.apologetix.com/store/store.php#songbook

Songbook Demo Video: https://rumble.com/vfazhl-apologetix-songbook-2020-demo.html

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“THE SEARCH FOR MEANING” WEBSITE

This site presents discussions on the 12 most commonly asked questions about the Christian faith.

The 12 discussions are accessed by the “tabs” at the bottom of the page. The tabs are numbered 1-12. Roll your mouse over them and you will see the question displayed at the right. Click on the number to select that question.

Within each question (i.e. tabs 1-12), there are subtopics (or dialogues) to select that appear as smaller tabs underneath the numbered tabs. Roll your mouse over them and the title of these topics is also displayed to the right. Click on the open rectangle to select that dialogue.

For each question (1-12), a link to related resources and an optional flowchart is provided. To access this material, click on the respective words, “Related Resources” or “Options Flowchart.”

To play a more detailed discussion of the subject, between two people, select the desired dialogue and click on “Play Audio Dialogue.”

In the upper right-hand corner of the page, there is an icon that looks like binoculars looking at a question mark. Click on this icon to return to the homepage.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Related Resources” page, there is an icon that looks like some books. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the resources for all of the questions. There also are additional “appendices” for most of the questions.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Flowchart” page, there is an icon that looks like an Org chart. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the flowcharts.

http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q1_d1_1of10.html

[ Content by: Bill Kraftson and Lamar Smith; Website by Mark Besh ]

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“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEB SITE
(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)

CLICK ON THE LINK to view:
http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/

FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/

[ Mark Besh ]

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[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further if Jesus is the only ‘way’ to God, visit the following link:
http://www.4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q6_d1_1of10.html ].

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ARTICLES

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“Operation Fortitude and The Ghost Armies | Secrets of War (WW2 Documentary)”

In WW2, the Allies often used numerous forms of deception to throw off their enemies. Here, we learn how painted battleships, rubber tanks and fake paratroopers were all used to throw off the enemy during the last world war.

[ Timeline Documentaries ]

Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe8fIM_9xqg

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“The “Ghost Army” of World War II”

Happy Halloween from your Friends at the National World War II Memorial! In the spirit of all things spooky, it feels fitting to take a look at the so-called “Ghost Army” of World War II.

During World War II, the Allied Armies deployed a tactical deception unit known as the “Ghost Army.” Officially called the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops under Operation Quicksilver, the 1,100-man unit was given a unique mission within the Allied Army: to impersonate other Allied Army united to deceive the enemy. [more…]

[ Friends of the National World War II Memorial ]

Website: https://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/blog/ghost-army/

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“‘Artists Of Deception’: Fooling The Enemy During WWII”

Wednesday is the anniversary of D-Day, the day in 1944 when thousands of Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy during World War II. Among the units that fanned out through France and Germany was the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops — or the so-called “Ghost Army.” Its existence was top secret, and its men used trickery and artistry to fool the enemy.

“It’s about creativity and imagination and using them in war not to kill your enemy, but to save lives, and that is a cool thing,” said Lexington filmmaker Rick Beyer.

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Beyer is drawing back the curtain on this chapter of military history in “Artists of Deception: The Ghost Army of World War II,” a documentary he’s been working on for seven years.

It starts out the way so many war documentaries do; footage from the time, shot from a German reconnaissance plane, roles across the screen. In the narration, actor Peter Coyote describes what Nazi soldiers are seeing from the sky.

“Across the river from Dusseldorf, the view from the air reveals hundreds of American vehicles. Intercepted Allied radio transmissions confirm the presence of two American divisions…”

The Germans see the Allied forces, troops and armored vehicles. But those tanks are actually 93-pound inflatable decoys, made of rubber.

Filmmaker Rick Beyer proudly wears the Ghost Army’s unofficial insignia. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
Filmmaker Rick Beyer proudly wears the Ghost Army’s unofficial insignia. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
“The Ghost Army was like a traveling road show of deception,” Beyer explained. His painstakingly researched film reveals the secretive battalion’s story.

“So they’re a unit of 1,000 guys who are pretending to be 10,000, 20,000 or 30,000 people — for a few days at a time — right on the front lines,” he said. “And then, before everybody could figure out what’s going on, they pack up their tents and fade away.”

Only to move on to doing it again someplace else.

The Ghost Army soldiers were bright, young creatives — artists, designers, radio engineers. They joined the army and were handpicked to engage in novel kind of psychological warfare. Costumes, camouflage, impersonation, props, fake radio transmissions, visual and sound effects were their weapons, used ingeniously to fool the enemy.

“So if they’re trying to get the Germans to think that the 75th Infantry Division is here at a certain place, they’re going to set up a phony 75th Infantry Division headquarters,” Beyer said. “They’re gonna have a lieutenant in their unit put on general stars and act like he’s the general of the 75th Infantry Division — totally against Army regulations, but they did it.

“They’re going to take their trucks,” he continued, “put 75th Infantry markings on them, and drive them through the town — back and forth. And they did this not once, not twice, 21 different times.”

This type of deception was new for everyone involved, not just the soldiers. The military even produced a training film. Parts of it are in the documentary.

The voiceover instructs, “Every sound that is part of the bridge-building operation is picked up by this microphone, carried through this cable, and recorded inside this sound recording truck. On this turntable, exactly the way a phonograph record is made.”

Sitting in his son’s office, Jack McGlynn — former mayor of Medford and the father of the current mayor Michael McGlynn — remembers signing on to the Ghost Army’s “Sonic Deception Unit” as a 21-year-old.

Jack McGlynn, the former mayor of Medford and a soldier in the Ghost Army’s sonic deception unit. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
Jack McGlynn, the former mayor of Medford and a soldier in the Ghost Army’s sonic deception unit. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
“Being a young naive gentleman I felt, ‘Well, I’m going to shoot the Germans with sound! That’s for me. We’re gonna get this war over!’ ” McGlynn recalled with a smile.

But what the eight-man Sonic Unit really did first was create a massive library of sounds they would ultimately use in battle.

“We went to Fort Knox, recorded tanks backing up and stopping,” McGlynn described. “Trucks out in the main highways. Jeeps. Vehicles starting, stopping, so that would be used when we finally did get over to Europe.”

Once in Europe, the unit essentially turned its hulking military trucks into giant boom-boxes.

“We had 30 half-tracks — a specific kind of armored vehicle — and each one of them had a gigantic speaker on them,” McGlynn said. “And as our compatriots who had the rubber tanks and trucks and jeeps were putting them into the woods and all, we were making the sounds as though they were really metal tanks and trucks with great guns on them.”

McGlynn, now 90 years old and part of Beyer’s documentary, told me the enemy was completely duped.

“The amazing thing is in all the situations that we found ourselves in, the Germans never wised up to the fact that we were a phony ghost army,” McGlynn said.

Throughout the war, a good number of Ghost Army soldiers made art for themselves — black and white sketches, colorful drawings and paintings of bombed out churches, battlefields, downtrodden civilians, their unit mates and human forms. Even casualties. This side of the Ghost Army is also in captured in Beyer’s film.

The National, a Brooklyn-based rock band, adopted the Ghost Army’s unofficial insignia as its own on t-shirts and hoodies. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
The National, a Brooklyn-based rock band, adopted the Ghost Army’s unofficial insignia as its own on t-shirts and hoodies. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
Some of the artists became famous after the war: fashion designer Bill Blass, painter and sculptor Ellsworth Kelly and photographer Art Kane.

Kane took the iconic shot of 57 jazz musicians in Harlem.

“Those are the most famous,” Beyer said, “but you’ve got a lot of other people who ended up doing things like designing dresses for Marilyn Monroe, or working on the architecture for the Space Needle in Seattle, or creating the Hamm’s Beer bear, or designing the packaging for Chiclets. All of these kinds of things that affect our culture can be tracked back to the Ghost Army.”

More recently The National, a Brooklyn-based rock band, adopted the Ghost Army’s unofficial insignia as its own on t-shirts and hoodies.

The creative intelligence and sensitivity that fueled the clandestine deception unit inspired Beyer to start making his documentary seven years ago. That’s when Beverly resident Martha Gavin showed the filmmaker wartime artworks by her uncle, John Jarvie, a Ghost Army veteran.

“The juxtaposition of the bizarre and the deadly, and the juxtaposition of the deception mission and then the artists painting and sketching was all very affecting to me,” Beyer said, “and then eventually I interviewed 25 veterans of this unit for the film. And I fell in love with these guys. I mean, these guys are amazing.”

Guys like Jack McGlynn were happy to talk to Beyer about their experiences because they’d been told to keep the Ghost Army’s activities classified for decades.

War historian Jonathan Gawne, author of book on the Ghost Army, wearing the Ghost Army’s unofficial insignia. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
War historian Jonathan Gawne, author of book on the Ghost Army, wearing the Ghost Army’s unofficial insignia. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
“No one ever had any idea what it was about — even our own comrade soldiers, who were maybe side by side with us, had no idea,” he said.

McGlynn didn’t tell his wife and family until four years ago. Now he’s grateful that his phantom outfit’s role in World War II is being acknowledged.

“Well, we hope that we saved lives — and we probably did,” McGlynn said quietly.

“There’s no question these guys saved lives,” war historian Jonathan Gawne confirmed. “Because if you’re able to set things up so that you avoid heavy combat in a certain area, lives on both sides are saved.”

Gawne wrote the 2002 book, “Ghosts of the ETO,” and helped Beyer fact-check the new documentary. The Framingham author said collecting the Ghost Army vets’ stories has been a race against time.

“They’ve passed away, or their memories started to slip away, and now that those have been recorded, those stories won’t be lost,” Gawne said, marveling at the fact that Beyer accomplished the task without having enough money to fully fund what he was doing.

“Seven of the veterans have passed away, and it’s sad to say that I check the obituaries trying to make sure that nobody else goes missing on me there,” Beyer admitted.

A traveling exhibit on the Ghost Army. (Courtesy)
A traveling exhibit on the Ghost Army. (Courtesy)
Beyer’s documentary is nearly finished. He said he still needs to raise a bit more money to make that happen. But he hopes to get the film out to the public soon so the surviving vets and their families can see it. Beyer has lead a Kickstarter campaign along the way. He’s also amassed a trove of Ghost Army artwork and artifacts into a colorful, fact-laden book and a traveling exhibition. The show is currently on display at the Beverly Historical Society, and it includes one of those impressive inflatable tanks. “Artists of Deception: The Ghost Army of World War Two,” has become a profound labor of love for Beyer.

“You know, I started out making a film and now I think I’m embedded for life,” he said. “What am I gonna do?”

[ Andrea Shea ]

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‘Ghost Army’ in WWII used inflatable tanks to fool the Nazis and win the war
By Mindy Weisberger – Senior Writer September 02, 2020

This special U.S. Army unit remained secret for over 40 years.

The WWII Ghost Army unit used inflatable military equipment, such as the pictured armored vehicle, to fool German forces. They operated from May 1944 through the end of the war in 1945. (Image credit: The National WWII Museum)

Today (Sept. 2) marks the 75th anniversary of Word War II’s end. During this historic global conflict, hundreds of bloody skirmishes were waged on land, sea and air. But one top-secret U.S. Army battalion fought not with bullets but with stagecraft, using inflatable life-size tanks, phony insignias, soundscapes and fake radio transmissions to deceive German soldiers on the battlefield.

The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, also known as the “Ghost Army,” brought together artists, career military officers and audio experts in a unique unit devoted to the art of deception — “the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in U.S. Army history,” according to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The museum features a number of Ghost Army artifacts in the special exhibit “Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II,” on display until Jan. 3, 2021.

Using a combination of science and art, the Ghost Army staged nearly two dozen missions between May 1944 and 1945 with the sole purpose of tricking Nazi troops about the whereabouts of Allied forces in Europe. In the process, their efforts saved the lives of thousands of Allied soldiers. Its existence was kept secret for more than 40 years after the war’s end; the Ghost Army remained officially classified until the mid-1990s, according to the WWII Museum. [ more ]

[ Photos of inflatables ]

Article: https://www.livescience.com/wwii-ghost-army.html

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“Allied ‘Ghost Army’ deployed inflatable tanks, aircraft to fool the Axis in World War II”

‘At 300, 400, 500 yards, these things look real,’ curator James Linn IV says of the decoy
artillery used to deceive the Axis into thinking Allied forces were much larger. The Ghost
Army unit was comprised of approximately 1,100 men who used inflatable military
equipment, such as the pictured armored vehicle, along with sonic and radio deception to
fool the German forces from May 1944 through the end of the war in 1945. [more…]

[ Photos of inflatables ]

[ John Pope ]

Article: https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/article_c1631544-5fef-11ea-9b19-6ff635e9b3e9.html

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“The Ghost Army of World War II”

The Ghost Army was a unique unit that used inflatable tanks, sound effects, and imagination to fool the Germans on the battlefields of Europe. The unsung heroes of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd and 3103rd Signal Companies (Special) saved thousands of lives and helped win the war, but their efforts were kept secret for over fifty years and have yet to be fully recognized.

Roy Eichhorn discusses the formation of the Ghost Army, its operations and the many Jewish soldiers who played important roles. This includes the Ghost Army’s special assignment during the early period of the liberation of concentration and labor camps when they cared for 100,000 displaced persons.

Roy Eichhorn is president of Critical Thinking Applications LLC and consults on critical and strategic thinking. As Director, Research and Development, US Army Command and General Staff College, he did extensive research on the Ghost Army and other military deception efforts. Roy contributed to the re-introduction of Ghost Army deceptions to the U.S. Army and developed case studies around it for Army schools. He is the stepson of Ghost Army soldier George Martin (603rd Engineers) and a board member of the Ghost Army Legacy Project.

[ National Museum of American Jewish Military History ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChaI2YnI5Ko

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“D-Day”

CONTENTS:
– Preparing for D-Day
– A Weather Delay: June 5, 1944
– D-Day Landings: June 6, 1944
– Victory in Normandy

During World War II (1939-1945), the Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. Prior to D-Day, the Allies conducted a large-scale deception campaign designed to mislead the Germans about the intended invasion target. By late August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and by the following spring the Allies had defeated the Germans. The Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe. [more…]

[ HISTORY.COM EDITORS ]

Web Page: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day

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“D-Day deception: How phantom armies and fake information helped win the Battle of Normandy”

Remembering D-Day: A 75th Anniversary Special
June 6, 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the beginning of the Battle for Normandy. Martha MacCallum helps us remember the triumphs, tragedy and brilliant strategic planning that our brave soldiers endured.

