The War on Earth: The Final Warfare

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” (Revelation 12:7-8) The warfare in heaven was largely ideological, where Satan determined to establish his kingdom upon different principles than the Father and Son had ordained in the beginning. When Satan enlisted mankind to embrace the principles of his government, yielding to the voice of the serpent and sin rather than God and His righteousness. Yet the warfare remained largely ideological until Satan marshaled his forces against the Son of God, who had condescended to meet man in his fallen condition in taking on mortality (Heb. 2:17).
The principles of this warfare were unveiled distinctly at the cross. When the Messiah came to reveal the heart of self-sacrificing love and perfect obedience to the kingdom of God, Satan revealed the principles of his warfare in crucifying the Prince of heaven, his Creator, in an effort to establish his supremacy. Satan’s system of equality determined to exalt his creature above the Creator at even the cost of innocent blood through malevolent, murderous designs (Is. 14:12-14). Christ on the other hand, as the express Son of the Universal Sovereign, holding position as One receiving equality to (and from) God the Father in respect to His nature , yet submitting to His headship, suffered the violence of sin upon the cross (Heb. 12:1, Phil. 2:6-9), that He might put it to death in the flesh (Rom. 8:3), to make all who receive Him alive in the Spirit (1 Pet. 3:18, Col. 3:18).

Satan Cast out of Heaven

From this time, warfare began to become more than ideologies. From this point forward, we begin to see a much more intensified onslaught from the devouring dragon kingdom on the world stage. Satan was “cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time…” (Revelation 12:13).

The dragon’s kingdom was rejected in heaven as the heavenly host saw the spectacle of greatest condescension of the Son of God, thereby sealing them into the heavenly courts. The angels who had rebelled with Lucifer forfeited heaven’s kingdom, “neither was their place found any more in heaven”.

Yet a place was found upon the only remaining place where the principles of the dragon remained veiled to it’s inhabitants. The inhabitants of the earth had still to make a choice for life or death, blessing or cursing; to choose whether the government of rebellion or the government of God was to receive their allegiance.

The Ensuing Controversy on Earth

Man had not yet understood the full implications of the warfare of the enemy and to behold the revelation of the love of God in giving Christ Jesus, “this gospel of the kingdom must be preached as a witness unto all nations, and then the end shall come” (Matt. 24:14). It was Satan’s intention to establish his kingdom on the earth resolutely; for if the inhabitants of the earth were led to behold the full extent of the principles of the government of God in contrast with the principles of the great deceiver; neither would place be found anymore for him and his angels on earth, nor for those whom he had led to reject the claims of God on earth. And “he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” In the gospel “is the righteousness of God unveiled” (Rom. 1:17); “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
(2 Corinthians 4:3-4) The dragon is also called “that old serpent that deceiveith the whole world”; evidently, the Scriptures foretell that the enemy will succeed in shutting out the light of “the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thes. 2:10)

Satan Commences Persecution

“And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:13-14)
When Satan was no longer permitted in heaven, after the principles of his government were laid open to all of its inhabitants and all took their side, his persecution of the church commenced. He determined to destroy utterly those who professed the gospel which laid bare his malignity and designs which he purposed to conceal under the guise of highest benevolence. The resurrection of Christ was by the unbelieving Romans cited as “a superstition” which was to be quenched, as it seized upon the hearts of multitudes throughout the empire. Beginning with the apostle James, the government of Rome put to death eight of the apostles, crucifying Andrew, with Peter and Paul being put to death by the Roman emperor Nero. “Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular…”

Satan Grievously Persecutes the Church

“Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.”
The Roman Caesars, who associated the followers of Messiah as a threat and danger to the empirical lordship of Caesar, and of his authority, having their pagan subjects continually converted to the faith which was next-of-kin to the troublesome Judean worship centered in Jerusalem. And despite the effort of Satan to suppress the message through persecution, it led to greater outbreaks. The very deaths of Christians revealed the submissive and self-sacrificing love of Christ. By their deaths, the veil was removed as Satan revealed the principles of his government in opposition to the government of God. Addressing the provincial governors of the Roman Empire, Tertullian put it thus: “We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed.” (Apologeticus, 50, s. 13)

