Of Lions and Beasts

I was listening to one of Chris Pinto’s broadcasts the other day, and he was describing a hunting technique used by lions.

It seems that often a group of lions, a pride, will split into two groups. They then will move to opposite sides of a herd of animals, with one group remaining hidden in tall grass or bushes. The other group will roar, and startle the prey who will run in the opposite direction, right into a trap. When the herd is within striking distance the hidden group of lions will spring out of hiding and take down some of the prey.

I seem to remember seeing this on some TV show, when I was a kid, but I had forgotten about it.

I find this interesting because both Satan and the Lord Jesus Christ are compared to lions in Scripture;

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I Peter 5:8

Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. Hosea 13:7-8

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Revelation 5:5

Is it possible that both the Lord and Satan use this same technique? Don’t forget the Lord programmed lions to behave this way. Yes! This is exactly what we see in biblical prophecy, and don’t forget that Satan himself counterfeits the real thing.

Satan knows he has very little time left, and he is desperate. He will use the fear of one person, or group, to drive people into the arms of the Antichrist! The first group will be people Satan has set-up for the exact purpose of this deception.

God, on the other hand, will use the Beast to wake people up, and drive some of them into the arms of the Saviour!

There are a number of prophecy ministries writing about the new prime minister of Greece, one Alexis Tsipris, as if he might be the Antichrist. As we rocket towards the end of the age, all politicians are persons of interest, to be sure, but does this man actually fit the prophecies concerning the man of sin, the Antichrist?

Alexis Tsipras, the charismatic new prime minister of Greece

It is true that most are not actually saying that Tsipras is the Antichrist, but they seem to have decided that he is close enough to call him an “archetype of the Antichrist to come”.

An archetype is defined as “ the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : prototype; also : a perfect example”. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archetype

The true Archetype of the Antichrist is actually Tammuz of ancient Babylon, and the next is Antiochus Epiphanes IV.

Now, I do not doubt the sincerity of the authors, but one thing I find that they have missed is rather glaring; The Antichrist is not an Atheist, and Alexis Tsipras is!

Tsipras rather, better fits the idea of the Antichrist which Roman Catholic Priest Robert Hugh Benson wrote about in his book “Lord of the World”  In that book the final battle comes down between those of “faith” versus Athiests and humanists.

Hmm! Do you think that if there was a battle between Communists, Atheists, and humanists on one side, and people of faith, any faith, on the other, that this might be used as a motivator for Christians to set aside their beliefs and come together to combat this menace?

I think it would, and I think that this is exactly what Satan has planned for us. What a wonderful way to create the Harlot of Revelation 17; as a response to a perceived Antichrist and Tribulation! People of faith could unite to combat Atheism, Communism, and the “Antichrist”, and usher in the millennial reign!

After a war where Atheism and Communism come very close to destroying the world, religious people will rush together to save the world from a repeat of such a disaster. This war will be the war written about in Ezekiel 38-39,where millions of people will die, and Rome itself is likely to be destroyed, along with parts of Russia, Iran and Turkey.

And, here’s the thing, human efforts cannot stop such a tragedy from recurring!

This may come as a shock, but the human race is not in control of the events on this planet! God is!

So, does Alexis Tsipras show the characteristics that would qualify him as the Antichrist? As Geri Ungurean put it;

“His name is Alexis Tsipras, and it seems that he meets much of the criteria of the prophesied Antichrist. He was just elected as the Prime Minister of Greece. He is an atheist and a far left winger. His party in Greece is called SYRIZA. He has appeared out of nowhere in the last couple of years, almost magically. He has landed himself in a most precarious situation. Greece is broken. Is he the one to fix it, and also the EU which is struggling and groping at almost anything to revive Europe? All eyes are on this man.” http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=30736

The atheist thing is what most are pointing to, but will the Antichrist be an atheist? What do the Scriptures say?

But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Daniel 11:38

They focus on the previous verse, but ignoring verse 36 and 38 is taking it out of context. Lets look at the whole passage in context;

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

So, first he says “marvelous” things against the God of gods. This does not necessarily mean that he says the God of gods does not exist. It may actually mean that he claims to be the Son of that God! Of course he will redefine that God at the same time, as many professing Christians, and Jews, have done for thousands of years. In fact both Catholics and Protestants have so re-defined God, that their God bears little resemblance to the God of the Bible though they may know Him by the same name!

