And now it begins. The battle for the crown of Babylon is now underway in Iraq. American forces are unleashing their might upon the head of the brutal dictator, Saddam Hussein. As I wrote a year ago in my article “Showdown at Babylon” the American President is now in the process of becoming the King of both the Old Testament land of Babylon and its New Testament daughter, Babylon the Great of Revelation 18. Please understand this does not mean “King” in the imperial sense of days gone by. It is a new kind of imperialism that comes from having overwhelming power and influence in world affairs, and yet remains based on life, libery and the pursuit of happiness. This explains why political freedom and democracy are among the announced motivations for ridding Iraq of its repressive dictator. The liberated people of Iraq will joyously welcome their newfound freedom. America’s armies will be seen as heros to these oppressed people, except for the religious fanantics. How will the other Islamic nations ultimately react to this invasion? Please read my article “The Plot to Destroy Israel” which outlines what is to come. The shocking images of this war and its prophetic significance has caused me to look back at the articles I’ve written since the barbaric events of September 11th, most of them dealing with biblical prophecies related to the return of Jesus Christ. After reading them again I felt the need to clarify a few things that I have written about. For some people have angrily responded to my articles because they think I have declared President Bush to be the Antichrist. Some have accused me of being judgmental and unloving toward the government and the military. Some have accused me of being disobedient and sowing seeds of rebellion toward these civil authorities. Some think I’m too heavenly minded and therefore, no earthly good.

I have believed for over twenty years that the prophecies of the Bible clearly identify America as the leader of the final phase of the Roman Empire at the time of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophecies of the Little Horn of Daniel 7, the Roman Prince of Daniel 9, the Antichrist of 1 John, the Seabeast of Revelation 13, and Babylon the Great of Revelation 18, are all different names or titles that are clearly pointing to America and its last President. I have never accused Mr. Bush of already being the Antichrist. I have been very careful to point out that if he is the President who signs a peace covenant with Israel and others, allowing for the rebuilding of their Temple, then he will be the Antichrist, Daniel 9:27. And the war in Iraq is bringing this world one step closer to the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. As I have repeatedly said, only God knows the exact time when this shall to come to pass as prophesied. However, who would dare to deny that today’s events are leading to a climactic confrontation of the nations. For the issues of war and peace fill the headlines every day. The stark reality of a nuclear inferno started by crazed religious fanatics is deepening the fears in everyone. People all over the world are crying out for “peace and security” aren’t they?

So, how do I explain my comments regarding the Presidency and for that matter, all earthly civil authorities? Read the following scripture from 1 Peter 2:13-18. “(13 )Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme, (14) Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. (15) For so is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men; (16) As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (17) Honor all men, Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (18) Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and the gentle but also to the perverse.” For Christians these scriptures teach that we are to obey and honor all civil authorities of any nation. Furthermore, in order to correctly understand these scriptures we must also know that our Lord Jesus Christ has allowed human self government because all men since the fall of Adam and Eve are born in sin, thereby refusing to be governed by God directly. We know from history and prophecy that all of these governments, whether they be democracies or dictatorships, have failed and that only the return of the Lord Jesus Christ can bring peace to the nations. Didn’t Jesus himself predict that wars and rumors of war would engulf the Gentile nations until his return, Matthew 24:6? Do you believe him? Furthermore, all governments refuse to acknowledge that this Earth is infested with demons that control and manipulate everyone who is not born of God through repentance and faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is these demonic forces that stir the fear, hatred, pride and lust that is at the heart of all political-religious-economic wars. The God of Israel has allowed these evil beings to exercise power and only the personal intervention and return of Jesus Christ can stop them, Revelation 19,20. Bullets and smart bombs cannot destroy them, only the poor people they posses or manipulate. Believers in Jesus are neither war supporters, nor protesters, but loyalists to the coming Prince of Peace who then will wage war against all that reject him, and chain in Hell the demonic forces that have caused such horror and terror on this Earth.

What Peter is telling me is that I am to heartily respect, obey and honor all civil authority, no matter how good or evil they may be, no matter whether they are freely elected or anoint themselves as divine dictators, who view their citizens as servants. As a Christian I feel sorry for civil leaders, especially President Bush, who have no clue that Satan and his forces are manipulating every move they make. I wish them no harm or evil and my sole motive for saying what I do about them is because I love them and want to warn them of the danger they are in. I contend that far too many Christians have fallen into compromise by not honestly and respectfully confronting political leaders with the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ and his imminent return, especially leaders who borrow the name of Jesus and claim to follow him. I don’t think you’re dishonoring a politician by lovingly telling him this truth, do you? For many leaders have fallen into the age old demonic trap of comparing themselves with the evil in others, like Osama and Saddam. They have lost sight of their own wretchedness, if they ever had it in the first place.