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

As it was in the days of Balaam, it was not possible to bring a curse upon what God had blessed. Therefore, when this failed to serve Satan’s purpose, he changed his devices. As ancient Israel was seduced by a pagan king into entering into covenant with pagan women, so it was with the church when the followers of Christ and paganism became intermingled into one body. Said God to the church of the fourth century, “I know your works, and where your house is; even where Satan’s throne is”. The Roman Emperor, who occupied the throne of Satan’s government on earth, had entered into the church from the reign of Constantine. The Roman Caesar was often venerated with worship, and had temples dedicated specifically for his worship; where man took upon him the authority that belongs to God alone. Moreover, as Pontifex Maximus, the imperial high priest, he imposed capital punishments, convened religious councils where his judgment was supreme, proscribed temples, and modified calendation and instituted festival days. The carrying of such power and authority into the church rapidly led to its decline. The warfare was taken into the church under a profession of belonging to the government of God. The principles of Satan’s government and God’s government were no longer so distinctly laid out as two separate sides, but the line purposely blurred to bring confusion. Like in the days of Balaam, while he was told he could not curse the blessed Israel, the prophet could teach the pagan king how to lead the blessed to turn aside to the curse.

Counterfeit Religion 

The throne of Satan’s government was placed where the throne of God belonged. The authority belonging to God was exercised by Roman emperors, and then bestowed upon Roman bishops, “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)

Submission to God became submission to the bishop of Rome, who was understood to be his representative reigning in his place. The Pope had claimed authority to change the law of God, and to institute festivals, thereby changing the worship of the Most High, fulfilling Daniel 7:25. Obedience to the Roman bishop was required, while obedience to God’s word was set aside. Pagan tradition assumed the garments of Christ, and became exalted above the Word of God.

The words of men, the laws of men, and the institutions of men were regarded with supreme reverence. Instead of confessing sin to God, you confessed sin to a priest. Instead of going through Christ as mediator, popes and prelates and the Virgin Mary were given this honor. Instead of praying to the heavenly Father, the living God, prayer was offered to dead saints, even before lifeless images of men, and dead men’s bones.

Thus, the creature was once more exalted above the Creator, as was the warfare in heaven, but now it had entered into the temple courts to blind men to the love of the truth. A mere man, and a corrupted church, assumed authority that devolved upon Christ alone. After the great dragon had disguised his efforts, and united the imperial powers of the Roman-European nations with the church, he commenced his efforts to overthrow the gospel.

Rise of Papal Supremacy

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:13-14)

The time, times, and half of time is the same period of time when the Papal little horn reigned over the Roman-European beast of Daniel’s seventh chapter, who should “afflict the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

The dragon’s warfare continued for 1260 years through the Roman Catholic Papacy. More distinctly, the thirteenth chapter of Revelation lays out the Papal beast who receives the throne, authority, and power of the dragon through the Roman-European empire (Rev. 13:2) “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” (v. 7).

French Revolution

When these days expired, France began its onslaught of fury in the dechristianization of France through the French Revolution, which continued for three and a half years. “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.” (Revelation 11:7)

During this season, through the order of a new revolutionary authority, the Directory of France, suppressed the church; abolished the Catholic monarchy; nationalized church property; exiled 30,000 priests, instituted festivals of liberty, and deified the abstract concept of “reason” as supreme above the Bible.

From this time, thousands of Bibles were burned, and a form of atheism and deification of man was established; yet a form of deism was embraced in France, which acknowledged a “Supreme Being”, leading to the violent oppression of both the Protestant and Sabbath-keeping churches. The end of the Catholic church’s reign over the nations of Europe in 1798 was called “the deadly wound” of the Revelation thirteenth beast.