It was 75 years ago that the Allied forces undertook Operation Overlord, the codename for the invasion for the Battle of Normandy, which involved the D-Day landings that were actually codenamed Operation Neptune.

However, less known – but perhaps equally important – was Operation Bodyguard, the codename for the World War II deception plan that was intended to mislead the German high command as to when and where the invasion would take place.

As the overall strategic deception plan, Operation Bodyguard began in earnest in 1943 under the auspices of the London Controlling Section (LCS), a secret department that had been established in September 1941 to coordinate all Allied military deception efforts. The department had numerous sub-operations – each with its own specific roles and objectives. [ more…]

[ Peter Suciu ]

Article: https://www.foxnews.com/science/d-day-deception-phantom-armies-fake-information

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“75th Anniversary of D-Day”

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the greatest amphibious invasion the world has ever seen. The historic D-day invasion of Normandy, France, was a turning point in World War II, but it was just the initial assault in a massive operation that liberated Western Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany, on May 7, 1945.

Today, D-day is remembered by many as the beginning of the end of World War II, but in the predawn hours of that pivotal day, success was not assured. After years of fighting and strategic planning, the stakes were enormous for the supreme command of the Allied Expeditionary Force and the more than 160,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen who crossed the English Channel that day.

This collection of documents reveals the dogged determination and endurance of the Allied forces that made D-day the triumph we celebrate today.

On display in the East Rotunda Gallery through July 2, 2019. Made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of The Boeing Company. [more…]

[ National Archives Foundation ]

Web Page: https://archivesfoundation.org/documents/75th-anniversary-d-day/

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“75th Anniversary of D-Day Electronic Field Trip”

Commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day and embark on a virtual transatlantic adventure to the sites where D-Day history was made. Guided by student reporters from the United States, England, Canada, and France, this journey provides insights into the greatest amphibious invasion in history, in only one hour.

Discover the lessons and legacies of Operation Overlord, explore the coast of southern England and the iconic invasion sites in Normandy, France, and participate in a special remembrance at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach.

[ The National WWII Museum ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIA_Gw8-0zA

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“The Final Salute: D-Day Plus 75 Years”

[ National D-Day Memorial ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_KBNv6wxBw

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“6 JUN 1944 – The Light Of Dawn – Colorized Documentary”

The Light of Dawn tells the story of Operation Overlord. It traces one of the largest military operations man has ever conceived since the summer of 1941 – when Churchill and Roosevelt first broached the issue – to June 6, 1944. He deciphers the strategy of ‘Hitler to make it fail. The film recounts this crucial turning point in World War II where questions of geopolitics (the difficult alliance between London, Moscow and Washington), the various military strategies and technological prowess as well as the fate of the young soldiers who attacked the wall of the Atlantic will pay a heavy price.

The landing will be told here in the style of a play with its intrigues, its dramas, the art of bluffing and the fate of the world being played out.

Entirely written with archival footage remastered and colorized, this 90-minute film written and directed by Jean-Christophe Rosé was produced for France Télévisions as part of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June 2014. This film was produced by Kuiv Productions.

[ Best Documentary ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pD5Nkd8mkw

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“D-Day: 10 things you might not know about the Normandy invasion

On 6 June 1944, British, US and Canadian forces invaded the coast of Normandy in northern France.

The landings were the first stage of Operation Overlord – the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe – and aimed to bring an end to World War Two.

By night-time, around 156,000 Allied troops had arrived in Normandy, despite challenging weather and fierce German defences.

At the end of D-Day, the Allies had established a foothold in France and within 11 months Nazi Germany was defeated.

Here are 10 things you may not have known about the operation: [ more…]

[ Keiligh Baker ]

Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48215675

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“D-DAY DECEPTION: OPERATION FORTITUDE SOUTH”

The Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on 6 June 1944 – the start of the campaign to liberate north-western Europe – was a massive operation to land almost 133,000 soldiers in heavily defended territory. To give them the best possible chance of success, and to minimise casualties, an elaborate web of deception had been spun for almost a year previously.

The aim of the deception was to reinforce the belief among those in the German high command that the main Allied landings would be in the Pas-de-Calais, across the Strait of Dover – not where they would really be, in Normandy. [more…]

Web Page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/history-and-stories/d-day-deception/

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“Ghost Army Legacy Project”

The Ghost Army used inflatable tanks, sound effects, and imagination to fool the Germans on the battlefields of Europe. The unsung heroes of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Company Special saved thousands of lives and helped win the war, but their efforts were kept secret for fifty years and have yet to be officially recognized. The mission of The Ghost Army Legacy Project is to preserve and honor the legacy of these men.

Explore
Delve into our growing Ghost Army archive and learn about other Ghost Army resources

Learn
Discover more about the unit and its operations

Advocate
Lend your voice to our campaign to have the unit awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Stay Current
Get the latest Ghost Army News

Web Page: http://www.ghostarmylegacyproject.org/

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“WHY D-DAY WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ALLIED VICTORY”

The invasion of northern France in 1944 was the most significant victory of the Western Allies in the Second World War. American, British and Canadian forces established a foothold on the shores of Normandy, and, after a protracted and costly campaign to reinforce their gains, broke out into the French interior and began a headlong advance. The German Army suffered a catastrophe greater than that of Stalingrad, the defeat in North Africa or even the massive Soviet summer offensive of 1944.

[ Imperial War Museums ]

WebPage: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/why-d-day-was-so-important-to-allied-victory

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“BATTLEFIELD DECEPTION FUNDAMENTALS – REVITALIZING THE “LOST ART”

History has shown that there is a potential payoff to be gained by using battlefield deception. Wise military planners throughout history have used deception. It is a low cost and effective way to cause the enemy to waste his efforts. Imaginative use of deception, coupled with aggressive training, improves combat effectiveness at all levels. Throughout our military history, though, commanders viewed deception only as a war-fighting need.

Today, commanders use little deception in planning, directing, and conducting combat operations. As a result, many deception-related skills that have served our Army well in the past have been forgotten, and where remembered, have not been made part of our war-fighting capabilities Armywide. This is caused by the following factors and the myths discussed later in this chapter.

Advances in technology are perceived to make successful deception more difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.
Commanders are reluctant to devote scarce resources, including time, to tasks that are considered less essential.
Force modernization, being primarily focused on high-cost force structure and materiel initiatives, has pushed low-cost, perceived intangibles like deception further into the background.
During the early 1980s, both the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of the Army (DA) attempted to revitalize the art of deception as a sustained war-fighting capability. To that end, this manual–
Implements, in part, the Defense Science Board’s recommendation to DOD that the services pursue deception as a low-cost, high-payoff methodology to achieve operational advantage.
Supports, in part, the intent of the headquarters DA early tactical deception (TAC-D) action plan.
Applies the Principles of War to the conduct of combat operations.
Applies AirLand Battle doctrinal tenets to the conduct of military operations.
Employs deception within the context of any overall command, control, and communications countermeasures (C3CM) strategy adopted by commands to support combat operations.
Optimizes existing and future war-fighting capabilities to plan, direct, and conduct combat operations.
The advantages of deception have been proven in all wars the United States has been involved in. Accounts as far back as the Revolutionary War describe instances where deception was used with great success. General George Washington used deception to great effect before and in support of the Battle of Yorktown. Only 40 years ago World War II General Daniel Noce advised soldiers to study deception during peacetime and be prepared to use it in war. Unfortunately, the US Army has not done so. [ more…]

Report: https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm90-2/90-2ch1.htm

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“Cover and Deception”

An introduction to the general subject of cover and deception. It is intended that a later article will discuss the communication aspects of deception in detail. [ more…]

[ C. W. Helland ]

Report: https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/tech-journals/cover-and-deception.pdf

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“The Art of Deception: Dueling Intelligence Organizations in World War II”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Abstract v
INTRODUCTION 1
1. EARLY BRITISH DECEPTION 5
2. MI5 AND THE ORIGINS OF THE DOUBLE-CROSS SYSTEM 17
3. THE ABWEHR 40
4. GARBO 51
CONCLUSION 72
BIBLIOGRAPHY 75
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 78

[ Whitney Talley Bendeck ]

Thesis: https://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:175857/datastream/PDF/view

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“Fooling Hitler: The Elaborate Ruse Behind D-Day”

Find out more about the sophisticated hoax that fooled the Nazis and laid the groundwork for the Normandy invasion.

As Nazi Germany tightened its grip on much of Europe in the summer of 1943, Allied military leaders decided to make the sandy beaches of Normandy the epicenter of a massive invasion that would liberate the continent and turn the tide of World War II. The Allies needed nearly a year to prepare for the complicated offensive, but they knew that the entire D-Day mission could be doomed to failure if the Nazis gained even 48 hours of advanced notice on its location and timing, so they launched an elaborate disinformation campaign, codenamed Operation Bodyguard.

To cloak the details of the true invasion site, the Allies employed a complex web of deception to persuade the Nazis that an attack could come at any point along their Atlantic Wall—the 1,500-mile system of coastal defenses that the German High Command had constructed from the Arctic Circle to Spain’s northern border—or even as far away as the Balkans. Vital to Operation Bodyguard’s success were more than a dozen German spies in Britain who had been discovered, arrested and flipped by British intelligence officers. The Allies spoon-fed reams of faulty information to these Nazi double agents to pass along to Berlin. For instance, a pair of double agents nicknamed Mutt and Jeff relayed detailed reports about the fictitious British Fourth Army that was amassing in Scotland with plans to join with the Soviet Union in an invasion of Norway. To further the illusion, the Allies fabricated radio chatter about cold-weather issues such as ski bindings and the operation of tank engines in subzero temperatures. The ruse worked as Hitler sent one of his fighting divisions to Scandinavia just weeks before D-Day.

The most logical place in Europe for the D-Day invasion was France’s Pas de Calais region, 150 miles northeast of Normandy and the closest point to Great Britain across the English Channel. The Allies had passed over the region as a landing spot because it was the most heavily fortified section of the Atlantic Wall, but they wanted to delude the Nazis into thinking they were taking the shortest route across the channel.

Image placeholder title
To give the appearance of a massive troop buildup in southeast England, the Allies created a largely phantom fighting force, the First U.S. Army Group, headed by George Patton, the American general whom the Nazis considered to be the enemy’s best commander and the logical man to lead a cross-channel invasion. The Allies broadcast endless hours of fictitious radio transmissions about troop and supply movements and planted wedding notices for fake soldiers in local newspapers. They deceived Nazi aerial reconnaissance planes by fashioning dummy aircraft and an armada of decoy landing crafts, composed only of painted canvases pulled over steel frames, around the mouth of the River Thames. They even deployed inflatable Sherman tanks, which they moved to different locations under the cover of night, and used rollers to simulate tire tracks left behind in their wake.

Since Allied code-breakers had been successful in deciphering Germany’s secret communications, they knew that the Nazis had fallen for the deception as D-Day approached. In the weeks leading up to the invasion, the Allies stepped up their aerial attacks on Pas de Calais to throw the Nazis off the scent. They even employed Lieutenant M.E. Clifton James, a bit Australian actor who bore a striking resemblance to Bernard Montgomery, to impersonate the British general. After James spent time with Montgomery to study his mannerisms, he donned one of the general’s uniforms and black berets and flew to Gibraltar on May 26, 1944, and then to Algiers where German intelligence was sure to spot him and surmise that no attack across the English Channel could be imminent with the Allied general scouting the Mediterranean.

As the D-Day assault on Normandy began, the deception continued. Allied aircraft flying toward Pas de Calais dropped clouds of aluminum strips to give false radar readings that made it appear as if a large fleet was approaching. Other aircraft far away from Normandy dropped hundreds of dummy paratroopers that were wired to simulate the sounds of rifle fire and grenades when they hit the ground. British special operations forces also landed amid the dummies and operated phonographs to broadcast the sounds of soldiers’ voices and combat fire.

In spite of the success of the initial landing, Operation Bodyguard did not end on June 6, 1944. Three days later, Spanish businessman Juan Pujol Garcia, who was one of Britain’s most valuable double agents, fed information to Berlin that the Normandy landing was merely a “red herring” and that the most critical attack was yet to come with the First Army poised to strike at Pas de Calais. As proof he pointed out that Patton had yet to move from England. So trusted was Garcia that Hitler delayed releasing reinforcements from Pas de Calais to Normandy for seven weeks after D-Day as the Allies gained the toehold they needed to achieve victory in Europe, a result that may not have been possible without the audacious scheme to fool the Nazis.

[ CHRISTOPHER KLEIN ]

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“THE GERMAN RESPONSE TO D-DAY”

By the spring of 1944 Germany had been dominant in western Europe for four years. After defeat in France in 1940 Britain had been too weak to intervene in Europe. In 1942 and 1943 Anglo-American forces concentrated on offensives in North Africa and the Mediterranean, which ruled out a return to northern Europe. But now, with invasion clearly imminent, Germany’s already stretched armed forces faced the prospect of another major front being opened. The outcome would be decisive. In his Führer Directive No. 51, issued on 3 November 1943, Hitler warned of ‘consequences of staggering proportions’ if the western Allies should gain a foothold. His ambition was simple. He would reinforce the western defences, launch a furious counterattack and ‘throw the Allies back into the sea’.

Germany’s air force and navy could do little to resist invasion. The Luftwaffe had withdrawn nearly all its fighters to counter American daylight bombing operations over Germany. The Navy’s warships had been hounded to destruction or were bottled up in ports. Its U-boats would have an almost impossible job penetrating the belt of Allied naval and air defences. The defence of ‘Fortress Europe’ would therefore fall squarely onto the shoulders of the army. [ more…]

[ Imperial War Museums ]

Web Page: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-german-response-to-d-day

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“The Battle of the Bulge: German deception and advanced weapons couldn’t turn the tide of the war”

The last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front has become known as the “Battle of the Bulge” for the thrust into the Allied lines.

For the Americans, this was to be the largest and bloodiest single engagement of the Second World War, and also the third deadliest campaign in American history.

It began 75 years ago on Dec. 16, 1944, and while it caught the Allied forces off guard, in the end, the German Army failed to meet its objectives and the battle essentially exhausted the Germans of their resources.

