Do You Want Love and Light, or Rod and Wrath? Part 5

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Authored By  :
Bill Kochman

Published On :
November 10, 1997

Last Updated :
April 2, 2012


NOTE: This article or series has not been updated recently. As such, it may possibly contain some outdated information, and/or ideas and beliefs which I no longer embrace, or which have changed to some degree.

Ecumenism: A Step To Global Power, Satan's Desire To Be God, Blasphemy Of The Beast, Spiritual Darkness Covers The World, From Nimrod And Tower Of Babel To Beast's New World Order, Modern Technology: Precursors To 666 And Mark Of The Beast, Either Submit To God's Authority Or Face Satan's Authority, Damned To The Lake Of Fire And Brimstone, Beast Reigns For 1,260 Days Or 3 1/2 Years, Father Knows Best, Reverential Respect For Our Heavenly Father, Fear And Intimidation Are Ways Of The World, Balance Of Love And Respect, Love Casts Out Fear, God's Desire Is That All Men Be Saved, We Condemn Ourselves When We Reject God's Light And Love, Submit To God's Authority And Choose His Light And Love, John's Vision Of Heavenly City New Jerusalem, Moses Joshua And Jeremiah Confront The Israelites With A Decision, Make Your Decision


While the Beast and the False Prophet may possibly use the ecumenical movement and the concept of a hybrid One World Religion as a mechanism to bring about peace to the world, I suspect that doing so would only be a deception, and a temporary step which they would use to advance their real global agenda. The reason why I say this is simply this: As I explain in such articles as "Satan: His Origin, Purpose and Future", Satan's pride will not allow him to settle for second best. He has considerably higher goals. He does not want to control a hybrid One World Religion. He wants to be the world's one and only religion, as we can determine by the following verses:

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Isaiah 14:12-14, KJV


In fact, there are a number of verses that are found in the Bible which reveal that the Satan-inspired Beast will curse and blaspheme against God. This would certainly seem to rule out the notion that he would actually ever be content with just supporting a One World Religion that is headed by the False Prophet. So, again, either he is declared "God", or no one is. Consider the following verses:

"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out 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."
Daniel 7:25, KJV


"And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done."
Daniel 11:36, KJV


"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven."
Revelation 13:5-6, KJV


"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty . . . And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
Revelation 16:13-14, 16, KJV


Some of you will no doubt notice that I did not include the verses that are found in the Apostle Paul's second Epistle to the Thessalonians where the Son of Perdition sits down in the Temple of God and shows that he is "God". The reason for this is quite simple. At this current time, I remain unconvinced that the Son of Perdition and the Beast are one and the same person. For a more detailed explanation, please refer to the article "Who is Who?: Defining Important Prophecy Terms" and other articles where I discuss the Jewish false messiah such as "Who Hindered the Antichrist?".

As I explained in part four, if the world rejects God's Love and Light, then it must be willing to face His Rod and Wrath. This will be revealed in part through Satan's wrath during the coming period of turmoil and tribulation, which is going to cover the world in spiritual darkness when the Beast and the False Prophet reign. Even now, this darkness has already begun to overshadow the world, as these antichrist religions -- the tares -- continue to spread their deception and strong delusion, which they falsely claim to be the light. Some of them -- such as New Age adherents -- even refer to themselves as "lightworkers"! How well the Prophet Isaiah described them when he wrote the following lines:

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
Isaiah 5:20, KJV


The dark spiritual forces which motivated Nimrod and those who followed him thousands of years ago to construct the Tower of Babel, are the very same forces which are at work today influencing the architects of the New World Order, or the One World Government. Just as the Tower of Babel was an affront to God and challenged His Authority, so too will be the final government of man; that is, the Beast's Kingdom of Darkness. As we saw a moment ago, the Beast will in fact blaspheme against God, and will not accept His Authority.

As a result of their own greed, some of the renegade human governments which currently share the wealth at the pinnacle of Earth's pyramidal power structure, will welcome the Beast with open arms. For years now they have been preparing his way. As I explain in "Precursors to the 666 and the Mark of the Beast" and related articles, through modern technology such as credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, RFID chips, biometrics and national ID cards, people are slowly being corralled into a situation where they will have no choice but to accept this demon-inspired monster and his absolute system of economic slavery. As we saw earlier, this system will make no distinction between rich and poor. Satan hates mankind, and his ultimate goal is to be god over absolutely everyone, and not just over some people.