During the time of the French Revolution, God still sheltered His church by opening the shores of America. “And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” (Revelation 12:16).

Papal Apostasy

Through the influence of the Papal apostasy of the church, Satan successfully caused the hearts of men to detest the gospel and doctrine of Christ and the self-sacrificing love of God was banished from the heart. Through the deceptions of Babylonian-Catholic Christianity and secular atheism, his warfare to ensure the deep darkness of night should shut away the unveiling of the principles of his kingdom was fastened. Through the advances of evolution and communism’s rise in 1844, Satan made great overtures in his warfare to shut out the light of the angel “having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” (Rev. 14:6) Yet the final woes to be brought to bear upon blinded humanity is only now unfolding on the world’s stage in establishing a counterfeit of the kingdom of God upon the earth imbibing the principles of Satan, but appearing as nearly identical to the genuine as possible. Yet for this to take place, several events must necessarily take place.
Regarding the Papal beast who reigned in Europe, receiving a deadly wound in 1798, we’re told “his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” (Rev. 13:3) When the advances of atheism begin to lose their hold even as paganism did when God commanded His light to go forth mightily after the day of Pentecost, the Papacy revives to world prominence and takes the whole unconverted world under it’s hellish banner. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8).

Deadly Wound Healed

In addition to this, the rise of America in prophecy, comes up out of the earth like a lamb to aid the true sons of light, but we’re told that America will speak “as a dragon, and he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” (v. 11-12) It is the Protestant/Charismatic-Evangelical churches in America, like the Roman Catholic churches before them in Rome, that shall exercise all the power of church and state relations. The dragon’s proposed system of government as manifested in the principles of the Papacy are countenanced by the Evangelical-Protestant America.

“And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.” (v. 13-14) It is the miracle-working charismatic movement which is now taking the reigns in America, even as the Papal power is witnessing a revival of political and religious influence not witnessed since the dark ages of its supremacy.

False Prophet

Soon, the Papal church will commence its warfare against the saints, with America playing a key prophetic role. Two things are demonstrating this prophecy to be rapidly unfolding on the world stage.

First is glowing approval of these Charismatic-Evangelical churches toward the Pope. The second is America’s corresponding advances towards a captivated diplomacy of most startling obeisance, especially given America’s historic foundings to distance itself from the old beast’s priestly and kingly oppression.

These evidences alone are sufficient to warrant the nearness of time outlined in the warnings of the book of Revelation. Further, they speak of how the warfare of deception is further unfolding on the world stage.

It is the wonder-working power of Charismatic-Evangelical Protestantism which is foremost in deceiving the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast, the Papacy, which deception shall come to all “whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life” (v. 8)

The Bible calls this state of America that models itself after the old tyranny of European oppression “the false prophet”. It is this power that leads out in the crisis of the mark of the Papal beast, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads…” (Revelation 13:16)

Mark of the Beast

The binding of the sign on the right hand and the forehead is a term used in the law of God for obedience and allegiance. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart…And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be in thine forehead between thine eyes.” (Deuteronomy 6:8) However, this mark on the hand and forehead is not the mark of God, which is the law of God, but rather, the mark of the beast, which would be the law of the Papacy.

Thus, the church in America shall cause the inhabitants of the earth to receive the altered law of the Papacy as a sign of allegiance; specifically, it shall exalt the precept of Deis Solis, the day of the Sun which is “Sunday”, in the place of the divinely instituted Sabbath day of rest. The system of equality and the worship of the creature over the Creator, the argument so long urged in heaven, is now urged worldwide by Papalism in the old world, and Protestantism in the new repeating the claims and advancing the warfare of the great adversary of souls.

It is evident that the matter of worship finds its great controversy over the Sabbath day, which God called holy, for “they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Rev. 14:11) Those who receive this mark shall find no rest day nor night. In the midst of this terrible trial, men have taken their sides in the warfare upon the earth.