Despite its failure, for the Germans, the battle is notable for several reasons. It highlighted that even in the late stages of the war the German military was able to mount such an offensive, but also that the Germans were able to utilize deception in a way the Allies hadn’t expected. Moreover, the German military was also rolling out advanced military hardware – including small arms that would influence weapons development to this day.

GERMAN DECEPTION

In December 1944 the German military was largely seen as a spent force. The Allied success began with the D-Day (June 6) landings in Normandy, and after breaking out of the region, followed by additional landings in the south of France; it seemed that the Germans were on the verge of defeat. However, the Allies had suffered setbacks as well, including the failed paratrooper assault on the Netherlands in September, and the failure to break the German lines in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, which ended just as the Germans’ Ardennes offensive was to begin.

More importantly, Allied forces were fatigued from the near-continuous fighting, supply lines were overstretched and supplies depleted. The Allies believed the Germans were digging in and planned to use the time to regroup for a renewed offensive.

Due to the wooded terrain of the Ardennes region on the French-Belgian border, the Allies opted to reduce the number of defenders, believing that no German counter-attack would be launched in that sector. However, history had proven otherwise – it was through these woods that Germany had successfully launched its “Blitzkrieg” attack against France in the late spring of 1940. [more…]

[ Peter Suciu ]

Article: https://www.foxnews.com/science/the-battle-of-the-bulge-german-deception-advanced-weapons

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“Battle of the Bulge 1944 DOCUMENTARY”

Defeat in the Battle of the Bulge was the last nail in Germany’s coffin. In this Animated Map Documentary, we’re going to find out how and why it shook out as it did.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzvM3kD8o9k

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“Battle of the Bulge”

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-qjaJIq-i0

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“Shootout!: Battle of the Bulge”

It was Hitler’s boldest move. The Axis of Evil creates an 85-mile “bulge” along the Western front that extends from the North Sea down to Switzerland, in Season 2, Episode 2, “Battle of the Bulge”.

[ History Channel ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyHqSxokjCc

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“The Battle Of The Bulge: Hitler’s Armored Counterattack”

The Battle Of The Bulge. In December 1944, German forces launch a surprise attack through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. This is the story of the American tankers who helped defend the American line against Hitler’s final gamble on the western front.

War Stories is your one stop shop for all things military history. From Waterloo to Verdun, we’ll be bringing you only the best documentaries and stories from history’s most engaging and dramatic conflicts.

[ War Stories ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxZF6Sz_P3k

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“Battle of the Bulge 1944 – Ardennes Counteroffensive DOCUMENTARY”

Our animated historical documentary series on modern warfare continues with a video on the battle of the Bulge of 1944, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, as Germany attempts to score a big victory against the Allies in the West.

[ Kings and Generals ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKiLyEuIAPE

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“Battle of the Bulge” (Movie)

[ Warner Brothers ]

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdjau_yi5AY

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“WORLD WAR II”

During World War II, the Security Service played a key role in combating enemy espionage, intercepting German communications and feeding misinformation back to Germany.

The Service achieved great success in uncovering enemy agents in Britain, some of whom were “turned” by the Service and became double agents who fed false information to the Germans concerning military strategy throughout the war. This was the famous “Double Cross” system, a highly effective deception that contributed to the success of the Allied Forces landing in Normandy on D-Day in June 1944 (see also Agent GARBO).

When captured German intelligence records were studied after 1945, it was found that almost all of the further 115 or so agents targeted against Britain during the course of the war had been successfully identified and caught. The only exception was an agent who committed suicide before capture.

For the first time, the Service also confronted the issue of loyalty of British Communists in sensitive government positions, in the certain knowledge that Party members were under instructions to “share” their information with Communist Party HQ. This was to have important repercussions following the war (see The Cold War). [ more…]

[ MI5 Security Service ]

Web Page: https://www.mi5.gov.uk/world-war-ii

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“Last Days Deception – The Schemes of The Devil”

[ Roger Oakland ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cJ6N3-Q8nI

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“The Illuminati and the One World Government”

Amir’s teaching on the history of the satanic efforts of religions, cults, and the modern powerful elite to rule the world with “the light of Lucifer” as their guide. There is a deliberate plan and push for one leader and one-world government all around us.

[ Amir Tsarfati ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tft9T32BNgc

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“Who Is The Master Of Manipulation And Deception?”

The Bible warns us that the Antichrist will trick many into trusting in him for peace and safety. He will be the most winsome politician the world has ever seen. Join us in searching the Scriptures to find out who he is and how he will ultimately be defeated.

[ Jack Hibbs ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21PWEX_n0pQ

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“The Antichrist, Who Is He And Where Does He Come From?”

In the End Times or Last Hour or The End of Days, or at that time a man will arise to oppose all that is Jesus Christ and His Last Days followers. He will do so more than anyone else in human history. He will be proclaiming to be the true Messiah, the Antichrist will seek world domination, and will attempt to destroy all followers of Jesus Christ and the nation of Israel.

[ Jack Hibbs ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2qD6PLlufc

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“The Antichrist’s Powerful Prophet of Deception: A Study Guide”

Every prophetic event casts its shadow. While the event itself happens in a moment of time, there are visible shadows of that event prior to its occurrence. For example, the seven–year period known as the Tribulation will begin in a single moment with the Rapture of the Church. While the Church will not be on earth to experience the difficult days of the Tribulation, the storm clouds of that period will gather long before it begins. The discerning believer will be aware of and watching for the shadows of future prophetic events.

The events surrounding the Antichrist’s False Prophet are found in Revelation 13 and occur around the mid–point of the seven–year Tribulation period. If the Rapture occurred tomorrow, the events of Revelation 13 would happen three to four years later. Given the short time frame, it is likely that the Church will witness shadows leading up to the actual events of Revelation 13. In fact, there are signs of shadows forming now.

The Description of the Prophet (Revelation 13:11–13)
Like the Antichrist, the False Prophet is described as a beast. In Revelation 13:11 we are told he looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. Satan will cause his False Prophet to appear meek and when he really has the heart of a destroyer. Jesus said to beware of false prophets who “come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). This False Prophet will be the epitome of every false prophet who has ever lived.

The Antichrist and the False Prophet are paired significantly: The former’s focus is politics while the latter’s emphasis is religion. In the Tribulation, with the absence of true religion, a false religion will be necessary to solidify the political power of the Antichrist. Wherever there is a vacuum of true religion, political power will marry itself to false religion to give itself a mark of acceptability. Even Communism has a religion called atheism or materialism. It grieves me when I hear someone say, “One religion is as good as another,” because I know that person does not understand the Bible.

The beastly prophet will be a religious leader, pointing people toward the Antichrist, just as the Holy Spirit points people toward Jesus Christ. He will be like many false prophets of our own day—dispensing what people want to hear instead of the truth they need to hear. And he will attract large crowds as false prophets usually do. But in a day of trouble like the Great Tribulation, this seemingly peaceful preacher will suddenly metamorphosize into a monster.

During the Great Tribulation, Satan will use the religion of the False Prophet to unite the world under the leadership of the Antichrist.

The Deeds of the Prophet (Revelation 13:13)
The False Prophet will have the power to counterfeit some of God’s miracles, including calling down fire from heaven. Not only is this power associated with God in the Old Testament, it evokes a strong connection with the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 2:11). Whatever God does, Satan is the master counterfeiter. Since God often revealed Himself by fire, the False Prophet will use fire to validate his own works.

The Deception of the Prophet (Revelation 13:14–15)
The False Prophet will deceive the people into building an image which can be used as a focal point for worship of the Antichrist. I believe this image will be set up in the city of Jerusalem as a counterfeit to the temple of God. We aren’t told what the image will be, but I believe it will be a large structure, not just an effigy on a coin or some similar symbol. I believe it will become a gathering place for those coming to worship the Beast.

The False Prophet’s powers will be impressive—he will make the image speak. Satan cannot give life, so the image will not come alive. It will only appear to be alive because of its speech. Some say it is ventriloquism; others say it will be a computer chip that speaks much as our cars and computers talk to us today. Through whatever means, the False Prophet will make the image seem to be alive. I can imagine people gathering at this location every day to hear what the image has to say. The media will carry the image’s speeches each day in the news; it will become a focal point of every person’s day. I believe this image is the “abomination of desolation” Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:15. When this image is set up in Jerusalem, the disciples of Jesus will know that the Great Tribulation is about to begin. At this time, Jesus said His people should flee Jerusalem because things will become much worse than they ever have been before. The image of the Beast is a signal for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

The Demand of the Prophet (Revelation 13:16–18)
In addition to his religious agenda, the False Prophet will direct the Antichrist’s sweeping economic program. A keystone of this program will be the requirement for everyone to receive a mark on their hand or forehead. This mark is yet another attempt at counterfeiting God’s power. During the Tribulation, the Lord will preserve His people who carry an identifying mark on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3; 14:1). What God does, Satan imitates.

The word used for “mark” in the original text (Greek charagma) refers to the Roman use of a seal or mark connected with the emperor which conveyed official sanction. So the Beast will use a charagma to identify those who are loyal to him. Anyone without the mark will be deemed a traitor and boycotted by the commercial system the Beast controls. Unable to purchase what they need, those without the mark will die from exposure or starvation or illness. During World War II money wasn’t enough to buy certain item, so the government issued rations. Ration cards were required for purchasing scarce items. That rationing was a temporary means to support our country’s war effort, but under the Beast’s reign it will be permanent. All the money in the world won’t be enough to buy bread if you don’t have the mark of the Beast.

What is portrayed is a tremendous union in which capital and labor are both subject to the control and direction of one man. Anyone who is outside that vast combination will be ruthlessly boycotted; no one will work for him or employ him; no one will purchase his produce or sell goods to him; trade and commerce will close their doors to him. Bankruptcy and starvation face such a man.
—Fred A. Talford

The Decision Demanded by the Mark
We often think that only those without the mark will suffer, but those with the mark will suffer as well (see Revelation 14:9–11). People will face a choice: Reject the mark and suffer at the hands of the Beast; accept the mark and suffer at the hands of God. Each person on earth will have to choose which is worse—to suffer the temporary wrath of the Beast but receive the eternal favor of God, or receive the temporary favor of the Beast but suffer the eternal wrath of God.

The Distinction of the Mark
The most complex issue regarding the Beast and his mark is found in verse 18 where we are told that the number of the Beast is 666. Many fanciful observations have been made about this number. For instance, it first appears in the Bible in verse “18” which is 6+6+6. Goliath was six cubits tall, his spear’s head weighed six shekels, and he had six pieces of armor. Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in Daniel was 60 cubits tall, six cubits wide, and six musical instruments summoned the worshipers. These and similar observations are just that—observations. They tell us nothing about the meaning of the number of the Beast. No one knows exactly what 666 means.

The Deficiency of the Mark
Numbers in the Bible do have significance. The number “seven” is associated with the completion or perfection of God’s acts, so the number “six” is associated with man (created on the sixth day, must work for six out of seven days, etc.). To triple that number (666) could simply be a way to indicate the Beast is the ultimate in human ingenuity—the best man can be apart from God. It is interesting that six will always fall short of seven. Man will always, even at his best, fall short of the perfection of God. Whatever the number 666 means, and however the mark of the Beast will be configured and applied to humans during the Great Tribulation, it will encompass this: The evidence of man’s attempts to glorify, even deify himself, as a final act of rebellion against God. Man’s kingdom, instead of God’s kingdom, will dominate the Great Tribulation.

I read a story once about Johann Sebastian Bach, the great German composer. Apparently he was a very sound sleeper who was difficult to wake up. His children discovered that the best way to waken him was to go to the piano and play a few measures of some composition but leave off the very last note or chord. Their father would instantly arise and go to the piano to strike the final chord. The one thing he could not tolerate was the incompleteness of a piece of music. It had to be brought to its proper conclusion. The great preacher, Donald Grey Barnhouse, from whom I heard that story, said he tried it in his own home. Playing “Silent Night” on the piano, he stopped just shy of the final note—then listened. Upstairs he heard his son trying to find that last note on his harmonica. Another of his children was singing the last line and adding the final note. Someone else called out, “Did you do that on purpose?”

“Six,” especially “666,” reminds us that something is missing—the end of the story has not yet been told. A man whose mark is “666” will arise on the world stage for a few short moments in the future and then be judged. Like a song without a final note, the Antichrist will not bring history to its final closure. Only the true God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, can do that. He is a “Perfect Seven,” as are all who find refuge in Him for eternity.

Application
With lines, match the members of the divine Trinity with the members of the unholy, Satanic trinity that tries to counterfeit the work of God:

Divine Trinity Satanic Trinity
God the Father The False Prophet
God the Son Satan
God the Holy Spirit The Antichrist
How is the Antichrist coming back to life after being mortally wounded a counterfeit miracle similar to a divine miracle? (Revelation 13:3)

Read Daniel 3:1–30.

What did Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon set up in “the plain of Dura”? (verse 1)

What became the law in Babylon concerning the image? (Verses 4–6)

How did the people of Babylon respond to the law? (Verse 7)

How did the three Hebrew young men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego respond to the law? (Verse 12)

How does this story so far parallel that of Revelation 13:11–14?

With what punishment did Nebuchadnezzar threaten the three, and how did they respond? (Verses 15–18)

What was the result of their punishment? (Verses 25–27)

How will believers during the Tribulation likely face a similar option as did the three in Babylon? (Revelation 13:15–17)

What have you already learned in this study about believers during the Tribulation? Does God rescue them as He did the three in Babylon? (Revelation 6:9)

How do you respond to the idea of being threatened for your faith? What would it take for you to resist submission to an ungodly edict?

What did Paul do on a regular basis in his ministry? (2 Corinthians 12:12)

What does the phrase “of an apostle” mean? What were the signs supposed to validate?

How successful had some false apostles been at gaining authority among the churches? (2 Corinthians 11:13–15) Who was behind their false authority?

Why is it not impossible to find people in awe of the False Prophet’s power during the Tribulation? (Revelation 13:13)

How does James 1:16 serve as a timeless warning when it comes to displays of power?