As I pointed out earlier, when the bottom falls out of the current global economic system -- possibly through some kind of a global crisis -- the Beast and the False Prophet will be ready to offer their solution, and will implement their own brand of government, which will include the infamous Mark of the Beast, or the 666! As we have seen, people who are strong enough to rebel against this satanic global dictator will face persecution and possibly even death. However, the Bible seems to indicate that the vast majority of Earth's inhabitants will knowingly and willingly accept the Beast's damnable Mark. By so doing, they will seal their fates in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. By their own rebellious choice, they will have rejected the Word of God through the mouths of His many Prophets.

To reiterate, it is because those rebellious people will have rejected the Authority of the one true God, that they will find themselves under the control and authority of the god of this world -- Satan himself -- and he will be one very cruel taskmaster. Satan has waited a long time for his moment of fame, power and glory when he will have full reign upon the Earth. Thankfully, we know from the Scriptures that his reign will only last for a few short years.

If you are an avid student of prophecy, then you will know that in Daniel and the Book of Revelation, we are told that the Beast stops the Daily Sacrifice in the Temple, sets up the Abomination of Desolation, blasphemes against God, and persecutes the Saints of the Most High God for a period of three and a half Jewish years. For those of you who may not be familiar with it, a Jewish year consists of three hundred and sixty days, and not three hundred and sixty-five days as in our Gregorian Calendar. This period is mentioned in these prophetic books as the following:

1. "forty-two months"
2. "1,260 days"
3. "time and times and the dividing of time" (3 1/2)
4. "time, times, and an half" (3 1/2)

The Prophet Daniel also mentions a 1,290 day period, as well as a 1,335 day period. This latter time span is the same as 44.4 Jewish months at thirty days each, while the 1,290 days equals exactly forty-three Jewish months. Following are the specific verses where these time spans are mentioned in both Daniel and Revelation. I have added a few words in brackets in order to clarify what is being said:

"And he [the Beast] shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out 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."
Daniel 7:25, KJV


"And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he [the Beast] shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."
Daniel 12:7, KJV


"And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."
Daniel 12:11-12, KJV


"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."
Revelation 11:2-3, KJV


"And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days . . . Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. 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 12:6, 12, KJV


"And there was given unto him [the Beast] a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 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."
Revelation 13:5-7, KJV


God could easily stop the events which may soon transpire if He chose to do so, but He won't, at least not at first. As we have already seen, the Lord is waiting for everyone to choose to obey Him out of love, and not out of fear, just as young children should do with their parents. The Lord is waiting for everyone to realize what a mess they are making out of things by their continued insistence on running things their own way, by not acknowledging Him in their lives, and by not yielding themselves to His Authority. The main lesson is simply this: Father knows best, but oh how hard it is for some of us to learn! So it really comes down to whether we want God's Love and Light, or His Rod and Wrath.

While some of the events that I have described in this series sound dreadful, they should not fill us with fear if we love the Lord, and if we are obeying His Word. As I point out in a number of other articles, insofar as His relationship with His human children is concerned, the kind of fear that our Heavenly Father desires is more like a reverential respect. In contrast, man's entire system is based on intimidation and fear, and it is often used for political purposes, as was the case with the American public being coerced into supporting the foolish and illegal Iraq war. You can learn more about this topic in the series entitled "Obama, McCain and the Bush Legacy".

Most of us have experienced this kind of intimidating fear at one time or another. Allow me to give you a simple example. Even a person who has never committed a crime, or who has never committed any kind of a driving violation, will still feel a tinge of fear or of uncertainty when a police car is in the lane behind them. Why is this? As we saw in part one, the Apostle Paul wrote the following:

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
Romans 13:3-4, KJV


So as Paul writes, we should not fear the authorities unless we are committing some evil, so why is it that we experience this intimidating fear when we have done nothing wrong? As I said, the children of the world use this to their advantage. Their entire system is based on fear and intimidation, and we can be certain that the Beast and the False Prophet will employ this very same tactic in the years ahead. In fact, as we learned earlier in this series, those people who refuse to accept the Mark of the Beast, and who refuse to worship the image of the Beast, will be persecuted and killed.