The Seal of God

Those who have beheld the love of God shining forth in the face of Jesus have chosen to obey God rather than men; those who have endured the war pressed forth against them by the dragon working through the mark of the beast crisis are called “saints”: “here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (v. 12)

Yet there is more to the miracles which the Image Beast, Protestant America, works in the presence of the revived worldwide Papal dominion. The miracle which is mentioned is not merely a miracle of calling down fire from heaven in the sight of the Papacy, for this is a vision given in symbols. In fact, the whole book of Revelation is “signified” and given in sign language. Therefore, this miracle opens before us symbolically what the mission and purpose of the false prophet is.

A False Revival

When we see fire called down from heaven in the sight of all men, the symbolism that is called forth is the scene of Elijah bringing forth the claims of his prophetic mission and to convince the hearts of the opposition that his God is the true God. Yet prophetically, the Spirit of Elijah is to be made manifest in the people of God before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5-6), which is the return of Christ in fierce majesty and glory. His mission is to turn the hearts of the rebellious children back to the hearts of the righteous fathers; he will “restore all things” (Mark 9:12) to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17) When Elijah restores all things, then Christ shall return and receive those made ready for the day of His appearing.
However, since the false prophet beast calls down fire from heaven, we behold in it a false Elijah message. This false message will verily see a restoration of the dark ages of apostasy and rebellion, and a turning back of Protestant children to the Papal fathers to prepare for the coming of the false Christ, and establish the thing which Satan has coveted after since the war in heaven began: worship. We are told that the miracles worked in the sight of the Papal beast will not take place until the mark of the beast crisis is complete, and every soul has taken their side. “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.” (Revelation 19:20).

A Final Warning

The Messiah warned as the great last sign before His appearing of what would take place regarding the rise of false prophets; how much more a kingdom of false prophets that counterfeit the great Elijah message to bring the return of Satan in? “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Matthew 24:23-26).

How all the nations under the whole earth will be brought under the establishment of the kingdom of Satan, and how Satan will reveal himself though is even more definitely spoken of in the Scriptures than many realize. In fact, the Bible speaks about the gathering of the nations as a significant prophetic event, both in the context of redemption and rebellion. This message cannot be understated, as it is intricately woven into a great sign of the end of time.

We’re told that the gospel of the kingdom will close with it being “a witness unto all nations” as the great closing work of the warfare between the two kingdoms. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14) The great gathering of the kingdoms of this world will be the last great confederacy of rebellion before the return of the true Messiah.

Choose ye this Day

Two verses may suffice to show that this great event is an assembling of the nations together before the day of the Lord. “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” (Zephaniah 3:8)

And again, “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” (Joel 3:2) It was at the Valley of Jehoshaphat, when Edom, Moab, and Ammon came into alliance to make war against the kingdom of Judah under the reign of king Jehoshaphat, son of David.

Upon the intercession of the king, and the voice of Jahaziel, priest of God, announcing the overthrow of the confederacy of nations, there was deliverance. The Bible calls this “the valley of decision” (Joel 3:11), where the choices all have made in relation to the gospel of the kingdom shall be made manifest.

Apostate Church

To identify this power and the role which the Papal beast is intricately involved in, we must understand the seventheenth chapter of Revelation. Here the apostle John is given a vision of the harlot woman, sitting enthroned “upon a scarlet coloured beast…having seven heads, and ten horns,” (v. 3) matching perfectly the description of the great red dragon of the twelfth chapter of Revelation, who gives it’s throne to the Papal beast.

It is evident that this harlot woman is none other the Papal church herself. She is arrayed in all priestly colors (v. 4, Ex. 39:1-2), save the blue, which symbolizes the law of God (Num. 15:38-39). Moreover, when God’s people were practicing sin and the worship of other gods, He termed it harlotry, and even likened them to harlots (See Ezekiel 16, Jer. 3:3). “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her…” is the description given of the harlot at the closing scenes of Satan’s warfare.