Did You Know?
The idea that a government could assign a “mark” to the world’s population should not come as a surprise. For decades, Americans have not been able to make large purchases or investments without a Social Security number. A newer development, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), is used to monitor the flow of goods and services, track farm animals, track passports, and monitor cars on toll roads. The technology consists of a tiny silicon chip that can be attached or implanted that responds to radio frequencies. They are so tiny that they have been attached to ants to study their movement. RFID chips are gaining increasing use in modern cultures for tracking commerce and allowing or disallowing activities.

[ David Jeremiah ]

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“The Antichrist Spirit Has Arrived – (Revelation 12-14)”

[ Grace Digital Network ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYgeRg7yPF8

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“The False Prophet and Satan’s Counterfeit Trinity”

Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. [ Revelation 13:11–12 ]

This beast is the False Prophet, the right–hand man of the Antichrist. As Satan continues his malicious masquerade, he will complete an unholy trinity. Just as God is a trinity, so will Satan be. His program will counterfeit God’s program. Satan’s answer to the Son of God will be the Antichrist.

The Book of Signs: A Masterwork of Biblical Prophecy
The Holy Spirit’s counterfeit is the second beast, or the False Prophet. The Holy Spirit has one main objective, and that is to glorify Jesus Christ. The False Prophet has one objective, and that is to cause people to worship the first beast.

It may seem strange to consider a religious leader as a key player during the Tribulation, but this has been a pattern throughout history.

We were created to worship God. The longing in our hearts to worship, to devote ourselves to something, is universal; even atheism and materialism are religions. Those who choose not to worship God will worship something else.

In the last days, the False Prophet will use all types of religious props to deceive people. Already we see the satanic influence of counterfeit Christianity enticing people into its web. A friend told me about a conversation with a woman who said she speaks with the apostle John on a regular basis. This woman said she was listening to the radio one night around midnight, and the apostle John was talking. She was instructed to call a certain phone number, which she did. After that, John spoke to her through a channeled “very intelligent professional gentleman in his middle forties,” whose message was one of pure love.

I wonder what that woman would think about John’s message in the book of Revelation?

Religion without Jesus is the tool of Satan to draw people into his realm. During the Tribulation, religiosity will be intense and the False Prophet will use every counterfeit tool in his arsenal.

Satanic Sign Language
The False Prophet will have the power to perform great miracles, “even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people” (Revelation 13:13).

Imagine the astonishment of everyone on earth as great streaks of fire blaze across the sky. Perhaps it will be a part of a gigantic celebration for the Antichrist. This spectacular show may be intended to center attention on Jerusalem, where the image of the beast will be exhibited. The flaming display will mimic God’s miraculous work: He called down fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah, and He empowered Elijah to call down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel. Revelation 11 warns that if anyone tries to harm the two witnesses, fire will come from their mouths and destroy their enemies.

God has often revealed Himself by fire, and the deceptive False Prophet will do the same.

The Talking Statue
The False Prophet will plan a special building project to erect a statue of the Antichrist in the rebuilt Jerusalem temple. There will be no need for an all–member canvass or pledges from the faithful. When the Antichrist recovers from his fatal wound and becomes the proclaimed world leader, his followers will worship him.

No sculptor in any age of man has formed a statue like this one. The image of the Antichrist will speak and issue a decree that anyone who refuses to fall down and worship it will be killed.

We don’t know how this evil magic will be performed, but it is another evidence of the pervasive power of demons in those days.

Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. Revelation 13:14–15, NIV

The View from Heaven
If we could pull the door of heaven open a crack and see what is happening on earth, we would see the followers of the Antichrist prostrating themselves before the altar of his statue, while we are worshiping Christ in all His glory at heaven’s altar.

We might see the lines forming for the seal to be placed on each person’s right hand or forehead as everyone files past the False Prophet and his appointed ministers to have 666 stamped on his skin.

God also has sealed ones—remember the seal on the foreheads of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists? Again, Satan will counterfeit God’s work.

The Book of Signs: 31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse
Branded by the Beast
During World War II it was necessary to have stamps or a card to buy certain food. Gasoline was scarce, and many other goods were in short supply. In America the hardships were minor, for the winning of the war was a national effort, but rationing was a way of life. During the Tribulation, there will be no surge of patriotism. It will be moment–by–moment survival. The law of the beast will be “Worship me or starve.”

Why 666?
Why is the mark of the beast 666? Superstitions about this number and its meaning could fill volumes. Here are some interesting facts about it: Goliath was six cubits in height, his spear’s head weighed six shekels and he had six pieces of armor. Nebuchadnezzar’s image was sixty cubits in height, and six cubits wide.

Man was created on the sixth day. He has to work six of seven days. A Hebrew slave could not be a slave more than six years. The fields of the Jews could not be sown for more than six years running.

The most logical explanation for the mark is that the number six in the Bible is the number of man. The beast represents the ultimate in human ingenuity and cleverness.

Something is Missing
The children of the great composer, Bach, found that the easiest way to awaken their father was to play a few lines of music and leave off the last note. Bach would get up immediately, go to the piano, and strike the final chord.

Donald Grey Barnhouse told how he awoke one morning during the Christmas season, went to the piano and played “Silent Night,” purposely stopping before striking the last note. He walked into the hallway and listened to the sounds from the children’s rooms upstairs. His eight–year–old son had stopped reading and was trying to find the final note on his harmonica. Another one of the children was singing the last note with great volume. His wife called, “Donald, did you do that on purpose?”

Human nature demands the completion of the last note. The number 666 reminds us that something is missing. That missing something is Someone. He is a seven, and that is the complete number.

God has His seven–headed Lamb of God, the second person of the Trinity. He has His seven spirits of God, the third person of the Trinity. And He has His saints singing the sevenfold doxology.

Satan has his six … but God is seven. The old counterfeiter will never be able to fool all of the people all of the time, only some.

[ David Jeremiah ]

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“The Final Antichrist | Revelation 13”

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEt2EKm9uIY

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“Antichrists and the Falling Away”

The Epistles of John Series – 1 John 2:27

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWgxEJurn0o

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“The Bible Calls Him Antichrist”

Sermon series on 2 Thessalonians 2

[ John MacArthur ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miMyt7IhpR4
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzBcS3zly3k
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxnnjSnPczU
Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9PcJc7lLsg
Part 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THRiNBGFqOo
Part 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSRJGPXj8RI

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“The Spirit of Antichrist”

Sermon series on 1 John 2:19-26

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mhklSL3-cE
Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XNQAwbpxhQ

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“Who Is the Antichrist?”

“[The man of lawlessness will] set himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (v. 4b).

– 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Second Thessalonians 2:3–4 speaks of a coming “man of lawlessness” who will set himself up in God’s temple and proclaim himself to be God. Revelation 13 tells of a coming “beast” who will wear out the saints of God and be known by the number 666. The epistles of John warn of “antichrist.” Who are these people, or are they all the same person?

As always in the area of prophecy, there are a variety of views. The older historicist approach usually identified the beast (“out of the sea”) as the Roman emperor, while the second beast (“out of the land”) of Revelation 13, together with the false prophet of that chapter, were associated with the papacy. The man of sin was also the pope, for he sat in the temple (the church) and exalted himself.

Modern futurism links the man of sin and the beast, and says that this is a man who will arise in the future just before Christ returns. He will be the false Christ, the antichrist, and will unite the world in a new tower of Babel against the remnant of the faithful.

Preterists usually see 666 as a symbol for the name “Nero Caesar,” and thus they identify the beast as Nero, while the second beast and false prophet are identified with the Sanhedrin and Judaizers who sought to stamp out the early church. The man of sin is taken by some to be Nero, and by others identified as the high priest, who literally sat in the temple and opposed Christ.

Modern futurism tends to have a very political understanding of this figure. Beast/antichrist/man of sin is a world leader, not an ecclesiastical opponent of the faithful. The older views (preterist and historicist) focus attention more on the church. The greatest enemies of the faith, they say, are in the church, as the serpent was in the Garden.

What about the antichrist? Here there is a different kind of question. Did John intend for us to envision some particular person as the antichrist, or did he mean that any self-conscious opponent of the faith is an antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7)? One thing we can be sure of: There will always be political beasts and ecclesiastical antichrists who seek to oppose the truth, and we must always be on our guard against them.

Coram Deo
Read the verses cited above in John’s epistles. How were you antichrist before you believed? What antichrists do you see operating both nationally and locally today? Practically speaking, what can you see in John’s letters that indicates how you should respond to such people?

[ Ligonier Ministries ]

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“Who is the Antichrist?”

[ Dr. Ben Gladd ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCuVoQvICD8

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“Antichrist”

Your Search Yielded 54 Results

[ Monergism ]

Articles: https://www.monergism.com/search?keywords=antichrist&format=All

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“Who Is the Antichrist?”

We have ahead of us a remarkable few weeks in 2 Thessalonians. This ranges all the way from the horrors of the coming man of lawlessness to the great doctrines of salvation, including election. This is a far-reaching portion of Scripture sweeping back all the way to before time began to the very end of human history and the return of Christ, all in this one brief chapter.

I’ve titled the message “The Coming Man of Sin,” and basically that’s drawn because the main character in the opening part of this chapter is identified in verse 3 as the man of sin or the man of lawlessness, also called the son of destruction or the son of perdition. This is an individual who, in verse 4 it says, opposes God and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

It also tells us in verse 8 that this lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming. “This one comes” – verse 9 says – “in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,” – verse 10 – “with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” This is an amazing person that we know as the Antichrist, a culmination of all of those who hate God and hate Christ, all false Christs, pseudo-Christs, false teachers, false prophets, all hypocritical liars who claim to be spokesmen for God but actually speak for Satan. All of them sort of are embodied in this one final, horrific figure known as the final Antichrist. And while he is the subject of this text of Scripture, he is not a solitary monster, he is simply the final epitome of all that has been set against God and against Christ throughout all of human history. And to show you that, I want you to look at 1 John for just a moment, 1 John chapter 2.

In 1 John chapter 2 look at verse 18. John writes that, “It is the last hour,” – in other words, we’re living in the last days, the messianic days since Christ has come constitute the last days, the last hour; it is the last hour – “and just as you heard that Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.” Then down in verse 22, “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.” So there is a final Antichrists, but there are in the meantime many antichrists, and they are all defined as those who deny the true Christ and His relationship to His Father. [more…]

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2eZFdkkyZc

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“Antichrist Unleashed”

The point of this whole chapter is to bring comfort; that’s how it ends. You see the final little benediction in verses 16 and 17: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” The whole idea of talking to us through the text of this passage is to give us comfort. This is about comforting us. And that is really Paul’s purpose all the way through his two letters to the Thessalonians.

Go back to chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians for a moment and you will find there that at the end of chapter 4 where he has talked about the rapture of the church, which is the next event, as we’ve learned, on God’s timetable. In anticipation of the fact that, “The Lord Himself,” verse 16, “will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” So he is saying to them, “As you look at the future, be comforted, because the next event is the Lord is going to descend from heaven. You’re going to hear the voice of the archangel, the trumpet of God; and the bodies of dead believers whose spirits are with the Lord, their bodies will come out of graves. And then we who are alive will be gathered to meet the Lord in the air, and we’ll always be with the Lord.”

That’s the next event. That’s not when He comes to earth in judgment; there’s no judgment there at all. That’s what we call the snatching of the church or the rapture of believers. This is our hope. This is the next event that’s going to happen as far as the church of Jesus Christ is concerned. There are no signs. This is what we call an imminent event – it could happen at any time. The Lord comes, descends, we meet Him in the air. The bodies of the dead rise first and are joined to their spirits, which are already with the Lord; and then all of us are caught up and changed on the way to heaven, and He takes us to the marriage supper of the Lamb and to a time of rewards at His table. Be comforted, no matter what you hear people talking about.

And there are a lot of doomsdayers running around, a lot of them. I am always amazed at how many people who purport to be sensible Christians are selling end-time food stuff so that they can survive the tribulation. I got news for you: if you’re a believer you’re not going to need to survive it, you’re not going to be there. We’re going to be taken out of this world. It’s a great way to scare people and raise money on a false pretense. It’s bad theology and it’s deceptive; but those of us who know the Word of God know that we are waiting for the Lord, not to judge the world, but to take us out of the world.

He began 1 Thessalonians in the first chapter, did the apostle Paul, in verse 9 by saying that the Thessalonians had “turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” We’re waiting for Jesus to come. We’re waiting for Him to come and gather us together with Him forever. [more…]

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gcHKqT22Mc

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“The Truth About Satan’s Final Deception”

This is the second of 6 lectures in the 2015 Prophecies of Hope Fall evangelism series. In this video, Prophecies of Hope evangelist Mark Martin shows clearly from the Bible how Satan has duped the majority of Christians today into believing and even teaching the first lie he told to Eve in the Garden of Eden. “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4)

[ Mark Martin ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paxUoZGwwLs

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“Who is the Antichrist?”

Did you know There are over 100 passages that detail the origin, nationality, career, character, kingdom and final doom of Antichrist or the Beast of Revelation? But is he fact or fiction? Does he walk the earth today? When will he reveal himself? Well, let’s talk about all that!

[ Greg Laurie ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83IO6t9wR8w&t=1930s

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“The Beast of the Sea”

Let’s look to the Word of God together, and I invite you to study with me the thirteenth chapter of Revelation tonight. We are embarking on a very, very significant portion of this great apocalypse, one that does demand some very careful thought and careful attention. Things that are here are going to demand some scrutiny, some careful comparison of other Scriptures, some thoughtful insight. The things that are here are those kinds of things which I am quite confident the Lord has designed to reveal unto those who belong to Him and hide from others.

I can understand why unregenerate people would read the book of Revelation and be hopelessly confused. But at the same time, that should not be the case for those of us who are believers. To us, the promise is given way back in the first chapter and the third verse, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near.” And even in the very passage to which we look now, down in verse 9, there is that somewhat familiar statement, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.”

That means more than just to hear the words, it means to comprehend and to understand what is being said. The Lord has given us His Word. No matter how difficult and challenging it might be, we, under the direction of the Holy Spirit and with careful thought and study, are to come as deeply into the truth as we possibly can to discern its intent. So it may take us a little while to move through this chapter and come to a full understanding of all its great truths, but we’re going to do that at a pace that’s going to give us understanding. [more…]

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/66-44/the-beast-out-of-the-sea-part-1

Sermon: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/66-45/the-beast-out-of-the-sea-part-2

Sermon: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/66-46/the-beast-out-of-the-sea-part-3

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“The End Times: Antichrist, Rapture, Final Battle & Christ’s Return”

100Huntley interview

[ Mark Hitchcock ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrGvTwDP5fI

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“The Antichrist Spirit Has Arrived – (Revelation 12-14)”

[ Grace Digital Network ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYgeRg7yPF8

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“Is The Antichrist Already On This Earth? And What Should You Do About It?”

