911

ATTACK ON AMERICA

What does the terrorist attach on America of September 11, 2001 mean in relation to the end times if anything? Was it prophesied? Is New York City the city of Babylon that goes up in smoke in Revelation 18 as people stand and watch from afar? Is the U.S. the great Satan that some say that we are?

The answer to all of these questions is NO!

The U.S. is not mentioned in the Bible and was not likely even a know continent during the writing of the scriptures. Of course God knew about it before the eastern world had it on their maps but He does not mention it. The Babylon that is mentioned in Revelation 18 is a real city in the Middle East at the end times that will be judged and destroyed by God during the time of His wrath just prior to the battle of Armageddon. This happens after the Great Tribulation and after the rapture and is at least 14 years into the future. We know this because neither the seven year reign of the antichrist nor the seven years of God's wrath after that which culminates with the Battle of Armageddon have even begun to unfold.

America is not the great Satan as some, even some in the Church, say we are. America at it's core is good. We saw this as we watched an amazing outpouring of compassion and kindness and heroism after the attack. Countries are like people, they can be good and sometimes do bad things or they can bad and occasionally do good things. America strives to do the right thing but sometimes sins. America has a sin problem among many of it's citizens but it is also a beacon of the gospel and freedom with many righteous and God fearing people living within it's borders. On September 11 there was almost a universal humbling of every heart across America and for a time, hopefully a long time, we are again one nation under God. America is not Babylon. America is not the great Satan. America is still good and could very well remain a good nation even through the great tribulation. {We will not be a part of a one world government because there will not be a one world government in the end times. Please read The Revelation study on this site.}

So does this event have any thing to do with the end times at all?

Possibly. We are in a bad situation in dealing with this event. If we don't respond the attacks will continue unpunished and if we do respond we risk offending a major portion of the Islamic world and possibly other nations who are not Islamic but anti-freedom. That is where the end times connection may come in. If these people become offended it could push them towards an even more militant posture and many moderate Muslims could become enraged and take up the battle cry of Jihad against free nations. If this happens it could be the catalyst for the first event of the end times.

The first event that will occur during the end times is that of Ezekiel 38 and 39. That is where Gog of Magog comes against Israel and all but a sixth of the armies of Gog are destroyed by God before they can finalize their attack. The nations that are apart of this attack have three things in common. Militant Islam, terrorism and the Soviet Union. The nations that will participate in this attack are Persia or Iran which at the time of the prophesy covered most of the Arab world, Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey and others.

This attack is different from all other end time prophecies and takes place separate from and before the accounts of Daniel, The Revelation and the Gospels. Ezekiel says that it will take place in the end times but this the only place where God intervenes on Israel's behave. Ezekiel 38:23 says “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD”. This is a pre-Revelation event because in the rest of end times prophesy God is not intervening on the behave of Israel but rather the antichrist makes a false covenant of peace before he moves in to destroy them and to take the country and the temple. Repeatedly the scriptures point out that at the time of the end the antichrist will make war with Israel and the saints or the holy people of God and overcome them which makes Ezekiel decidedly different. Ezekiel states that Israel will be seven years burning the weapons of Gog which is exactly how long the antichrist covenant is supposed to last. 3 1/2 years of false peace and 3 1/2 years of Great Tribulation. The Bible says that God prepares a place for His 144,000 chosen from Israel in the mountains of Israel. If Gog attacks and is defeated and the antichrist rises up to take over the league of nations that cooperated with Gog {The Bible says that ten kings will give their nations over to the power of the antichrist. Please read The Revelation study on this site.} and the supplies that are left by Gog in the mountains of Israel are a part of God's provision for the 144,000, then the battle of Gog will signal the beginning of the end times and if God is sanctifying Himself through this act then it is a wake up call to all to get saved and be ready.

Most Christians are looking for the rapture to take place before the antichrist appears on the scene but this is not what the Bible says. The antichrist reigns in terror for 7 years and immediately after the tribulation of that day, as Jesus says, He will return to gather all of His elect from the four corners of the globe. After that, the more horrible things of God's wrath take place for about seven years until Christ and His saint's return at Armageddon to take over and reign with him.

Please read The Revelation study on this site to gain further insight into the end times that may be upon us.

P.S. The most important thing that Christians need to be aware of in this day is that things are going to either eventually, or possibly very quickly slide into chaos, death and despair. If you become hardened or angry or unforgiving, it is going to put your very salvation on the line. Jesus said the love of many shall wax cold for watching the things that are coming upon the earth at the end time. Now is the time to be compassionate. Now is the time to pray. Now is the time to reach out to those who are lost and get them saved. As things on the earth degenerate some people may become more open while others become hardened. Now is always the day of salvation. It's time to reap a harvest and don't be offended if you meet with rejection at times. Jesus said we are blessed when we are persecuted for righteousness sake.