THE FUTURE IS NOW!

Were you ever asleep

and awoke with a start

by a dream that seemed real

with some monster at your heel?

With a sudden surprise

as I opened my eyes

some giant-like screen

dropped down from the skies.

I sat there amazed

like a vision ablaze

there were beasts coming near

and I shuddered in fear.

there were lions and bears

with a leopard around

yet no one to rescue

no help to be found.

Then a monster-like Beast

indescribably cruel

with ten horns on it head

arose to its feet

and like Rome with its iron

in league with the clay

it was weakened in strength

and began to decay.

Looking closer I found

in the midst of its horns

a master-deceiver

proclaimed as the Christ

arose from this vision

like a demon from hell

and with wondrous signs

began to foretell

The world was amazed

that this leader from Rome

could so quickly arise

to Europe's gold throne

but a treaty of peace

was signed with the Jews

and the Temple was built

with deception it's ruse.

Then a Dragon was seen

with its fury unleashed

with destruction and death

causing pain and distress

knowing soon his demise

would reveal his disguise

with the kingdoms of earth

coming under God's curse.

Then a Stone could be seen

rolling down from a cliff

making chaff of this Frame

bringing Nations to shame

for the word of His mouth

will make dust of this clod

and the earth will give birth

to the kingdom of God.

Then the heavens rejoiced

as the King took His throne

with the Bride at His side

who in Christ did atone

for a thousand year reign

the rule of His peace

will spread through the earth

and all wars will then cease.

--B. Pent

CHRIST OR ANTI-CHRIST

The New Year stands before us

The signs speak loud and clear

The end-time is upon us

The choice you make is here.

The prophets tell of trouble

Of Nations in distress

With war and famines growing

Of death and loneliness.

Ten Nations, Daniel tells us

Will form a single head

And one will try to charm us

By rising from the dead.

The Beast will form a treaty

With Jew and Arabs, too

And all the world will wonder

“Can lasting peace be true?”

Then from the Temple throne

The antichrist will speak

As Armageddon forces

Around Jerusalem meet.

The sun will then grow dimmer

The moon will hide its face

As angels pour out judgment

Upon the human race.

A choice demands an answer

You cannot neutral be

Its either Christ or Satan

That marks your destiny.

B. Pent

THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES

(Daniel 7)

ONE NIGHT WHILE DANIEL WAS ASLEEP
A TROUBLING VISION CAME IN VIEW
THE CHURNING SEAS LIKE NATIONS ROSE
FOUR BEASTS DISGUISED IN KINGDOM CLOTHES.

WHAT COULD THIS MEAN, THE PROPHET MUSED
WITH LIONS, BEARS AND LEOPARDS, TOO?
THE OUTWARD FORM THE KING ONCE DREAMT
SEEMED DIFFERENT THAN THIS VISION MEANT.

BUT SOON THE MYSTERY WAS REVEALED
EACH BEAST DESCRIBES A KINGDOM HERE
BEFORE ALL EARTHLY RULE IS DONE
AND CHRIST'S ETERNAL KINGDOM WON.

THE LION WITH FOUR EAGLE WINGS
IS EQUAL TO THE HEAD OF GOLD
WHERE BABYLON RULED WITH CRUEL STRENGTH
AND SWIFTLY TOOK THE WORLD AT LENGTH.

THEN FROM ITS HIBERNATING LAIR
A LUMBERING BEAR ROSE TO ITS FEET
AND WITH BRUTE FORCE IT CRUSHED ITS PREY
AS MEDES AND PERSIANS RULED THAT DAY.

A LEOPARD WITH FOUR HEADS APPEARED
LIKE LIGHTNING SPEED ON EAGLE WINGS
THIS GRECIAN KING SPREAD WIDE HIS REIGN
IN EIGHT SHORT YEARS GAINED WORLD-WIDE FAME.

BUT WHAT DISTURBED THE PROPHET MOST
WAS WHAT APPEARED ON EUROPE'S SHORE
A TERRIFYING BEAST WITH RAGE
FULFILLED ITS ROLE ON CENTER STAGE.

THIS BEAST FROM ROME WHO RULED THE WORLD
WAS NEVER CONQUERED BY A FOE
CORRUPTION TORE ITS HEART WITHIN
BECAUSE OF VILE AND TREACHEROUS SIN.

THE BEAST WITH TEN HORNS THAT APPEARED
WAS NEVER SEEN TO RISE AGAIN
BUT STIRRING SIGNS ARE FORMING NOW
UPON THE HEAD OF EUROPE'S BROW.

A LITTLE HORN WILL SOON ARISE
AND THROUGH DECEIT HIS CRAFTY PLAN
WILL CATCH ALL NATIONS IN ITS WEB
AS REVELATION THIRTEEN SAID.

THE WARNING THAT THIS VISION SHOWS
IS TO REMIND THE WORLD TODAY
THE POWER OF ANTICHRIST IS NEAR
FOR EVERY MAN ON EARTH TO FEAR.
--B. PENT

ZECHARIAH 14 - THE VICTORY OF MESSIAH-KING

THE FINAL ACT UPON LIFE'S STAGE

REVEALS THE BLOODIEST SCENES OF ALL

WHERE DEATH AND CARNAGE, RAPE AND SWORD

ARE MET WITH JUDGMENT FROM THE LORD.

THE ARMIES OF THE WORLD ARE SEEN

AROUND MEGIDDO'S OPEN PLAIN

WHERE REVELATION FORCES MEET

AND SATAN'S PLOT ENDS IN DEFEAT.