When it comes to the antichrist…people, bible scholars, academics and theologians all ask the following questions:
Who is the antichrist?
What will he look like?
Is he here on earth already? Does he even know he’s the antichrist?
All are valid and interesting questions and this video touches on what the bible says regarding this.

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3CgEyJtrJU

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“Falling Away to the Anti-christ”

[ David Wilkerson ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPcwdtFGBkc

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“The Final AntiChrist”

The final antichrist. John MacArthur explains in great details who the final antichrist will be. This sermon explains the event of the end times during the tribulation period and how the final antichrist, the man of sin, the man of lawlessness will rule the earth.

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWfK_VjDf0Y

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“The End Times: Antichrist, God’s Judgment & Prophecy in Revelation”

100Huntley interview

[ Dr. David Jeremiah ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWfu8etmyxA

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“The Reign of Antichrist”

The Book of Daniel Series – Daniel 11

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bKjtu_dBj8

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“Who is the Antichrist in the book of Revelation?”

Who exactly is the Antichrist in the book of Revelation? The Antichrist is one of the key figures in end-time prophecy. In order to understand him fully, you must combine scriptures from Daniel with the book of Revelation. I hope this video gives you a better idea of who the antichrist is, what he will do and what will happen to him.

[ Allen Parr ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcmNQ9V0Fx0

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“The Coming Antichrist”

The reason we are so confused about the Antichrist and the end is because we are ignorant of the beginning. We read the Book of Revelation and we’re like people who walk into the middle of a complex mystery movie. We didn’t see the beginning where all the characters and their roles were defined, so we attempt to understand the plot and the end without the essential information. Until you understand the first Antichrist, you will never understand the last Antichrist. Join me this week as we not only identify the last Antichrist, but we also learn the secret to overcoming when he rises to his ultimate power!

[ Jim Richards ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XnFsUimLrg

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“The Great Deception”

As we race toward the rise of the Antichrist the greatest danger for the believer is deception. Deception will swallow most of the world’s population. Because religion has so perverted the truth about God, many believers will lose faith. One of the greatest lies about the end is, “The end is when God gets so angry at the world He finally pours out His wrath to punish us!” This is absolutely untrue; yet it is what most Christians believe. How can we reach out to God for help, protection, and provision if we believe He is the author of the darkest times the world has ever seen? We can’t! This erroneous doctrine is all part of the great deception. Join me this week as I share what Jesus taught us about overcoming the deception of the end!

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXakavCL38E

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“Satan’s Final War Plan || The Great Deception”

This battle is greater than the battle of Armageddon and it is a spiritual Warfare going on right NOW! The Time Is Closing In

[ Robin Måhl ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uHXmVmdWVQ

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“PROPHETIC TIMELINE – The ANTICHRIST & 70th WEEK of DANIEL!!!”

This is our third video in the biblical prophetic timeline series. The subject for today is the final antichrist and the 70th week of Daniel!

[ James Kaddis ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6e7ftpUdpQ

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“Looking for the Antichrist”

When people think about the end times, they tend to think about the Antichrist. And when they think about the Antichrist, they usually think he’s going to be dark and sinister. But that’s far from how he’ll come on the scene. He’ll enter the world poised, charismatic, and full of himself. He will be the ultimate man.

Revelation 13 gives us a sixfold description of the Antichrist:

1. Wickedness (see v. 1). This man is called a beast because that’s how God sees him. Paul called him the man of sin and the son of perdition (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3), as well as the lawless one (see 2 Thessalonians 2:8). He’ll begin as a peacemaker but end very wickedly.

2. World dominance (see vv. 2, 7). This leader will form a global confederacy, a final, world-governing empire—dominating, rapid, and ferocious, just like Daniel saw (see Daniel 7:23).

3. Wonder (see v. 3). Verse 2 tells us that “the dragon gave him his power”—the dragon being Satan himself. And verse 3 says one of the Antichrist’s heads will be mortally wounded and then healed. Some believe he’ll receive a fatal head wound and then be able to stage some sort of fake resurrection. The world would certainly wonder at that.

4. Worship (see vv. 4, 8; see also 2 Thessalonians 2:4). This is what Satan has wanted all along (see Isaiah 14:12-14). When we talk about the Antichrist, most people think the little prefix anti means against. But anti also means instead of. He will be the guy who wants to be the Christ instead of the real, authentic Christ.

5. Words (see vv. 5-6). This leader will have the ability to sway people with his “pompous words” (Daniel 7:8, 11, 20, 25). He will be a master politician, exuding self-confidence. But it will all go downhill from there.

6. War (see vv. 7-10; see also Daniel 7:25). Once the Antichrist succeeds in influence and domination, all hell will break loose. He will persecute and kill the tribulation saints—those who come to faith during the tribulation period.

After all that, how can this end on an encouraging note? Simple—by comparing the Antichrist to Jesus Christ. The Antichrist is called the man of sin; Jesus Christ was the sinless man. The Antichrist is called the idol shepherd (see Zechariah 11:17, KJV); Jesus is known as the Good Shepherd (see John 10:11). Here in Revelation 13, the Antichrist is pictured as a beast; in this same chapter, Jesus is seen as a lamb (see v. 8). The Antichrist’s death will deceive the world; Jesus Christ’s death saved the world.

Now, the world is already being deceived. What was once wrong is now right, and what was once right is now wrong. Deception is on the move and will increase in epic proportions.

But we follow the true Christ—the authentic, real, legit Jesus Christ. And we’re not called to look for and identify the Antichrist—we’re called to look for Jesus Christ, for “the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

[ Skip Heitzig ]

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“Profile of the Antichrist”

Some have confused the rider of the white horse in verse two with Jesus, but the rider is actually the Antichrist.

For following the appearing of the rider is not a kingdom of righteousness, but a time of wickedness and sorrow. Masquerading as the true Messiah, he wears a crown, while Jesus wears many crowns (Revelation 19:12). In the Greek translation, the crown worn by the rider of the white horse refers to the crown of victory worn by a conqueror. The crowns Jesus wears in Revelation 19 refer to crowns of royalty.

A conqueror bent on conquest
When a victor triumphantly entered a newly conquered kingdom, he would invariably ride a white horse. The Antichrist will deceitfully establish himself, and then show his true colors.

This coming world leader, the Antichrist, will come at an economically difficult time. There will be war in different parts of the world, and he—through brilliant political moves along with an incredible charisma—will be able to do what no one else has ever done: bring economic stability to the world’s monetary system and bring world peace. By establishing this peace, he will deceive many. He will even convince the Jewish nation and the Arab nations to sign a peace treaty, paving the way for the long-awaited third temple.

His accomplishments will be so spectacular, so far-reaching and unprecedented, that many will hail him as the Messiah. But we are warned in Scripture that he is a deceiver.

The man of sin
The Antichrist will be history’s vilest embodiment of sin and rebellion: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that Day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness [sin] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

The wicked one
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

Lawless can be translated “wicked.” The Antichrist totally opposes every law of God. Halfway into his power play he will show his true colors, rebuilding the temple and committing the abomination of desolation (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15). He will show himself to be a blood-thirsty dictator who will make Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Saddam Hussein look like lightweights in comparison.

Then Adolph Hitler came on the scene—a voice of authority in the midst of chaos. He spoke of a people of destiny and promised glories to come. But it was not meant to be.

Hitler was but a pale version of the Antichrist who will work through a revived Roman empire. He, like the Romans and Hitler, will bring political, military, and economic answers, and he will persecute Jews and Christians.

Satan’s unholy trinity
The Antichrist will not act alone. There will be a false prophet working with him. “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

Here we see Satan’s unholy trinity:

Satan, imitating God (and, for a short time, having the worship of people worldwide)

The Antichrist, masquerading as the Son

The false prophet, impersonating the Holy Spirit

The work of the Antichrist
The Antichrist will bring about a new religious system that will accommodate everyone.
We are currently in the midst of a cult explosion. Whether it be dianetics, EST, goddess worship, reincarnation, astrology, holistic healing, or any of a hundred other consciousness-raising techniques, the modern age is on a search for some mystical divine unity. The time is ripe for a world religion.

The Antichrist will harness the world’s economic system.
“He required everyone—great and small, rich and poor, slave and free—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16–18 NLT).

Modern technology and the last days
Before computers were such a vital part of our lives, it was hard to imagine how this prophecy could be enforced. In our generation, we have seen the developments of all the parts of the electronic system necessary for one person to wield total economic control: credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, ATM, etc. Now we have supercomputers that are so fast, they can perform thousands of operations on each person’s files in the world every second.

This problem could be solved by inserting tiny electronic transponders (chip implants) somewhere in our body. (This has already been done with livestock and household pets). Thus, the stage is set for the mark of the beast.

[ Greg Laurie ]

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“The Devil, The Anti-Christ and Fallen Angels”

[ Grace Digital Network ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbZ1ea2woo8

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“The Beginning of the End: Has The RESTRAINER Been Removed?”

Has The RESTRAINER Been Removed?

[ Carter Conlon ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jSU224GuJI

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“The Coming Deception – Revelation 13:11-18”

We know for sure that a ruler who will have international authority is coming to the earth. We also know that he will not be alone. There will come a religious deceiver who will aid and abet this global leader. Today, we consider the end-time teaching of the world’s fastest-growing religion to see if there is an interface with the Bible’s predictions about what’s next.

[ Skip Heitzig ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsYbFB5SpXY

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“The End Times Deception”

We believe that the Bible teaches us that we are living in the end times. Jesus talking about the end times that one of the signs would be that of deception. Pastor Jeff and Terry begin part I looking at the meaning of what Jesus said and what it means to us today

[ Terry Reynolds ]

Part I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuX5EMAnUqA
Part II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31sFWQ5a8lI

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“The Technology of the Antichrist”

The “new electricity” has arrived, but it’s hardly the long-awaited utopia the world imagines. AI is in the process of taking over every aspect of society. Self-driving cars, robotic surgery, lightning-fast communication, … it all sounds so good. But the Bible tells us how these seemingly helpful benefits to society will be used to usher in the dark agenda of the Antichrist in the future. Google, Facebook, Microsoft … unmanned drones, military robots, exploding dragonflies … where exactly is all of this high technology taking us? And where does the Mark of the Beast fit into this agenda?

[ Billy Crone ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwJpXNkhiHQ

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“THE DAYS OF NOAH HAVE COME – These Things Will Happen before the Second Coming of Christ”

[ Grace Digital Network ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D6r0rqSWOI

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“The Final False Prophet”

I want you to turn in your Bible to Revelation chapter 13. Revelation chapter 13. Tonight we’re going to take a look at a very imposing and a very remarkable text of Scripture, the second half of this chapter, which presents to us a portrait of the final false prophet. The final false prophet.

Let me read you, starting at verse 11, “I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

“And he performs great signs so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given to him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

“And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”

The work of God to redeem men and to establish the kingdom of Christ has not been easy. In fact, it’s always been a battle. And the reason for the battle is because Satan and his hosts of demons have fought God all along the way. The most dominant aspect of Satan’s war, the major weapon in Satan’s arsenal against God, and God’s purpose, can be summed up in one word. That word is “deception.”

He is a liar and the father of lies. He is a deceiver. He is disguised as an angel of light, and his messengers are also disguised as angels of light though they are the demons of darkness. Satan is always trying to confuse people by covering up the truth of the saving gospel, the truth of the Word of God with lies that are masquerading as if they were the truth. Satan has, from the very beginning of God’s enterprise, attempted to barrage the world with demon doctrines, coming from seducing spirits through false teachers and false prophets. If, then, the major enterprise of Satan, in endeavoring to fight against God, is deception, then the major agents of Satan are deceivers, be they demons or be they men. [ more…]

[ John MacArthur ]

Part 1: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/66-47/the-final-false-prophet-part-1

Part 2: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/66-48/the-final-false-prophet-part-2

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“End Time Manipulation (The False Prophet)” | Bible Prophecy Update |Revelation 13:11-14″

[ Joe Pedick ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IthhUhvpoJ4

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“How Will Satan Work through the Man of Sin?”

Satan will eventually have his wish and will be worshipped by humanity. The Bible speaks of a person coming on the scene of history who will be energized by Satan and will deceive many. He is known in Scripture by a variety of names such as “the beast,” the “man of lawlessness,” and the “man of sin.”

Energized By Satan

This “man of sin” will be totally energized and controlled by the Devil.

The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:9,10).

The Antichrist

The most well-known designation of this person is that of “Antichrist.” The word Antichrist is only found in the writings of the Apostle John.

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. . . Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and Son (1 John 2:18,22).

And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world (1 John 4:3).

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist (2 John 7).

Observations On The Antichrist

From these verses we can deduce the following.

1. The spirit which characterizes the future Antichrist was at work at the time of the Apostle John.

2. A final Antichrist is expected at the end of the age.

3. The spirit of Antichrist is that of apostasy – departing from the truth.

4. The spirit of Antichrist is that of a liar – denying that Jesus is the Christ.

Warning Of Jesus

Jesus warned that false Christ’s would appear.

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ! or ‘there!’ do not believe it. For false Christ’s and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:23,24).

Claim To Be God

The Bible says the man of sin will claim to be God.

he that opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Comparison With Christ

This final Antichrist can be compared with Christ in the following ways.

1. Satan’s Image, God’s Image

The Antichrist will come in image of Satan, while Jesus came in the name of the Father. Jesus warned us about this one coming in His own name.

I am come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive (John 5:43).

2. False Trinity

As God is a Trinity, there will be a false trinity with Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet.

And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and sulfur, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

3. Above And Beneath

Christ came from above, Antichrist is from below. Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day.

And He said unto them, you are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world (John 8:23).

4. Lamb And Beast

Christ was a lamb, Antichrist is called a beast.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29).

