Revelation 13_ 1- 8    A Global World - A Sign?

Rev. David Holwick   X

First Baptist Church

West Lafayette, Ohio

June 26, 1988

Revelation 13:1-8


TOWARD A GLOBAL WORLD - SIGNS OF THE END?



  I. Universal trends evident in Revelation:

     A. Unification of world politics


     B. Unification of world religion


     C. Unification of world morality (wickedness)


II. Evidence in world right now:

     A. World politics:

         1) United Nations

             a) Takes sides

             b) Takes part in wars

             c) Controlled by atheistic philosophies

             d) Enforcement through World Court

         2) European Common Market

             a) Breaking down of barriers

                 1> Economic - (U.S. is discussing common farm policies)

                 2> Military - NATO

                 3> Political - organization-wide elections?

             b) Signs from Revelation?

                 1> Beast will be from church.

                      (Europe is "christian")

                      (Reality - more attend church in Russia than

                       Britain, France, Sweden)

                 2> Beast will control 10 nation confederacy

                      (Common Market fluctuates in that area)

                 3> Daniel speaks of succession of empires:

                     a> Babylon                   Dan 2:36-45

                     b> Medes and Persians

                     c> Greece

                     d> Rome - fourth kingdom.

                     e> Messiah's kingdom.        Dan 2:44

                 4> Antichrist will come out of Daniel's fourth kingdom

                     a> Fourth kingdom is Roman     (Dan chapter 2)

                     b> It has 10 kings (= horns)         Dan 7:20

                     c> It will persecute believers       Dan 7:21

                     d> It will inaugurate Tribulation    Dan 7:25


     B. World Religion

         1) World Council of Churches & NCCC

             a) Majority of world's Christian churches.

             b) Liberal orientation

                 1> Money supplied to African rebel groups

                     a> Missionaries and children murdered by them.

                     b> Anti-christian Marxist foundation.

                 2> Policy statements liberal -

                     a> De-sexed Bible?

                     b> Rampant feminism

                          (really neo-paganism)

                 3> Inclusion -

                     a> Homosexual churches?

                     b> Feminism

                     c> WCC opening ceremony:  Native American rituals

                          (religion for religion's sake)

                 4> Erosion of moral foundation

                     a> Immorality at headquarters (Methodist writer)

                         1: Hard for conservatives to criticize

                         2: But liberals feel no guilt.  Not really

                              wrong.  (Have a global, not indiv, persp)

                     b> Bible not authoritative in every area of life.


III. How should Christians react?

     A. Oppose unifying tread?

         1) Much to criticize

         2) But many Christians can do little else


     B. Christians should be friends of unity, not foes.

         1) Bible background:

             a) John 17:23 - Complete unity so world will know God

                                sent and loves Jesus

             b) Gal 3:28   - Neither Jew, Greek, slave, free, male,

                                female in Jesus Christ.

             c) Eph 4:13   - Unity in faith and knowledge of Son.

             d) Rev 7:9    - Multitude in heaven from every nation,

                                tribe, people, language.

         2) Application:

             a) All humans are creatures of God.

             b) Any human is a potential brother or sister in Christ.

             c) Christians should strive for unity, even in world.

             d) Global perspective on issues.


     C. American Christians used to have this attitude.

         1) Efforts to redeem society

             a) Abolition of slavery

             b) Prohibition of alcohol

             c) Labor laws (children, etc)

         2) Efforts to have global organizations

             a) Roots of WCC - worldwide missionary movement

             b) Roots of UN - Christians like William Jennings Bryan,

                  settle world's problems through negotiation.


     D. Attitude has changed.

         1) Earlier attitude was too optimistic

             a) Post Millennial thought

             b) Inadequate view of human sin

         2) Society became more hostile to Christians

             a) Rejection of Bible as authority  (Higher Criticism)

             b) Rejection of supernaturalism for scientism

             c) Rejection of moral absolutes

         3) Church turned inward

             a) Pessimistic view of society - bound for Hell

             b) Individualistic spirituality only

             c) Christians entered ghetto, society ignored them


IV. Balance.

     A. Prophecies of world's future are true.

         1) Coming of Antichrist, apostasy, tribulation, Armageddon

         2) Jesus is only solution to world's problems


     B. But abandonment is not correct attitude.

         1) Jesus is Lord of world, right now.

         2) Pessimistic attitude is self-defeating

             a) Church retreat builds out of wood, Jesus coming soon.

                  (Structures rot, need replacement)

             b) Christians avoid politics, liberalism fills vacuum.


     C. Redeem the time

         1) Luther - Jesus coming tonight, plant tree this morning

         2) Christians can make a difference

             a) Falwell, mobilization of Christians in politics

             b) Dobson, Christians address social issues.

         3) Half-loaf results do not negate the need for effort.


  V. Application.

     A. Have a global perspective  (Communists do)


     B. Work for unity to reflect lordship of Jesus.

         1) In World

         2) In Church


     C. Don't compromise on crucial, doctrinal issues, however.


     D. West Lafayette needs to get involved.

         1) Individuals have a limited perspective - me and my family

         2) Church has a limited perspective - keep our organization

              going.



Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick

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