PROPHECY HEADLINES: U.S. blasts Russian aggression in Europe, promises more support to NATO | Kerry calls Syrian conflict 'out of control', pushes for renewed ceasefire | ISIS threatens takeover of Palestine, attack on Israel

PROPHECY BOOTCAMP: Our topic for today is titled "The Rise of Antichrist (Part 8)" from Dr. Ed Hindson's book "Revelation: Unlocking the Future."

--- The Beast of the Earth: the False Prophet, Continued

Beyond what we read in the Apocalypse, there is little else in Scripture to identify the False Prophet. Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans were convinced it was Muhammad because such a large percentage of the global population is under Muslim control. However, the connection of the first beast with Rome (possibly Europe) would tend to mitigate against that view. It is most likely that the False Prophet is a Satan-inspired leader of apostate Christendom, be it Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant. It will not matter after the Rapture. The true Church will have been removed, and all that remains will be apostate.

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OCCUPY TILL I COME: We are continuing our journey through the book, "Coming Events and Present Duties," by J.C. Ryle. This section is titled, "Occupy Until I Come!" (Part 3) based on the parable of the nobleman who went away and left talents for his servants to use in his absence in Luke 19:11-13. J.C. Ryle writes:

Thinking only of Christ reigning and ignoring His suffering was a mistake which you will find partially clinging to the disciples even after the crucifixion. You see it creeping forth in the first days of the Church between the resurrection and the ascension. They said, "Lord, will You at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" You have it referred to by Paul in 2 Thessalonians: "Be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there be a falling away first."

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