5. Empowered By Satan, Empowered By The Father

Christ was empowered by God the Father, but Satan is the driving force behind Antichrist.

even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

6. Genuine Resurrection Versus Possible Counterfeit One

Antichrist has a possible fake resurrection while Christ actually did rise from the dead.

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast (Revelation 13:3).

7. Receives Unbelievers Worship, Receives God’s Worship

Antichrist will receive the worship of unbelievers, Christ received the worship of believers.

And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead (Revelation 13:15,16).

Destroyed At Christ’s Coming

The man of sin will be destroyed at Christ’s coming.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of His mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur (Revelation 19:20).

Summary

Satan has always wanted worship. He began his career by wishing to change places with God. That did not work. He will finally get his chance as he energizes the “man of sin” or the Antichrist. This man will counterfeit Christ in a number of ways, but will eventually be destroyed when Christ comes again.

[ Don Stewart ]

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“When Government Rewards Evil and Punishes Good”

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfq-maVMxiM&t=833s

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“Last Days Deception”

[ David Wilkerson ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPdTxSNcC5Y

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“DECEPTION in the END TIMES!!!”

We’re in the last days and deception is on the rise!!! JESUS is coming soon, so Let’s start living like it!!!

[ James Kaddis ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UE1Ksr4pZc

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“Falling Away to the Antichrist || The Antichrist-Spirit”

The Antichrist-Spirit are already in the world today! This Video Will change the way we look at the anti-christ.

[ David Wilkerson ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0gIBwsvId0

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“How The Antichrist Will Deceive The World | Protect Yourself From This Spirit”

[ Grace Digital Network ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNZtRYE7yX8

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“Issues of the End Times: “Satan’s Masterpiece of Deception”

Join Pastor Ron Nelson as we take a systematic study of the Prophecies of the books of Daniel and the Revelation.

[ Ron Nelson ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4docFq11nF4

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“The Final Countdown Tribulation Rising: The Jewish People and the AntiChrist Part 1”

[ Billy Crone ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui9VBLRqBmI

*****************************
“Last Days of Heavy Darkness In The World 2021”

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

[ Robin Måhl ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wwS8SB5060

*****************************
“Exhortation to Escape Hell”

[ Jonathan Edwards – American puritan theologian and philosopher ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx7CGBqY-JE

*****************************
“How can we escape hell?

Interview ‘snippet’ of Dr. Erwin Lutzer.

[ John Ankerberg Show ]

Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X-yEXYAw8M

*****************************
“How can I not go to Hell?”

What is Hell? What does the Bible say about Hell, and how can I not go to Hell? Not going to Heaven and going to Hell is rightfully a scary thought! Along with that fear, many are confused about facts about Hell, like what is Hell like, who goes to Hell, and what happens in Hell. In this video about Hell and how to avoid going to Hell, Pastor Nelson with Bible Munch explains what the Bible says about Hell.

[ Pastor Nelson – Got Questions ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S0BXGTv3kE

*****************************
“Futures: The Reality Of Hell”

What you believe about hell shapes the way you live your life. Some people believe that hell is not such a horrible place, but they are deceived. Join us for this week’s program to discover what the Bible says about the reality and nature of hell.

[ Jack Hibbs ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Y5EltCKHQ

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

SONGS

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

“Why is Modern Music so Antichrist?”

Why is modern music so antichrist and antichristian? Lil Nas X has stirred up Christians with his controversial Nike shoes and song Montero. Evangelical preacher Joe Kirby from Off The Kirb Ministries hasn’t listened to secular chart music for around 10 years so decides to see if music has changed by listening to Lil Nas X.

[ Off the Kibb ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvgWoutHWD0

*****************************
“The Devil Went Down to Georgia”

The devil went down to Georgia, he was lookin’ for a soul to steal
He was in a bind ’cause he was way behind
And he was willin’ to make a deal

When he came across this young man sawin’ on a fiddle and playin’ it hot
And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump
And said, “boy, let me tell you what”

“I guess you didn’t know it but I’m a fiddle player too
And if you’d care to take a dare, I’ll make a bet with you
Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I’ll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul
‘Cause I think I’m better than you”

The boy said, “my name’s Johnny and it might be a sin
But I’ll take your bet, you’re gonna regret
‘Cause I’m the best there’s ever been”

Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
‘Cause Hell’s broke loose in Georgia, and the devil deals the cards
And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul

The devil opened up his case and he said, “I’ll start this show”
And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow
And he pulled the bow across the strings
And it made a evil hiss
Then a band of demons joined in
And it sounded something like this

When the devil finished, Johnny said, “well, you’re pretty good, ol’ son
But sit down in that chair right there
And let me show you how it’s done”

“Fire on the Mountain” run boys, run
The devil’s in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No, child, no

The devil bowed his head because he knew that he’d been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny’s feet
Johnny said, “Devil, just come on back if you ever wanna try again
I done told you once you son of a bitch, I’m the best that’s ever been”

He played “Fire on the Mountain” run boys, run
The devil’s in the House of the Rising Sun
The chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough
Granny, will your dog bite? No child, no

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh7BZf7D5Bw

—————

“Calamity Jane ‘Devil Went Down to Georgia Feat. Camille Rae’”

Calamity Jane’s debut single, “Devil Went Down to Georgia Feat. Camille Rae” is a modern homage to the original song by Charlie Daniels. Lucy Cantley’s remarkable playing is bolstered here by Camille Rae’s impassioned vocal, injecting new spirit into the country-pop track.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTyANDijnyU

*****************************
“Devil Is A Liar”

[Intro]
Liar, liar, liar, liar
Liar, liar, liar, liar
Liar, liar, liar, liar
Liar, liar, liar, liar

[Verse 1]
I get caught up in tryin’ to be somethin’ I’m not
To please everyone else
I look deep in the mirror to find everything that isn’t right
With myself

[Pre-Chorus]
God only knows I’ve tried to fight it, fight it
It’s just a wolf that’s always cryin’, cryin’

[Chorus]
The devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be playin’ with the fire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price

[Verse 2]
Looks like you got somewhere to be
People you need to see, gotta keep up
They say image is everything, makin’ it hard to think
That you’re enough

[Pre-Chorus]
God only knows you’ve tried to fight it, fight it
It’s just a wolf who’s always lyin’, lyin’

[Chorus]
The devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be playin’ with the fire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price

Yeah, devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be walkin’ on the wire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price
Don’t believe the lie
Oh, yeah

[Bridge]
Don’t be dancin’ with the devil, don’t believe a single word
Oh-oh-oh
‘Cause when we get to Heaven, we gon’ sing and watch him burn (Oh, no)
Dancin’ with the devil, don’t believe a single word
Oh-oh-oh
‘Cause when we get to Heaven, we gon’ sing and watch him burn

[Interlude]
The devil is a liar
The devil is a liar

[Chorus]
The devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be playin’ with the fire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price

Yeah, devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be walkin’ on the wire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price
Don’t believe the lie

[ Colton Dixon ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbkBXg2QwEI

*****************************
“The Devil Is A Liar”

I wear my heart on my sleeve
Don’t wanna be fake
But I heard I should be ashamed
From the mouth of a snake
Deep down I’d rather feel
Show you something real
But there is power in my weakness

They can try to keep me silent
But I’ma shout it from the mountain
No I’m not backing down

The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar
My God has set me free
Opened my eyes now I can see
The Devil is a liar
And he’s not fooling me

I know he won’t give up easy nah
He can try but he won’t deceive me
I can see, I can see right through him
He wants me to hide, he’s the father of lies
But I got an army on my side
And we’re not backing down

The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar
My God has set me free
Opened my eyes now I can see
The Devil is a liar
And he’s not fooling me

Though I walk
Through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, fear no evil
He comes to kill, steal and destroy
But I ain’t quitting I’m not backing down
Not giving up, he can’t hold me back
Cause I run with the King and the truth is

The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar
Yes my God has set me free
Opened my eyes now I can see
The Devil is a liar

The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar, liar
The Devil is a liar, liar, liar
And he’s not fooling me

[ We Are Messengers ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5mLxFsXe_c

____________________________________________________________

APOLOGETIX SONGS

____________________________________________________________

“Bad Dude Rising”
(Parody of“Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival)

I see a bad dude arisin’
I see the devil on the way
I see a perfect disguise and I see the world led astray

Don’t fall for the lies
‘Cause he’s just a fake, not Christ
There’s a bad dude on the rise

I read in Second Thessalonians
I know the man is comin’ soon
He’ll set himself upon the throne
And he’ll get the world to play his tune

Well, don’t get all surprised
‘Cause he comes before the Christ
First the bad dude must arise

He’ll bring the nations all together
They’ll see his miracles and signs
They’ll think this world is gettin’ better
They’ll find he’s really anti-Christ

Well, don’t get all surprised
‘Cause he comes before the Christ
First the bad dude must arise
Well, don’t fall for the lies
‘Cause he’s just a fake, not Christ
There’s a bad dude on the rise

[ ApologetiX – “Radical History Tour” album ]

*****************************
“Won’t Get Born Again”
(Parody of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who)

They’ll be frightened of the beast
And they still will have no peace
And the hero that they worshipped will be gone And the man who spurred them on
The one they thought could do no wrong
Is a tyrant a lot like Genghis Khan

A tip I have for the United Nations:
Take a browse through the Book of Revelation
Bible says there’s a stranger comin’ round
Who’ll specialize in charm and grace — pacify every race But he led all the people astray — who don’t get born again

A savior had to come — they knew it all along But they never read about the one that’s false And the world will bless his name
It’s a mystery and a shame
‘Cause the man that they love won’t win the last war

A tip I have for the United Nations:
Think about what you’ll do on that occasion
Bible says there’s a stranger comin’ round
Who’ll shoot up like a star in flames — can’t quite guess his name
But he’ll get all the people to pray — who don’t get born again — no, no

He’ll fool the world when he finally arrives
They’ll be happy till they’re left out to dry
He’ll get all the nations to buy into his lie
But I know that the Israelites won’t comply — Will ya?

Yeahhhh!
And nothing is complete — till all of Israel is redeemed
It’s in Romans verse 11:25
And the Lord will heal the rift — in all the hearts of Israelites And the people and their God will both unite

A tip I have for the United Nations:
Wake up now to the dude in Revelation
Smile and grin when there’s peace all around
(Don’t) forget about the price you’ll pay — there on Judgment Day When you get on your knees and pray
But won’t get born again — won’t get born again — no, no

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Meet the true God — name is Jehovah

[ ApologetiX – “Wordplay” album ]

*****************************
“Singled You Out”
(Parody of “Figured You Out” by Nickelback)

I like to prance around your street — and I’m like a lion that wants more meat And I like the wayward selfish sheep, who are not looking out for me
They’re like my favorite thing to eat
And I love to play to their egos — and I love to keep them off their toes
And I love to make them think they know too much to fall under control Of another power not their own

And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out (The devil is a roaring lion)
And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out (1 Peter says in chapter 5)

I like the fickle ones the best — they like it when their lives stay blest They like to think they’re not possessed till I put them to the test
I like when pride stays unconfessed
And I know the way to stack the deck — and I love a good life I can wreck (A good life I can wreck)
And I might attack with wealth or sex — while I put doubts in their heads I love a scandal’s chain effect

And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out (The devil is a roaring lion)
And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out (The devil is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour)
He’s got to go if you resist)

I’m like a panther on your street — and I like a church where no one meets And I’m on my way to steal some sheep — front doors open up for me They’re like my slaves if they’re deceived
And I hate the place I have to go — but I’ll take some people with me, though (Some people with me, though)
And I hate the faithful that say no to every bald lie that I’ve told I hate the power that they hold

Ooh … and now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out (The devil is a roaring lion)
And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out
(The devil is a roaring lion — in chapter 4 of James, you’ll find)
(He’s got to go if you resist)

[ ApologetiX – “Wordplay” album ]

*****************************
“Mr. Don’t”
(Parody of “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows)

Shi-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nar
Mmm uh huh

They’re planning the new age today
Preparin’ this mellow, better world
But they don’t like all the born-again Christians
‘Cause we’re backward — and we think so different
You know, they said there’s quite a lot of ways — to God
It sounds really beautiful
But we’ve all known someone beautiful
Who we found out was not so truthful

So, “Come dance,” the sirens shout to the poor men
Shi-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nar-yeah
Uh huh — yeah-eh-eh
Come up to see us — don’t miss out on this planning session, and
Let’s meet in Babel — Mister, don’t!
Believe you me — you can’t believe in everything
And I — I wanna discern what’s true belief, yeah-eh-eh

Mister, don’t scam me — hell is not a fairy tale
And with very exclusive religions — then two can’t be true
Ah no, no, just look and you’ll see
Smilin’ men in bright white
Connin’ you, mysterious
But if every path it was true
Truth would never need showing

Well, I’m gonna read the Scriptures
Read myself what Jesus really had to say
All of the books of the Bible are very, very meaningful
Yeah, well, you know, they do not believe it, brother
Ah ahhh, it’s all symbolic, yes, they say
If they knew the Gospel — they’d know Christ Himself proclaimed there’s just one Way

Mister, don’t jam me — look into the Scriptures
And compare them to Buddha for wisdom
These both can’t be true
I don’t think so — they don’t look alike to me
Blending them is not right
They’ve bought themselves a bridge too far
And it’s very warm and fuzzy, but it’ll never be ho-o-o-o-o-o-o-ly

I will not believe baloney
And I’m never gonna be phony
I don’t believe in lyin’
Yeah, everybody wants a path that’s fat
They all want us to think we’re God
Yeah, but — He’s got a bit of an issue with that
We need belief — but I don’t believe in everything — and I
I found in His Son the true belief, true belief, true belief, yeah-eh
Mister, don’t slam me — somewhat true is not enough
And the stairway that you built to Heaven
Seems perfect to you
But it’s not the peace with God that you need
Don’t wanna be dumb children
Mister, don’t just believe in something that’s a little more fun, see when
Anybody snubs truth — God’s Son — said death is not a fun thing, as you can read

Mister, don’t blame me — declarin’ that you didn’t know
When I look at the world’s religions
I don’t see these parallel paths you see
The Almighty is a big God
But they don’t know Christ, so they don’t know Him
But when antichrist arrives here, they’re gonna see
Things are gonna happen as Christ decreed
Yes, there’s no Plan B
It’s gonna leave a big mark