…One is Yet to Come

How important then are these passages for us to understand upon whom the ends of the world are come! In the same chapter, there is a timeline of the kingly powers of the world, beginning with the Gentile dominion over the people of God. “And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” (Revelation 17:10)

There are seven kings in total; also called “seven mountains” which in the Bible represent kingdoms (See Jer. 51:25). We are told at the vision’s scene that “five have fallen” already, “one is” presently reigning, and one “is not yet come”. When do we begin to ennumerate these kingdoms?

The vision of Revelation’s seventheenth chapter is also called “the judgment of the great whore.” We know the Papacy, who sat upon the throne of the great red dragon for 1260 years received judgment in 1798. The great commencement of judgment which was to judge all nations begins after 1844, when the Angel proclaiming the judgment hour was to go to “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

After this time, it was to rise to world prominence again when it’s deadly wound was healed, that it might make all nations drunk with the wine of her fornication again. After this time, the great harlot would arise to be judged again more severely than at the first.

Five Have Fallen

By 1798-1844, the five great kingdoms that had fallen were as follows: (1) Babylonia (2) Medo-Persia (3) Greece (4) Pagan Rome (5) Papal Europe
And one that “is” must come into great power after this time. And one that “is not yet come” would follow it’s rise to power. The next kingdom in Bible Prophecy was the United States, which under the power of apostate protestantism, all would be led to worship the first beast. When the Papacy is given honor in America so completely by both the church and the state as to undermine it’s lamblike principles of Constitution, we may know that the time seen in John’s vision is fully ripe. Yet the kingdom which receives more detail and attention in this chapter is the one dealing with the assembly of nations; which is “not yet come”. We’re told that this kingdom which “is not yet come” is a confederacy of ten kings: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” (Revelation 17:12) “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” (Revelation 17:13) Notice they have one mind. They are united. Thus the kings which are confederate together as the kings of Moab, Ammon, and Edom were to make war against the king of Judah and Jerusalem. Herein, we see a united kingdom of many different kings, but operating toward the same goal. This is the United Nations.

Confederacy of Kings

This prophetic gathering of the United Nations have been pushed together in a united purpose, but as a sign that the day of the rising up of the Lord is near; when Christ shall take the throne of David, and rule the nations with a rod of iron. On the United Nations website, it is called “the New World Order”, and this very term for the United Nations organization is used over 40 times on their official website.

The first article of the U.N. Charter states its aim as follows: “To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace…” Peace and security is the pretense upon which many shall be destroyed, and through which they will make war with the people of God who are perceived as a common enemy (See Dan. 8:25).

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) The Scripture tells us that “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)

The Coming Tribulation

“And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Dan. 12:1) This is “the time of trouble such as never was”. This is the valley of decision; the great valley of Jehosaphat.

As the confederacy of Moab, Ammon, and the Edom, the children of Esau, were brought to destruction, even so, shall the United Nations follow in it’s footsteps. Yet as the Lord delivered Jacob in the night of his wrestling from the armies of Esau, so the Lord shall be a covering for His people in that day of warfare.

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7) “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His tabernacle: in the secret of His tent shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.” (Psalms 27:5) “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: He is their strength in the time of trouble.” (Psalms 37:39)

Make Ready

In the last issues, we have covered the principles at play in the warfare of the kingdom of equality against the obedience of faith, and how it has entered into the churches. Now we have covered how Satan has been advancing this warfare on the world stage, and now that we’ve caught up to our present time in respect to the warfare that began in heaven, in our next issue we shall open up a very serious controversy unfolding in relation to the United Nations. We will delineate more clearly where we are in relation to this last great worldwide dominion, and the events surrounding it, that receives so much mention in the lines of ancient prophecy. May we be found in the grace of the Father through His Son, and be prepared to stand with Him at the time of trouble in His kingdom by the faith of Jesus.