Satanism is en vogue–the latest “in” thing to sweep the world. Identifying with, praying to and worshiping the devil is growing rapidly in popularity, led by the United States of America. Devil clothes, amulets, fake horns, pitch forks, etc. are the identifying items of the latest fad. Recently the Grammy Awards featured a song titled “Unholy” performed by people dressed as Satan and his demons. Public schools hosting “Satan clubs” are increasing in number. The number of people identifying as Satanists is growing exponentially. Satan is using the internet, movies, television, books and music to capture the hearts of as many people as possible. Because he knows the Bible and believes it, he knows his time for harvesting souls is about to expire. Therefore he is going all-out in the final days of this age. His success rate is nothing short of phenomenal.

One of the most popular Satanic social movements is the “trans” craziness that is sweeping the social world. However, the supposed changing of one’s sex that has become so popular pales by comparison to the actual change the father of that movement affected many eons ago when he changed from Lucifer (“sun of the morning”) to Satan (the devil/enemy of God). The one who became the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) was the most amazing angel the Biblical God ever created. So incredible was he in both beauty and power that he was given the entire earth as his personal kingdom. He was one of two angels God assigned to protect the Ark of the Covenant. The Prophet Ezekiel quotes God Himself when He describes Lucifer: “Thus says the Lord God: you are the summation (of all majesty), full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (28:12). God reminds the former “sun of the morning” that at one time he was “in the garden of God (vs 13) where he had his own throne (Isa. 14:3).

In verse 14 God reminds him that “You were the anointed cherub that covered (the Ark); and I (God) made you so. You were upon the holy mountain of God. You walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” God gave him control over the earth and assigned one/third of His angels to serve him. “You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, UNTIL INIQUITY (LAWLESSNESS) WAS FOUND IN YOU” (vs 15). Human Law breakers have the same spiritual affliction as do Satan and his fallen angels. This makes them easy targets for God’s enemies. Though we do not know exactly when, at some point Lucifer and the angels assigned to him rebelled against God. The rest is history. Fast forward to today, with a quick glance back in time.

The Book of Daniel was recorded 2,500 years ago. However, it featured a prophecy that involves the time we are living in today. Daniel 10:14 records the archangel Gabriel saying to him: “Now I have come to reveal to you what will happen to your people (Israel) in the LATTER DAYS, for the vision refers to MANY DAYS TO COME (far into the future).” Daniel 12:4 and 9 shows that the vision was for only “the time of the end,” literally the “end of the end time.” Until that time Daniel’s words (the vision) would be “shut up” and “sealed.” Because the vision was only for God’s people to understand during the final days of the world, the Almighty has only recently allowed His apostles to understand the vision so as to share it with His true saints. These are His true saints who have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Lord’s true church. God’s saints will hear His warning Words, look around and see that what the prophet “shut up” and “sealed” many generations ago is now taking place all around them. Those who believe God’s Words concerning the end time are the few, Jesus said, who would be part of the true Church of God (Mat. 7:13,14; 22:14/ Acts 20:28).

In the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse–“revealing)” we find Jesus showing and explaining to the Apostle John what would happen on earth during the final days of the world. In chapter 6 we find the Lamb of God opening the seven seals of “a book,” which I believe to be the Book of Daniel which God had told him to seal up until the final days of the end of the age. Only One being was found to be holy enough to open the Book–the One Who had dictated it to Daniel some 500 years earlier–the Lamb of God–the Word (Jn. 1:1-4,14)–the God of the Old Testament Who had come to earth as Jesus of Nazareth. Read Jesus of Nazareth: God, Man or God-man? Key word–God-man. The opening of the seals revealed, in chronological order, what would take place during the latter days of the age. Only now, at the end of the end of time, are we able to understand the meaning of the symbols that fill the Book of Revelation. We are witnessing the beginning of the end of the age, which Jesus called the “beginning of sorrows” (Mat. 24:1-8). Note the correlation between that passage and Revelation chapter 6.

Christ’s visionary explanation in chapter 6 concerned the opening of the seven seals of the “book” and described what would take place during the last of the last days of the world. As Peter told the Jews in Acts 2:16-21, the “last days” began on the Day of Pentecost 31 A.D. Here he explains that the Prophet Joel had foretold what they had just witnessed–the coming of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by God’s people speaking in tongues. In explanation of the phenomenon, Peter told the Jews gathered in Jerusalem from all over the world, “This is that” which Joel had prophesied would take place at the end of the age. As the seals of Revelation 6 were removed we see in written form the final days of the world being played out in a futuristic vision.

The vast majority–some say 90%–of the prophecies found in the Holy Scriptures were written specifically for God’s people alive at the end of the age. Those with eyes to see are seeing them fulfilled today. God has allowed technological advancements to take place which enables the entire world to see what is happening in almost real time. Only God’s obedient saints fully understand what the world is witnessing and why such horrific things are happening. Long ago I asked God to allow me to live to see Christ’s return. I believe He is answering my prayer. The vast majority of the prophecies declared in the Scriptures are being fulfilled today before my eyes. It is thrilling to know that the end of this world and the return of the Messiah are approaching. Satan also understands the signs of the times. For this reason he is in a rage, knowing his time is about up (Rev. 12:12). He has successfully captured the vast majority of the adults who have walked the earth, including those in the Catholic/Protestant Church System. Read The Three Resurrections. Key word–Three. In the next posting we will see how the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) is working to capture the those who have avoided his web, including the world’s children. L.J.