[ ApologetiX – [ Decent Alternative” album ]

*****************************
“Revelation Man”
(Parody of “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers)

There’s a man who seems just like a savior
With everyone he meets he gains their favor
Oh, with every move he makes,
Another hand he shakes
Odds are he won’t give you peace tomorrow

Revelation Man
Revelation Man
Hey, he’s givin’ you a number and takin’ away your faith

It’s there in Revelation that you find
A pretty beast who has an evil mind
He led the world astray;
They’ll give their souls away
All that he will give is grief and sorrow

Revelation Man
Revelation Man
Hey, he’s givin’ you a number and takin’ away your faith

Bringin’ all the world together one day
Then saying that he’s God Almighty next day
Oh, but you fell for all his tricks
By listenin’ to 666
God’s not who he is you’ll see tomorrow

Revelation Man
Revelation Man
Hey, he’s givin’ you a number and takin’ away your faith

Revelation Man

[ ApologetiX – “Biblical Graffiti” album ]

*****************************
“Babel, Babel”
(Parody of “Rebel Rebel” performed and written by David Bowie)

Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo

We got some others in the world
They’re not sure if they should boil us in oil
They hate – the Israelites
They say, let’s go and unite
It’s like reading the Second Psalm
It’s like glancin’ at the Book divine
The Lord laughs at their pagan hordes
The world roars at His warning voice

They put me down – and they all scoff
Attacking things that put them off
Babel, Babel – their former address
Babel, Babel – that place was a mess
Babel, Babel – how could they know
God’s plans – they just move slow
Told ya

Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo

We got the mother of all wars
We’re just – not sure when but we’re sure of the source
He hates — the Israelites
He hates men sold out to Christ
He likes peace and he likes it false
He loves tramplin? on the Book divine
He’s got plans and he plays his part
He wants war and he comes with force

He hooked the crowd – but they are wrong
Their crafty kiiing – he put them on
Rebel nations – their forward address
Revelation – 16:16 says – it’s
Armageddon – how could they know
God’s plans – they just move slow
Told ya
Uhh!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo

Babel, Babel – the Torah says
Babel, Babel – a snake’s in the grass
Babel, Babel – why don’t they know
God’s plans – they just move slow
Told ya

Their former address – was facin’ a mess
In chapter 11 of old Genesis
They got the — translation of the languages
Now and — news live and their cameras and crews
Who wanna — be there when the battle ensues
‘Cause they love distress
But the dude won’t have success
Because he’s facin’ the best
But how could they know
I said, how could they know

So what you ought to know
The Revelation described
In chapter 19 long ago
Their man is doomed to lose and Christ defeats their troops
Because his forward address
Is a lake of regrets
Ooh – their faith is amiss
Ooh ooh — so how could they know
Heh heh — how could they know
Heh

[ ApologetiX – “I Know You Are but What Am I?” album ]

*****************************
“Cunning Is the Devil”
(Parody of “Runnin’ with the Devil” by Van Halen)

I lived my life like there’s no good morals
Didn’t follow God — I laughed at Sheol
He’s not extinct — no stegosaurus
Yes, God is livin’ and old Satan’s real

Oooh yeah — hey-uh-uhh
Cunning is the Devil
Uh huh yeah-eah
Woo hoo woo
Cunning is the Devil
He’ll tell you all to doubt it

I found the sinful life ain’t so simple
Ain’t no snowplows — on that road
It got so rough — too rough to “four-wheel”
It’s like my body — Satan controlled

Ah yeah-eh-eh!
Cunning is the Devil
God said it, baby — you know He ain’t lyin’ to you
He’s only gonna tell you what’s right — uhhh yeah
Cunning is the Devil
Guess I’m scammed — Yeah!

You know I — I found the sinful life weren’t so simple, no
And I slumped down from that load
I got so low — so low I could kneel
I talked to God and — gave Him control

Uhhh yeah
Come and leave the Devil
Oh, God — Oh, God, I’m coming! Ahhhhh, yeah
Come and leave the Devil
Uh! Uh! I don’t want more time

Heyyyyy yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Uh yuh Uh yuhhhh yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Wwoo! Wwwoo!
Come and leave the Devil
Uh huh, yeah! Uh huh, yeah! Uh-uh huh, yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Ooo!

[ ApologetiX – “Only a Glorified Cover Band” album ]

*****************************
“Resist Him”
(Parody of “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac)

The enemy likes to dwell in the night
And work on you undercover
Takes a disguise but his words are lies and
Through them evil hovers

All your life you’ve never seen
Someone waitin’ in the wings
But when Satan comes he’s too clever
So you never will

Resist while you can with your heart
Against the prince of darkness
He rules the sky but the Lord’s our light and
Wins the fight regardless

All your life you’ve fled the scene
C’mon, take it like a man
What did James preach on in 4:7?
When the devil grins
Will you let him win?

Resist him
Resist him
Resist him
Resist him

He brings lives to hell with delight
And he’s settin’ you up to suffer
He was alive when the earth arrived and
Fooled old Eve, your mother

All your life you’ve never seen
The One takin’ on your sins
God the Savior promised you Heaven
Will you let Him in?
Kill the devil’s sin

Resist him
Resist him
Resist him

Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise
Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise
Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise

Jesus Christ
Crushes Satan’s lies
Jesus Christ
Crushes Satan’s lies

[ ApologetiX – “Music Is As Music Does” album ]

*****************************
“Role Never Changes”
(Parody of “Roll with the Changes” performed by REO Speedwagon)

As soon as Cain and Abel — well, we find men killing
‘Cause Satan hates that we are all God thinks of
The Bible’s on the table – while blood is spilling
Waiting here for you to take and pick up

So if you’re tired of old Satan’s story
Ohhhh, turn from rages
All we have is just one enemy
Whose role never changes – yeah-eh yeah-eh
Woo!

Christ knew what had to happen – fought the terrible serpent
God went through man’s darkest hour
He heard that some were laughin’ – felt the nails that hurt him
Our guilt was poured on Him as the sweet turned sour

So He expired but He came in glory
Ohhhh – returned from the grave, yes
Now He is our priest forever
His role never changes – ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhnh yeah-eh
Woo!

Sooooooo-oh-oh-oh if you’re tired of unstable moorings
Oh, Hebrews, 13:8 says
Christ is the same forever
His role never changes
Baby – role never changes
Oh, you know, you know, you know He’s got to

(Keep us holy) Oh yeah (Keep us holy — oooo oooo ooo)
Ohhhhhh His role never changes
Keep us holy
(Keep us holy) Oh yeah-eh-eh (Keep us holy — oooo oooo ooo)
Ohhhhhh that role never changes
Oh, ba-a-aby
(Keep us holy) Oh ba-a-aby (Keep us holy — oooo oooo ooo)
Oh, He’s got to ’cause His role never changes
Got to, got to, got to, got to keep us holy
(Keep us holy) got to keep us (Keep us holy — oooo oooo ahhhhhhhh)
Oh, He sought you and He bought you but you’ve got turn to God

Keep us holy, keep us holy — ooo ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Keep us holy, keep us holy — ooo ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Keep us holy, keep us holy — ooo ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Keep us holy, keep us holy — ooooooh ooooooh ahhhhhhhhh

[ ApologetiX – “Zebraic” album ]

*****************************
“Wish You Could Hear”
Parody of “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd)

Oh, don’t you see for yourself?
You’re headed for Hell
Mute, blind and lame
Can you smell or even feel?
Can your soul read braille?
You smile through a veil
Don’t you think I can tell?

Did you get what I said?
Your hearing is gone
Can’t actually see
Caught up in a cruel scheme
All covered with chains
Will you escape?
In second Corinthians four*
I believe Paul will explain

How I wish – how I wish you could hear
But so few lost souls in the devil’s control
Clear up their ears
He’s blinded all of them – they don’t know
They’re headin’ south – and they can’t steer
Wish you could hear

[ ApologetiX – “Soundproof” album ]

*****************************
“A Lie”
(Parody of “Alive” by Pearl Jam)

Son, they said, Have we got a little theory for you
What you thought was your daddy was really a gorilla Science teachers show you all the bones, but they don’t fit Your real daddy was Darwin
“Sorry, we still can’t prove it, but it has to be taught”

Well, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Whoa-oh

Why does your school enforce it like its true?
It’s just a theory, you know?
Why can’t they show me any missing links in the chain?
They dug, they dug — no evidence — just quantum leaps

Can’t you see — evolution’s a lie?
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Yeah-eh

Whoa oh — Yeah yeah! — Woo!

Is something wrong with that? Of course, there is
You’re not an accident — or do you prefer to be?
You’re God’s creation — and it’s so, it’s so
So obvious, so obvious

Evolution’s a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Oooh — evolution’s still a lie
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh yeah!

Get back to God — dust to dust
Your facts are wrong — trust in us

Oh, oh, oh, oh — oh, oh, oh, oh — oh, oh, oh, oh — oh, oh, oh, oh

[ ApologetiX – “Ticked” album ]

*****************************
“Glad It’s Over”
(Parody of “Glad All Over” performed by The Dave Clark Five)

You stayed and You loved me (stayed and loved me)
Called all the time (called all the time)
But Satan deceived me (he deceived me)
I always declined (always declined)

I’m feelin’ — glad it’s over
Yes, I’m-a — glad it’s over
Lately I’m – glad it’s over
So glad You’re kind

While Satan had me (Satan had me)
You never withdrew (never withdrew)
You have those sorrows (You have those sorrows)
Cause the lost to seek you (lost to seek you)

And I’m feelin’ — glad it’s over
Yes, I’m-a — glad it’s over
Lately I’m – glad it’s over
So glad You’re kind

Though the world — it tried to get me to wait (get me to wait)
God, You knew – deep down inside — I’d go straight – I-I’d go straight

All that is past now (all that is past)
Knew we’d end up fine (end up fine)
Jesus’ love now (Jesus’ love)
Has won this war of mine (war of mine)

And I’m feelin’ — glad it’s over
Yes, I’m-a — glad it’s over
Lately I’m – glad it’s over
So glad You’re kind

Other gods they tried to make me their slave (make me their slave)
But You know – it’s by Your Son I was saved – I-I was saved

All that is past now (all that is past)
Till the end of time (end of time)
Jesus’ love now (Jesus’ love)
Is always warm and kind (warm and kind)

And I’m feelin’ — glad it’s over
Yes, I’m-a — glad it’s over
Lately I’m – glad it’s over
So glad You’re kind
I’m so glad You’re kind now
Lord, I’m so glad You’re kind
I’m-a so glad You’re kind now
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!

[ ApologetiX – “Alien Invasion” album ]

*****************************
“No More Mr. Wise Guy”
(Parody of “No More Mr. Nice Guy” performed by Alice Cooper)

I used to be such a deep, deep thinker
Till they got a hold of me
I have endured too many old ladies
I’ve had some wives, you see

I’ve got no sense ’cause I heed the pagans
My fancy queens tricked me
And I’m gettin’ real smart now, but I’m feelin’ weak

No more Mr. Wise Guy
No more Mr. Peace
No more Mr. Wise Guy, they say
He’s flipped, he’s deceived

I got no free time to read the Proverbs
I can’t believe – it’s me
And I’m in a real spot now with God – He’s gettin’ peeved

No more Mr. Wise Guy
No more Mr. Peace
No more Mr. Wise Guy, they say
He’s thick, he’s deceived

My God picked me on Election Day – I cast God aside
My Song of Solomon was so successful – I had scads of brides
I went berserk with my ego – and every Bible shows
First Kings 11, Ecclesiastes
They’ll put you in the know – they say

No more Mr. Wise Guy
No more Mr. Peace
No more Mr. Wise Guy, they say
More things than just these

No more Mr. Wise Guy
No more Mr. Peace
No more Mr. Wise Guy, I say
Don’t pick foreign queens
Quee-hee-hee-heens
Quee-hee-hee-hee-heens!

[ ApologetiX – “Nichey” album ]

*****************************
“Choose Your Daddy”
(Parody of “Who’s Your Daddy” by Toby Keith)

Well, here He comes knockin’ on your side door, baby
Yeah, the Son of God’s on your side
I guess He called ya but ya’ll weren’t home for the hundredth time
Yeah, you look in Christ’s Book right after Luke in John 8:1–59
It ain’t so hard to find
The place He said you’re either in the faith or sons of Belial
You read on — it’s really tough to debate it
Don’t you get it?
Yeah, I think He’s waiting in the sky for you
You know, our Father — up in Heaven

Choose your daddy, choose your savior
Choose somebody who’s your friend
And choose the one God who you’ll come runnin’ to
When all the world’s lies start crumblin’
Your god’s your money, but God the Son, He
Says come to me; get saved from sin
Choose your daddy — who’s your faith in?
Is it God or is it mammon?

You either — belong to God above or to Satan
Which is it? Well, don’t you get it?
If you wait, then Satan decides for you
You know you gotta — become repentant

Choose your daddy, choose your savior
Choose somebody, yeah, who’s your friend
And choose the one God that you’ll come runnin’ to
Yeah, when the world’s lies start crumblin’
He’s God Almighty; just say, “Alrighty
Let’s make it real — the way You planned”
Choose your daddy — who’s your faith in?
Is it God or is it man?
Choose your daddy — Luke 16 says
It’s in God or it’s in mammon.

