Introduction

Christendom and Western civilization are entering their final warfare before Armageddon. In these deliberate studies of principalities and powers, we are exposing the occult and revealing the doctrines, words, rites, and definitions that demon worshippers use. The only intelligent way to interpret our times is to present a biblical interpretation. Jesus prophesied that His church shall prevail. In Matthew 16:18, He said, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Today, the church must rise to the greatest action of its entire history.

We are currently dealing with the final phase of human history upon the face of this earth, the culmination of this dispensation before we begin the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the coming years, the fulfillment of Bible prophecy will be more dramatic and remarkable than it has been in the last 4,000 years. We are truly living in apocalyptic—or prophetic—times.

Daniel's Prophecy Unsealed

One of the most outstanding prophecies regarding the end times is found in the Book of Daniel. For nearly 3,000 years, these prophecies were sealed, but today, God has removed the seal and opened the truth to us.

• The Rise of Michael and the Great Tribulation: Daniel 12:1 states, "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation." Michael is the militant angel of heaven who stands for the people of Israel. God unequivocally declares that a time of unparalleled global trouble is coming, but He will deliver His people—everyone whose name is written in the book.
• The Resurrections: Daniel 12:2 speaks of the two resurrections: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
• The Reward of the Soul Winner: Daniel 12:3 promises, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
• The Increase of Travel and Knowledge: In Daniel 12:4, God commanded Daniel to "shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end." The verse then gives two unmistakable signs of the end: "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."

Man's Fantasy Future

Today, learned men are not studying biblical prophecy; instead, they are dreaming of a fantasy future. Since Adam and Eve lost the true dream world in the Garden of Eden, mankind has constantly sought to rebuild a utopia on earth without God. The Tower of Babel was one such attempt, resulting in God confounding their language.

Today, man is attempting it again. The fulfillment of Daniel 12:4 is evident all around us:

• "Many shall run to and fro": The greatest business on earth today is tourism. Billions of dollars are spent annually as people travel the globe continuously.
• "Knowledge shall be increased": There has been a massive breakthrough in technology. Man is hoping to achieve his paradise through automation, supersonic travel, instant telecommunications with video, automated homes, and television education.

Man wants an "Alice in Wonderland" future driven by push-buttons, leisure, and pleasure—but he does not want Jesus. However, man's greatest problem in this fantasy world is himself. Without God, life becomes boring and purposeless, leading to universal violence, unparalleled crime, global moral breakdowns, millions of divorces, and an epidemic of mental illness. Man will end up producing a world of irresponsible degenerates boasting of their engineering feats. The curse of man is his obsession with building a heaven on earth without God interfering.

Prophetic Signposts of the End

Beyond a doubt, every thinking person must realize that our world is in its final countdown. We must look at the prophetic signposts Jesus and the prophets gave us:

• The Political World: In Daniel 2, the prophet saw a vision of a statue with legs of iron and feet of iron mixed with clay. The "iron" represents the rise of fierce, iron-fisted dictatorships that will break and subdue nations. This will culminate in the Antichrist, the strongest military dictator in history, leading a resurrected Roman Empire.
• The Clay Man's World: Alongside the iron, there is "clay." Much of our world is led by the weak—nations with unstable governments and bankrupt economies demanding equal power. It is a world of undisciplined youth rebelling in the streets, demanding "peace at any price," and pursuing idleness and immorality.
• Cosmic Convulsions: There are unparalleled disruptions in nature—earthquakes, floods, and severe droughts threatening the global food supply. We are just one poor harvest away from global famine.
• The Domestic Breakdown: Jesus predicted that "brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents" (Matthew 10:21). We are seeing the total breakdown of the home and parental authority, just as Paul warned in 2 Timothy 3:1-2.
• The Financial World: Giant commercial combines are growing stronger, hoarding massive wealth. James 5:1-3 warns that the rich have "heaped treasure together for the last days" and commands them to "weep and howl" for the miseries that shall come upon them.
• The Religious World: Israel, the prophetic "fig tree," is blossoming and back in her land (Matthew 24:32). Meanwhile, in the church, "the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:12), resulting in a great falling away. False Christs and miracle workers will arise, deceiving many into joining a one-world religion. Remember, miracles alone do not prove holiness; a righteous life does.

The Great Outpouring

God will not allow humanity to commit international suicide. He will intervene. Christ will return, not as a lamb, but in magnificent splendor as King of Kings to rule the nations and bring true peace.

But before that final day, we will see the fulfillment of Joel 2:28: "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh." We are going to see two things operating simultaneously in the last days: the rise of evil, and a glorious, unprecedented revival. I believe the greatest ingathering of immortal souls the world has ever known is upon us.

In these apocalyptic times, we will not only cast out spirits and heal the sick; we will see millions saved. Let us not join the world in its vain pursuit of a push-button fantasy. Let us step into the revival and help bring the harvest in.