In contrast, God desires to have a loving relationship with His creations, and not one that is based on fear. It must be a balanced relationship that combines love and reverential respect. If young children obey their parents simply out of deep fear of retribution, then there is something seriously wrong with that relationship. If this is how some children view their relationship with their parents, or if adults are constantly in fear of their government, is it really any wonder then that so many people view their relationship with God in the very same manner? Sadly, organized religion has done its part to convey this same dreadful image of God. If we truly understand God's deep love for us, then we should have nothing to fear, because His Word tells us that Perfect Love casts out fear, as we see here:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
1 John 4:18, KJV


Furthermore, we need to understand that God does not condemn us. As Jesus Himself teaches us in the Gospel of John, we in fact condemn ourselves when we choose to reject His Love, the Light of His Word, and the Forgiveness and Salvation which He freely offers us, as we see by the following verses:

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
John 3:17-20, KJV


Thus again we see that while God truly desires that all men everywhere be saved, nevertheless, some will reject His Love, and the Light of His Salvation, to the bitter end. They will choose Darkness over the Light; and that is why many people will experience God's Rod and Wrath in the years ahead when the Beast and the False Prophet reign. They will not fully understand God's Love and Mercy, until they have experienced Satan's wrath.

Personally, I think that it is much wiser to submit to God's Authority in our lives, than to face the Wrath to come; but it is a personal decision which each individual must make on their own. In this current age of Grace and Free Will, God will not force anyone to believe if they don't really want to. Looking to the future, we learn that according to the Bible, there will be entire nations living on the surface of the New Earth. There will also be many people living inside the Glorious City of New Jerusalem, which will descend from Heaven to the Earth. This is clearly described in the final chapters of the Bible, as we see by the following verses:

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband . . . And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
Revelation 21:2, 24-27, KJV


What an inspiring look at the future of God's saved children! You can learn more about this wonderful city in Revelation chapters twenty-one and twenty-two.

If you are one who has not yet repented of your sins, and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I hope that you understand the opportunity that is now before you. In His great Divine Love, God is throwing a lifeline to you; but it is one which will give you real life, Eternal Life. Choosing between God and Satan is the most important decision that you will ever make; because it is not just a temporal decision, but rather an eternal one. In the Book of Deuteronomy, we find the Prophet Moses presenting the children of Israel with the following important decision:

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known."
Deuteronomy 11:26-28, KJV


Many years later, and just prior to his own death, Joshua -- the son of Nun who was Moses' successor -- also brought the children of Israel to a point of decision when he said the following to them:

"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:14-15, KJV


Clearly, just like Moses before him, Joshua was giving the Israelites a choice. They could either be God's good wheat, or they could become a part of the tares by worshipping the false gods of the heathen nations around them. About eight hundred years later, the Lord used the Prophet Jeremiah to again bring the children of Israel to an important decision when He presented the paths of life and death before them, as we see by this verse:

"And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death."
Jeremiah 21:8, KJV


As I briefly mentioned in part one, it was during Jeremiah's lifetime that Jerusalem fell to the forces of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, and the Temple of Solomon was destroyed. This destruction was repeated again about six hundred and fifty years later, because the Jews still had not learned their lesson. Today, not quite two thousand years later, humanity is also faced with an important decision. Many nations and individuals are reaching a crossroad. They cannot continue business as usual. They are running out of time. God has His own timetable for Planet Earth, and He won't allow it to be delayed due to humanity's foolishness or procrastination.

So which one will you choose? Love, Light and Eternal Life, or the Rod of Chastisement, God's Wrath and the Second Death? I truly hope that you will humble yourself before God, submit to His Authority in your life, and choose Jesus and live, if you haven't already done so. He alone can save you. He alone can change your heart of stone into a heart of flesh and help you to love God and your fellow man as you should. The Lord patiently waits on you to make the right decision. The choice is yours. Please choose God's Love and Light, and not His Rod and Wrath.

With these thoughts, I will bring this article to a close. It is my hope that you have found it informative, enlightening, and I pray that it has been a blessing in your life as well. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or with any other social network, I would really appreciate if you'd take the time to click or tap on the corresponding link that is found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!

For additional information and further study, you may want to refer to the list of reading resources below which were either mentioned in this article, or which contain topics which are related to this article. All of these articles are likewise located on the Bill's Bible Basics web server. To read these articles, simply click or tap on any link you see below.


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