The Second Coming of Jesus Christ!

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THE MARK OF THE BEAST?

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:16-17).

I am not writing this from the standpoint of an expert on prophecy. I am only writing as an interested observer, because something inside me tells me we don't have long to go. The more I search the matter out concerning a one-world government, the more depressed I become--and the more anxious I am for the Lord to return for His bride!

There is much information on the internet concerning Mikhail Gorbachev, who has become the world's foremost speaker emphasizing the need for a new world order, or at least a strengthened United Nations without any country having the power of veto. He is the president of Green Cross International, which recently released the following statement to the press:

"If the United States is the sole remaining superpower, Gorbachev may be the last remaining global leader. He strikes those who meet him not as a has-been statesman relegated to the pages of history books, but rather as a man with a still-unfilled destiny."

Gorbachev is also founder of "The Gorbachev Foundation," which sponsored a "State of the World Form," three years ago, bringing together 400 leaders from more than fifty countries. Participants included Mikhail Gorbachev, Carl Sagan, Ted Turner (who made the statement that he is not a citizen of the United States, he is a citizen of the world), George Shultz, George Bush, Margaret Thatcher, and many others.

One of the speakers at this forum, Robert Schwartz, made this statement:

"The purpose of the State of the World Forum is to head toward a new civilization. It sounds pretty daunting: a big job, a long period of time. Not true. History indicates otherwise. Things happen with surprising speed on the world stage, and one has the sense of energy here, of something like that going to happen."

Although Gorbachev uses the environment as his major reason for a one-world government, he confesses a concern for social, political and economic factors, as well. Those who think Mr. Gorbachev has abandoned socialism have their heads buried in the sand.

I do not think he is the antichrist, but it is certain that he is going to play an important role in the shaping of the new world society. Meanwhile, "The State of the World Forum" is highly organized. Among the members of the Chairman's Council are Bruce Alberts, President of the National Academy of Science, a strong advocate of Evolution. The only religious leader on the Council is Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist leader, who is highly active in spreading Buddhism throughout America. I got this interesting piece of literature from the internet, written by him:

It is good that an orange is an orange and a mango is a mango. The colors, the smells, and the tastes are different, but looking deeply, we see that they are both authentic fruits. Looking more deeply, we can see the sunshine, the rain, the minerals, and the earth in both of them. If religions are authentic, they contain the same elements of stability, joy, peace, understanding, and love. The similarities as well as the differences are there. They differ only in terms of emphasis. We cannot say that one is a real fruit and the other is not."

It is not surprising that Thich Nhat Hanh is a member of the Council. In an interview which I took from the internet, Gorbachev stated, "In this new synthesis, we need democratic, Christian, and Buddhist values as well, which affirm such moral principles as social responsi-bility and the sense of oneness with nature and each other."

The "Christian values" he refers to is evidently "accepting other religions as being of equal importance." This would be very important to his plans, because as a result of "The State of the World Forum," the "United Religions Initiative" was formed, with far more ambitions than the "World Council of Churches." The URI accepts every religious creed as being of equal importance. Their emblem is a multicolored star. On the home page of their web site is the explanation: "Once the religions were far apart. These different colored pieces are like all the different religions. Slowly, the religions get closer to understanding each other. And when they understand and make peace with each other, there will be something no one expected -- a star!"

I am glad I believe in one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and One Star:

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the church. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16).

Check out what the United Religions Initiative plans to do on December 31, 1999. They are going to "repent," because they have not accepted one another sooner! It will be a big push from then on for everybody to become a part of their organization.

What is the major controlling force in the world today? The answer is "money." We can be sure the "one government" and "one religion" will surely take control of the world finances. Do you see how the Y2K computer problem could usher all of this into reality?

The technology is already present to give everyone a "mark" in their forehead or on their hand. In fact it is already being used on animals all over the world. For less than thirty dollars, you can have a tiny microchip inserted under the skin of your pet's head by use of a hypodermic needle. The microchip contains information about the pet: name of pet, address and telephone number of owner, etc.

Months ago I heard that the technology was being tried out on human beings in some chain stores, but I was not able to confirm this on the internet.

All of the information I have given you is for the express purpose of letting you see how close we are to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. If, as many preachers believe, the saints go through a time of tribulation (but not the wrath of God being poured out), then we need to prepare ourselves spiritually, so that we can be strong enough to take our stand for Jesus Christ.

I personally do not feel like moving out of town and trying to hide from all of the problems. I just want to make sure that I am "hid in Christ."

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 2134-36).

Hey, Church, it appears to me our "wedding day" is nigh at hand!

For further information on this study, check out State of the World Forum.

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