Full Circle
Pirates in modern times? Who would have thought it could be? With mighty navies, nuclear subs, satellites, super-sonic planes, unmanned drones, and special ops forces, how could pirates have the audacity to commit mayhem on the high seas?
Piracy is not new. Piracy has been around since ships were built. In the ancient world piracy was a common and dreadful fear of the seas. Few captives were taken. Dreadful slaughter was followed by taking what was valuable-persons or things---and disappearing.
Until the height of Rome's power piracy removed all confidence of a ship having hope of reaching its destination. Rome ruthlessly dealt with piracy and made it possible for the first time in history for people to cross vast bodies of water on leisure trips and have confidence in arriving and returning safely.
With the decline of Rome and the lawlessness of the Dark Ages piracy on the high seas returned. By the 1700's piracy was all too frequent. John Paul Jones, the first Admiral of the United States Navy was a former pirate. During the Revolutionary War Jones chose to become legal and fight on the side of the United States. In a naval battle against a much larger and better equipped British vessel there is the story of the British asking if John Paul Jones would surrender. He reportedly answered: "I have not yet begun to fight!" Fighting with the ship damaged was normal for a pirate, because captured pirates were usually hung from gallows.
In the 20th Century piracy still happened but it was subdued, i.e., not well publicized. Other forms of crime evolved. Bootlegging alcohol. Mafia. Increase in slave trade. Technology theft, i.e., credit cards, identification, military and industrial secrets. Smuggling of hi-tech weapons, et al. Pornography. Embezzlement.
With hi-tech weapons and lawless nations piracy has emerged again as a world threat to safe travel on the high seas. It happens in places other than Somalia. There are calls for the United States to take action to end piracy with military intervention.
For the record I vote for intervention, though I do not know what to recommend as a means of ending piracy. However, I do know what the Bible offers as a solution.
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that lawlessness would abound in the end times. With a spirit of Judges 23:25 "Every man will do what is right in his own eyes."
How do we get full circle? The Bible prophesies that in the end times a man will rise to power by selling his soul to the devil. He will have power to call down fire from heaven and do many other things that will deceive people to believe he is the real Christ. Through the centuries fingers have been pointed at Hitler, the Pope and countless others as being the anti-Christ.
From my reading of scripture I, along with a large number of other good folks, believe I will never know who the anti-Christ is. The anti-Christ will not be revealed or made known until Christ comes for His Church. He will first be known as a man of peace. He will bring the long-awaited peace that will subdue terrorists, piracy and many other conflicts, including the conflict over Jerusalem between Jews and Arabs. He will be a man of deception.
The anti-Christ at the height of his power will be as ruthless as Rome. If we understand correctly he will have as his ruling base the "restored" Roman empire, which may be the European Union. He will use hard force-like Rome did--- to crush enemies. I am convinced that he will be the head of a world system of witchcraft, based on Babylonian occultism.
Why write this? Because I believe Jesus is Coming! I believe the Lord will come for His Church. I believe saints will be taken away for seven years during the reign of the anti-Christ and time of Great Tribulation.
Why write this? Because the Disciples worked and acted with urgency in preparation for the Lord's return. If we believe in the return of Jesus we must not put our confidence in earthly governments but act and believe with urgency. Time is short. No time to be lost.
The stage is set. Prophecies seem to be close or terribly close for Jesus to return. We must be about the Father's business of winning souls and making disciples.
Are you expecting His return? Are you prepared for the return of Jesus? It is our best hope. We do not want to be here for the rest of the story. John wrote: " Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" ( Rev.22:20).
Until He Comes,
Pastor Bare
Revelation 13, I Corinthian 15, I Thessalonians 4, II Timothy 3
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