AS ANTICHRIST TAKES DAVID'S THRONE

DEMANDING WORSHIP FOR HIS OWN

THE BROKEN COVENANT HE MADE

LEAVES EVERY JEW IN SHOCK AFRAID.

THEN SUDDENLY ALL LIGHTS GROW DIM

THE SUN AND MOON REFUSE TO SHINE

A SPECIAL DAY BURSTS INTO SIGHT

THE BRIDE AND GROOM APPEAR IN WHITE.

THE KING-MESSIAH TAKES HIS STAND

AND WITH ONE BREATH DESTROYS HIS FOES

WHEN EVERY WARRIOR'S FLESH DROPS OFF

IT IS THE LAST OF ISRAEL'S WOES.

THEN SATAN'S REIGN WILL BE REPLACED

A THOUSAND YEARS OF LASTING PEACE

WILL FLOOD THE WORLD FROM ZION'S THRONE

WHERE JESUS CHRIST WILL REIGN ALONE.

JERUSALEM WILL RISE IN HEIGHT

AND ALL THE NATIONS THAT REMAIN

WILL JOIN WITH JEWS TO CELEBRATE

THE PRAISE AND HONOR DUE HIS NAME.

WHEN PROPHECY AND HISTORY MERGE

THE FINAL SCENE WILL END IN TIME

AND HOLINESS WILL BE THE SEAL

BEFORE WHOM EVERYONE WILL KNEEL.

--B. Pent

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. Three major events are described in this last chapter: the Great Tribulation invasion of Jerusalem; the destruction of those Nations

attacking her; and, the establishment of Christ's millennial reign. As you read Daniel 9:27, what event triggers this final battle?

2. What are some of the contributing factors leading to the final Armageddon Battle (vs.1-2)?

3. Verse 4 seems to be connected with the seventh bowl judgment of Revelation 16:18-19. Explain! How might this great earthquake help the

Jewish people during this time?

4. The special "day" described in verses 6-7 is identical to the passage in Matthew 24:29-30. What are some of the things that will make this

particular day so uniquely different from other days? What "day" is he describing and why might the Lord want that "day" to be

uniquely different from any other day that has ever existed?

5. Verse 8 describes a river that flows out of Jerusalem. Is that the same as the one described in Isaiah 35:1,6; Ezekiel 47:1-12 and

Psalm 46:1-4? What is your opinion?

6. In summary: what will happen when Jesus returns to earth again? Describe some of the major events. What will happen to the

Antichrist, false prophet and Satan? What part does Israel and the Church play during the Millennial Kingdom? What then should

we live in the light of these world-shaking events?

Zechariah 1:18-21 - The Four Horns & Four Craftsmen

The prophet looked and saw four horns
As nations rise to rule the world
He asked the angel who these were
"They scattered Jews throughout the earth."

The prophet Daniel saw the same
Four monstrous beasts rose from the sea
Babylon & Persia, Greece & Rome
Gentile powers til Christ's return.

A frightening sight at last appeared
A ten-horned monster looking weired
And from its head a little horn
The beast of Revelation born.

But then four craftsmen did arise
To terrify these national horns
They are the agents God had sent
Until all earthly rule is spent.

The first was Cyrus, Persia's king
Who conquered Babylon from within
Then Alexander ruled from Greece
Destroying Xerxes' ocean fleet.

The power of Rome where Caesar ruled
Crushed all the kings of Grecian fame
Yet from within corruption flowed
Until through time it did implode.

Then in the vision Daniel saw
Ten horns revived where Rome once stood
But to its feet of iron-clay
The "Rock" of Ages crushed its prey.

The final craftsman is that "Stone"
Where Christ will rule from Israel's throne
And all the kingdoms of this world
Will then confess that Christ is Lord.
--B. Pent

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. Whom do the "horns" in verses 19-20 represent and why is this symbol used?

2. "Horns" in Scripture represent "power" and "authority." What "power" is described in Daniel 7:8,11,20-21 and about whom is it speaking?

3. In Daniel 7:3, four "great beasts" are said to come out of the sea, each representing a different nation. Then in Daniel 8 he identifies two of them as a ram with two horns and a goat with one horn which later becomes 4 horns. Can you identify these Nations?

4. The "craftsmen" refer to divine agents used to destroy other nations. Daniel 2 describes the rise and fall of the four world empires. How and by whom were they destroyed?

5. During the time of the revived Roman Empire described by the feet of iron and clay, a final "agent" is seen toppling the last "horn." Who is it and how does that fit into our text?

THE TEN HORNED BEAST!

Nations representing the G-20 are moving closer to a one world monetary system! The E.E.U. headquartered in Belgium are restructuring the boundaries, which will ultimately revive the old Roman Empire! World religions are suggesting common ground for coalition through compromise! Escalating tensions in the Middle East call for some solution for world peace! Wars, famines, earthquakes, and extra terrestrial phenomenon are on the rise!

The Beast is coming to life! The 10 toes of the metallic robot in Nebuchadnezzar's dream; the indescribable Beast in Daniel's vision and John's 10-horned monster rising out of the sea, suggest that the last act on the stage of human history is moving toward its climax. Paul makes it clear that "the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed" (2 Thess.2:5-8). Who is this "lawless one" and what is keeping him from being fully revealed? When the Spirit-indwelt Church is removed, this Beast will appear on the world-stage as The Antichrist.

Don't be fooled! Be Informed! Its all in the Bible!