As Paul said about the Antichrist;

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4

While atheists do claim to be their own God, they do not normally claim to be the God of all Creation (although frequently they act like they think they are!). The fact that he honours the “God of forces” with gold and silver also gives us a clue that he is not an atheist, but a religious enemy of the God of the bible. Uniting with this religious man, against atheists and communists would probably not be a good idea, but this is exactly what Babylon the Harlot will do.

The ten nation confederacy spoken about in Revelation 17:12, is not a part of Europe, but a world government which will divide the world up into ten regions, and each “king” will be the leader of one of these “super nations”. The Club of Rome described this plan in their 1974 book “Mankind at the Turning Point”

Interestingly this same book described how they would use global warming, or global cooling, as a means to push for this world government. At that time they had not decided which would be most effective, but the popular media of the last 20 years has made it quite apparent that global warming was the choice.

Europe is in the midst of a financial crisis, which is not likely to leave it unscathed. What is the probability that Europe will divide into two or more units, comprising of several nations each? I would say this probability is very high. The productive nations such as Germany, England, Poland, etc. are getting tired of bailing out the lazy socialist nations of the south. This situation could easily lead to a break-up of the Union. In fact, a socialist like Alexis Tsipras, with Obama-like policies, could easily offend parts of the Union, and lead to a break-up.

Is it possible that a component of the southern EU comprising ten nations, including Italy and Greece, might leave the EU and form their own union? Would this be the fulfilment of Revelation 17:12?

The answer is “No!”, but many professing Christians will interpret it as being exactly that! Why? Because this is Satan’s deception. He has to make people believe that someone else is the Antichrist, and that some other war is Armageddon. So, could Alexis Tsipras become the president of this union? He could, although there are some other candidates in the running as well, including Italians Mateo Renzi, and Nichi Vendola.  (See my article “The rise of the Euroskeptics”)

Mateo Renzi,P prime minister of Italy since 22 Feb. 2014

Nichi Vendola, president of Italy’s Apulia region

What if the leader of this new European Union brokers a peace treaty between Israel and the Arabs, would that make him the Antichrist? Again, No! Peace between Israel and the Arabs is a goal of many world leaders, but even if one of them succeeds, even if it is the actual treaty that the real Antichrist eventually confirms, the original signer is still NOT the Antichrist!

It will just seem like it to many people.

This is why the bible says the Beast “confirms” a covenant (Daniel 9:27). He will not originate it, but it will be in place for several years after the Psalm 83 war. It is a treaty that will prove to bring peace and prosperity between Israel and the Arabs, and in the aftermath of the Gog/Magog war, a world leader will reinstate this treaty between Israel and the nations of that war. That person will be the Beast, the Antichrist!

Regardless of which European politician becomes the leader of a southern European ten-nation-union, the basic premise of The Spirit of Prophecy is correct, that this is a part of Satan’s plan to deceive the world; to make the world believe the Tribulation is over when in fact, it has not yet begun!

Where will all the prophecy scholars and teachers be, if Tsipras, or one of these other gentlemen becomes a European dictator?  Will they be rushing to claim that they were the first one to identify the Antichrist?  I hope not, because none of these men is the Antichrist, but just bit players in Satan’s grand scheme!

Whether it is Tsipras, or someone else who takes control of Europe, they will be only a part of Satan’s lion-like plan to drive people toward the Antichrist!

Dan

For further reading (note, I disagree with all of these authors on some major points, but present these links for educational purposes);

 Antichrist Archetype Emerges

Alexis The Great, Hope Of Greece, Europe And The World? By Cynthia Nuara

A CHARISMATIC NEW WORLD LEADER APPEARS FROM NOWHERE AND TAKES CONTROL OF GREECE 

ALEXIS TSIPRAS QUICKLY FORMS UNEXPECTED ALLIANCE BETWEEN GREECE AND RUSSIA

 Alexis Tsipras is not the Antichrist