[ ApologetiX – “Adam Up” album ]

*****************************
“Sin Can Be Resistible”
Parody of “Simply Irrestible” by Robert Palmer)

We cannot be invincible — but God provides the principle
For Baptist or Episcopal — that any sin’s resistible
Sin’s pervasive — can’t ignore it — it’s a powerful force
But He’ll provide a way out when there’s no other door
And you can stay put or leave — but now I’ve found that
Sin can be resistible — sin can be resistible

Our lusts can be so powerful — hoo— that sin seems unavoidable
But James says if we resist the devil — he’ll run away so miserable
It’s a natural law that no temptation befalls ya
‘Cept the kind that is common to the rest of us all
It used to look good to me, but now I find that
Sin can be resistible — sin can be resistible — sin can be resistible
(Please hold tight — there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away)
Sin can be resistable
(Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go)

Sin’s unavoidable but that don’t mean we’ll fall
Read First Corinthians verse 10:13 because
God made a promise, baby, Satan ain’t allowed
To tempt us more than we can bear I’ve found that
Sin can be resistible
(Please hold tight — there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away)
Sin can be resistable
(Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go – oh whoa oh)

Our weapons aren’t shootable — huh — but truth is irrefutable
Ooh woo ooh ooh ooh woo-ooh-ooh — our struggle isn’t physical
So fight him with the biblical — yeah, yeah
Jesus faced him in the desert — he’s a powerful tempter
Even Christ could have fallen — but you know He knew better
Well, He used the Good Book you see — that’s how we find out
Sin can be resistible
(Please hold tight — there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away)
Sin can be resistible
(Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go)
Sin can be resistible
(Please hold tight — there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away)
Sin can be resistible
(Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go) Huh
Sin can be resistible

[ ApologetiX – “Spoofernatural” album ]

*****************************
“Counting Blessings”
(Parody of “Counting Blue Cars” by Dishwalla)

It must have been miraculous
Paul was jailed — but how come his smile wasn’t snuffed out? He talked with the churches
In his letters, he would preach, we have
Many blessings — so fill your thoughts with good
He said:

Focus all your thoughts on God
It tells me in Philippians 4

I must admit it’s tough to do
All our days there’s stuff that’s bringin’ us down
Think about only good thoughts
Skip the bad — and you’ll see, we have
Many blessings — so fill your thoughts with good
He said:

Focus all your thoughts on God
It’ll make your life much easier
And thank Him that you got this far — ooh
Focus all your thoughts on God
‘Cause the devil’s a deceiver
He’ll tell you life is very hard — it’s not very hard now

When getting low, lift up the praise
All our moods — they are choices we must make
Our souls are saved
We are family — God’s own people — and have
Many blessings — so fill your thoughts with good

Do do do do do do do

[ ApologetiX – “Ticked” album ]

*****************************
“One Thing Leads to the Father”
(Parody of “One Thing Leads to Another” by The Fixx)

The deception’s worldwide
to what are you trying to pray?
You’ve got a bland faith — your guru says
Communicate with any god you please
You see I mentioned this to
make a case for black or white
But when one little cross leaves you shocked, it’s unique
You won’t discover though you seek

I know the — Truth and the Way
Read John 14:6, baby, one thing leads to the Father
You tell me that I’m wrong
I’ve been a Christian too long, my friend
One way leads to the Father yeah, yeah, yeah

[ ApologetiX – “Wise Up and Rock” album ]

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

DEEP THOUGHTS

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

“If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.”
[ Sun Tzu ]

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
[ Sun Tzu ]

“In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.”
[ Winston Churchill ]

“The con-artist’s job is to hoodwink the enemy instead of slugging it out with them.”
[ Ralph Ingersoll (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“Every army practices deception. If they don’t, they can’t win, and they know it.”
[ General Wesley Clark (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“You couldn’t really believe that what we were going to do would be effective. How could we come along with rubber dummies and blow [them] up and make it look real?”
[ Irving Stempel (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“Officers who had once commanded 32-ton tanks, felt frustrated and helpless with a battalion of rubber M-4s, 93 pounds fully inflated. The adjustment from man of action to man of wile was most difficult. Few realized at first that one could spend just as much energy ‘pretending’ to fight as actually fighting.”
[ History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“You have to see into the mind of your adversary. You have to create for him a misleading picture of the operation to come. And you have to sell it to him with confidence.”
[ General Wesley Clark (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“While the 23rd does not hold itself responsible for the destruction of the German SEVENTH ARMY, there is always a possibility that its ruse helped becloud the German estimate of the situation.”
[ History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“[I heard] enormous sounds of tracks racing through the forest, sounded like a whole division was amassing. Loudspeakers blaring, sergeants’ voices yelling, “Put out that goddammed cigarette now.” It was all fakery—it was all a big act.”
[ Sergeant Victor Dowd (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“Eleven hundred men, with help from a few regular army units, would try to convince the enemy that they were thirty thousand soldiers bristling for an all-out charge across the Rhine.”
[ History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“The 23rd’s last deceptive effort of the War was fortunately the best.”
[ History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“The beauty of this operation lay in three facts. (1) The contribution of the Twenty-third was only a part of a giant spectacle involving practically all of the real NINTH ARMY; (2) The Twenty-third has reached its highest state of efficiency and all of its deceptive strength was employed; (3) From all evidences, the operation was a success.”
[ History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“The 30th G-2 [Intelligence Officer] said the United States attack came as a “complete surprise to the enemy with a consequent saving of American lives.”… “There is no doubt,” he said, “that Operation VIERSEN materially assisted in deceiving the enemy with regard to the real dispositions and intentions of this Army.”
[ History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“There are German records that show that some of the deceptions were taken—hook, line, and sinker. The Twenty-Third did not win the war single-handedly, but I think it would have cost a lot more American casualties had they not been there.”
[ Jonathan Gawne (Military Historian about the the “Ghost Army”) ]

“Military deception is much like a successful magic trick. It is about fooling people into believing that something is happening that isn’t.
[ History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“Of all the radio messages that I sent, could there have been just one of those that changed the tide of battle for an American victory, where one mother or one new bride was spared the agony of putting a Gold Star [honoring a fallen family member] in their fron window? That’s what the Twenty-Third Headquarters was all about.”
[ Corporal Stanley Nance (About the “Ghost Army”) ]

“Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who overcomes them by force.”
[ Niccolo Machiavelli ]

“Satan is seeking to give the world a ruler in place of Christ who will also be in opposition to Christ so that he can rule over the world, instead of Christ.”
[ J. Dwight Pentecost ]

“… Faustus … dared to confirm he had advanced beyond the level of a scarlet sinner — he was a conscious follower of the Prince of Darkness. The fact he could publicly project an Antichrist image with pride, having no fear of reprisal, and his seeming diabolical art of escaping all punishment when others who were considered heretics had burned at the stake for less, would certainly signal that an unnatural individual walked in their midst. It is true in many respects he assumed the role of the charlatan, yet how apropos, considering his willingness to follow his ‘brother-in-law’ known as the Father of Lies and deception.”
[ E.A. Bucchianeri ]

“Finally, if you ask why this complete picture of the Antichrist is given us in Scripture, my answer is: in order that we might clearly recognize it when it is revealed. And what then must we do when we see it is come? Must we oppose it, must we fight it with the sword? That, of course, is completely impossible. It will come. It must come. And to oppose its coming is entirely vain. Its coming is irresistible. And the battle is not one of, the sword. But as the text has it, he that is for captivity, into captivity he goeth; and if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. No, we cannot oppose the power of Antichrist by main force. When that world-power comes and reigns supreme, we shall be submissive to the last, as far as God and our conscience permit. But here is the patience and the faith of the saints, that in all these times they remain faithful, and refuse to deny the Christ. They wait for the day of His coming. May God give us grace to be found faithful at all times, and watching and praying, so that no one may take our crown.”
[ Herman Hoeksema ]

“If you don’t read the Holy Bible, you don’t stand a chance with the antichrist.”
[ Felix Wantang ]

“But instead of this world unification ushering in an age of prosperity and peace, as most globalists believe it will, it will be a time of unimaginable human suffering as recorded in God’s Word. The Anti-christ will tightly regulate who may buy and sell.”
[ Russell Kirk ]

“No man ever did, nor ever shall, truly go forth to convert the nations, nor to prophesy in the present state of witnesses against Antichrist, but by the gracious inspiration and instigation of the Holy Spirit of God.”
[ Roger Williams ]

The Antichrist will be the infernal prince again for the third and last time… so many evils shall be committed by the means of Satan, the infernal Prince, that almost the entire world shall be found undone and desolate. Before these events happen, many rare birds will cry in the air, ‘Now! Now!’ and sometime later will vanish.”
[ Nostradamus ]

“Christians will not be here to experience the great tribulation under the Antichrist.”
[ Robert Jeffress ]

“Antichrist is the adversary of Christ; an adversary really , a friend pretendedly : So then, Antichrist is one that is against Christ; one that is for Christ, and one that is contrary to him: (And this is that mystery of iniquity (2 Thess 2:7). Against him in deed ; for him in word , and contrary to him in practice . Antichrist is so proud as to go before Christ; so humble as to pretend to come after him, and so audacious as to say that himself is he . Antichrist will cry up Christ; Antichrist will cry down Christ: Antichrist will proclaim that himself is one above Christ. Antichrist is the man of sin , the son of perdition; a beast, [that] hath two horns like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon (Rev 13:11).

Christ is the Son of God; Antichrist is the son of Hell.

Christ is holy, meek, and forbearing: Antichrist is wicked, outrageous, and exacting.

Christ seeketh the good of the soul: Antichrist seeks his own avarice and revenge.

Christ is content to rule by his word: Antichrist saith, The word is not sufficient.

Christ preferreth his Father’s will above heaven and earth: Antichrist preferreth himself and his traditions above all that is written, or that is called God, or worshiped.

Christ has given us such laws and rules as are helpful and healthful to the soul: Antichrist seeketh to abuse those rules to our hurt and destruction.

Antichrist may be considered either more particularly, or more generally. 1. More particularly: And so there are many Antichrists (1 John 2:18). 2. More generally: And so the many maketh but one great Antichrist, one man of sin, one enemy, one great whore, one son of perdition (2 Thess 2:3; Rev 19:2).

Again, Antichrist must be distinguished, with respect to his more internal and external parts; and so there is the spirit , soul , or life (1 John 4:3); and also the body and flesh of Antichrist (2 Thess 2:7). The spirit, or soul, or life of Antichrist, is that spirit of error, that wicked, that mystery of iniquity, that under colour and pretence of verity, draweth men from truth to falsehood. The body or flesh of Antichrist, is that heap of men, that assembly of the wicked, that synagogue of Satan that is acted and governed by that spirit. But God will destroy both soul and body; He ‘shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: [or from the soul, even to the flesh] and they shall be [both soul and body] as when a standard-bearer fainteth’ (Isa 10:18).
[ John Bunyan ]

—————————

RELATED SCRIPTURE VERSES:

Verses About the Antichrist

Revelation 13:1-18
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.

2 John 1:7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

1 John 2:22
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. …

1 John 4:3
And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

1 John 2:18
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

Mark 13:22
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Revelation 19:20
And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Mark 13:6
Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.

2 Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Revelation 13:16-17
Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

Revelation 13:1
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? …

Matthew 24:5
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Revelation 20:2-5
And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 13:8
And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Daniel 7:8
I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Revelation 13:11
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.

Luke 21:8
And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.

Luke 12:40
You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Mark 13:21
And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.

Zechariah 14:1-21
Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. …

Revelation 20:10
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Matthew 24:26
So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.

Matthew 24:23
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

Revelation 20:15
And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Zechariah 11:17
“Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!”

Revelation 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Revelation 20:4
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

1 John 4:2
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

Jeremiah 5:30-31
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

Revelation 12:3
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.

Revelation 11:2
But do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Daniel 11:21
In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

Revelation 17:8
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

2 Peter 2:15
Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,

Hebrews 2:14
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Amos 8:11-14
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it. “In that day the lovely virgins and the young men shall faint for thirst. Those who swear by the Guilt of Samaria, and say, ‘As your god lives, O Dan,’ and, ‘As the Way of Beersheba lives,’ they shall fall, and never rise again.”

Daniel 11:44
But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction.

Daniel 11:37
He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all.

Psalm 91:1-16
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, …

Revelation 14:12
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 13:11-1
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. …

Mark 13:9
“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.

Daniel 11:1-45
“And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. “And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these. “Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. …

Genesis 6:1-22
When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. …

Revelation 11:1-19
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. …

Colossians 2:1-23
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. …

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Romans 5:9
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

John 6:65-66
And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Revelation 9:5
They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone.

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

Jeremiah 4:23-27
I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the air had fled. I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger. For thus says the Lord, “The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.

Revelation 13:5
And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.

Revelation 13:2
And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.

Daniel 7:25
He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Revelation 17:1-18
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” …

Revelation 13:18
This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

2 Thessalonians 2:8
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

1 Thessalonians 1:10-2:5
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. …

Galatians 3:1
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

John 6:66
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Luke 21:16
You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.

Daniel 9:27
And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

Daniel 8:1-27
In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the capital, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. …

Ezekiel 48:1-35
“These are the names of the tribes: Beginning at the northern extreme, beside the way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan (which is on the northern border of Damascus over against Hamath), and extending from the east side to the west, Dan, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Dan, from the east side to the west, Asher, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Asher, from the east side to the west, Naphtali, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Naphtali, from the east side to the west, Manasseh, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Manasseh, from the east side to the west, Ephraim, one portion. …

Revelation 13:17-18
So that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

Revelation 6:2
And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

1 John 4:2-3
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

2 Thessalonians 2:9
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,

Matthew 24:4-5
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

Daniel 7:1-28
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ …

Deuteronomy 18:20-22
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Revelation 13:7
Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,

Revelation 13:6
It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

Revelation 13:3
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.

Matthew 24:15
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Daniel 11:36
“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.

Daniel 8:25
By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.

Daniel 8:23-25
And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.

Daniel 8:23
And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.

Daniel 7:24-25
As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

Daniel 7:24
As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.

Daniel 7:20
And about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.

Daniel 7:7-8
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel 7:6
After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

Daniel 7:5
And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’

Daniel 7:4
The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.

Ezekiel 38:1-39:29
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; …

Revelation 19:19
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.

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“A quick summary of the Christian “Gospel”:
JESUS’ PROPITIATION made our SINS FORGIVEN and IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so that we have GOD’S ACCEPTANCE into His Heaven and receive ETERNAL LIFE.”
[ Mark Besh ]

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Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ’pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!

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FOCUS VERSES

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“The people of the prince who is to come [ the coming Antichrist ] will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
[ Daniel 9:26 ]

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
[ Matthew 7:15 ]

“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many… For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
[ Matthew 24:4-5, 24 ]

“and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”
[ Matthew 24:11 ]

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.”
[ Matthew 24:32-33 ]

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
[ Colossians 3:1-2 ]

“While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
[ 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ]

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that Day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”
[ 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ]

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”
[ 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 ]

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”
[ 2 Thessalonians 2:11 ]

“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”
[ 1 John 2:18 ]

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
[ 1 John 4:2-3 ]

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
[ 1 John 4:4 ]

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
[ 2 John 7 ]

Mark

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If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net

Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.

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