I firmly believe the only time Christians must refuse to obey leaders is when their decrees or laws conflict with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Even though Peter plainly states here that governments are authorized by God to punish evil doers as a restraint and deterrence, including the Osamas and Saddams of this world, taking up arms to kill one’s enemies is clearly one such command that a cross carrying believer must respectfully and nonviolently disobey. I know this means that it will be only unbelievers who administer the vengeance of the civil authorities and execute judgment on evil doers. Christians, please don’t be confused by that. For the first few hundred years of Church history reveals that believers correctly refused to take up arms for the Roman government and were mocked and persecuted for taking that stand. Apostate church leaders later compromised with the government and created their infamous “just” war doctrine which allowed believers to make war against their nation’s enemies. I fully understand the need for civil and military leaders, who don’t understand the cross of Jesus Christ, to execute judgment on evildoers like Osama and Saddam. But I beg them to please refrain from dragging Jesus into their wars and using his name to justify what they are doing. They have been mislead by false teachers into thinking they can follow Jesus and take him into battle with them.

Remember, God is dealing with civil leaders of the rebellious, warring Gentile nations differently than he is with believers who have joined his coming Kingdom. Christians are always to represent themselves to these leaders as citizens and ambassadors of the coming Kingdom of God, Philippians 3:20, 2 Corinthians 5:20. We must always remember that the blood of Jesus was shed for all of us, while we were yet sinners and his enemies. If Jesus died for them who hated and killed him, how can I take their life, thereby sending their souls out into eternity, lost forever? Only Jesus, at his coming, can make and perform that eternal judgment. He alone is the judge of all men. The years I spent in the military before I became a Christian, the friends and relatives who were badly wounded in the Vietnam war, are enough experience for me to say with a broken heart….”carnal national warfare is not possible for those who love Jesus Christ and his teachings.” In addition, when Christians engage in carnal warfare and make it “just” in their own eyes, they have reduced Christendom to just another demonic religion of this warring world system. They have stopped longing and looking for the Lord’s return and have become the “evil” servants referred to by Jesus in Matthew 24:48. They have lost the awareness of his presence and have forgotten the power of God to keep them. Think about it a moment. Why should Christians need to pick up carnal weapons when the eternal God lives within us, in our hearts, and surrounds us with his powerful angels? And if physical violence comes our way, it is because God has allowed it so that we may be a witness to our enemies of God’s love and forgiveness.

Recently I have received from Christians requests for me to pray for American servicemen deployed overseas. Most of these requests go something like this…”pray for our brave servicemen as they go into harms way to protect our lives.” Stop and think about this for a moment. If one is a Christian glaring questions should arise in your heart. What life are these soldiers protecting? Is it eternal life in Heaven with Jesus they are protecting? Is it freedom from sinful thoughts that may attack us at any moment they are fighting off for us? Remember what Jesus said…”He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal,” John 12:25. Do you understand what Jesus is saying? Do Christians that request such prayer for servicemen really know what that reveals about themselves? Listen carefully, I’m not suggesting for a second that we should not pray for servicemen or the kings of this Earth. What I am saying is how we should pray and what we should pray for these men to do.

Please read the following from 1 Timothy 2:1-4. “(1) I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, (2) For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Savior, (4) Who will have all men to be saved, to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Do you see and hear what Paul is saying to Timothy and to all that love the Lord Jesus Christ? Our prayers addressed to the God of Israel for American, Iraqi and Israeli servicemen is very simple. Paul is saying that God wants all men to know the truth and to be saved from sin and Hell, so my prayer is that soldiers repent of their sin, receive Jesus as their Lord, look across the battlefield into the eyes of their enemy, and realize that is someone who Jesus died for. And until Jesus returns in judgment this enemy of mine has a chance to be saved. Then I would pray that each one, on both sides of the battlefield, drop their weapons and respectfully walk away from the arrogant, money driven dictators and politicians who sent them there in the first place, no matter what the personal cost would be.

I also pray for the politicians and their religious enablers on both sides of any conflict also be saved by sitting in rooms together until they are in agreement with the truth that Jesus Christ alone is the King of Kings and they have usurped his authority, violated his teachings, and have been seduced by demonic forces. I would pray they acknowledge that the evils of selfish ambition, the lust for power, and the love of money are at the root of all their sin that even causes them to reject Jesus Christ and his clear teachings on these matters. I say these things because I know that until we have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we all act out of what’s in our natural hearts. We are all wretched sinners, aren’t we? We all are filled in our hearts with evil, aren’t we? Jesus clearly teaches that all of us are born with evil in our hearts which is why we need to be born again, Matthew 15:16-20, John 3:3-8. The expression of evil is not limited to the horrible deeds of the Osamas and Saddams of this world. The politicians and preachers of America have trusted in their own words or the words of America’s founding fathers, rather than the words of Jesus Christ. Whose words do you trust in my friends? I would pray all men that I know, friend, family or foe, confess that he is a sinner, even to the point of crucifying Jesus Christ. I finally pray that all my friends and enemies be filled with the knowledge that Jesus is the resurrected returning Lord of Lords, so they may escape the fires of eternal torment in the Lake of Fire.