Wallace G. Smith

There is a malevolent entity in the world, whom many deny exists at all. Yet his presence and influence is felt at virtually every level of society: Our governments, our schools, our entertainment—and even in our religions and our churches. That entity is Satan the devil.

Though he is a familiar figure to many people, even if they believe he is only imaginary, there are also many questions: If he is real, where did he come from? Did God make him? If so, why would He have done so?

Every villain has an origin story, and the devil is no different. Join us right now on Tomorrow’s World as we explain the origin of Satan the Devil.

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World!

Today’s subject fascinates many: the origin of Satan the Devil. Who, or what, is he? Did God create him? If so, why?

Many ponder such questions, but only God’s Word has the answers! We will discuss those answers today.

We’ll also make available a free DVD titled “The Occult and the Spirit World.” It contains three fascinating and helpful episodes on the spirit realm and how to deal with it, and will be sent absolutely free to everyone who contacts us to ask for it. Watch for the information that will show on your screen so you can get your own copy.

So, when I say, “the Devil,” what do you think of?  Many cultures and religions have their own ideas of the Devil, or something similar. Ancient pagan religions had panoplies of gods and goddesses, some of whom were evil. Zoroastrianism has Angra Mainu. Buddhism has the concept of Mara.

For many, the Devil is not a being at all—just a metaphor for human evil. For others, he’s a virtual cartoon—horns, a pointy tail, and a pitchfork, ready to cause trouble. 

Yet, writer Charles Baudelaire put it well when he said that the greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist!

If anyone understands the truth about the Devil, it is Almighty God. His word, the Bible, is the source of truth.

And that Bible reveals the Devil as very real. I hope you won’t merely take our word for anything, but instead look up in your Bible the things we say—while you are watching or at a later time. These things are important, and you should see them in the Bible for yourselves. Too many preachers want you to see them as having all the answers. We want to show you where you can find the answers yourselves: In God’s word.

And that word gives a powerful warning concerning Satan the Devil.

Speaking of a future war in heaven,  the Apostle John writes in the book of Revelation, chapter 12 and verse 9,

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

We learn several things from this. For one, the devil has angels that choose to serve him. We’ll discuss these fallen angels later.

But we also learn that Satan the Devil has deceived the WHOLE WORLD. My friends, “the whole world” means just that. With RARE EXCEPTION, every human being on every inhabited continent—North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia—is deceived by Satan the Devil! And if there is anyone watching this at a science station in Antarctica, yes, you, too!

You might think that surely the ENTIRE WORLD could not be deceived… But the Devil works subtly. If he DID show up with horns and a pitchfork, we’d spot him! Yet, the Bible explains how his deceptions succeed. Read the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11 [vv. 13–14], where he explains how the DEVIL, not Jesus Christ, is behind many so-called “Christian” ministries. Speaking of the ministers of these, he says plainly:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Yes, NOT a spooky fellow with a pitchfork, but an “angel of light”!

In one of Jesus’ harshest condemnations, recorded in the book of John, chapter 8 and verse 44, He says,

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

The Devil truly HAS deceived the ENTIRE world! In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Apostle Paul calls him “the god of this age,” and three times in the book of John, no less an authority than Jesus Christ calls Satan “the ruler of this world.”

In fact, Luke 4:6 reveals that during Christ’s temptation in the wilderness, Satan points out to Jesus that authority over all worldly kingdoms has been given to him, the Devil.

How did Satan come to possess such authority? Why would God allow that? Where did Satan come from? 

Well, like fictional villains of movies or comics, this REAL villain has an origin story. We will jump right into it in our program’s next segment. But first, let me give you an opportunity to request today’s free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World,” containing three full Tomorrow’s World programs on this fascinating topic:

• Modern Dangers of the Occult
• The World of Angels and Demons
• (and) How to Overcome Satan

The spirit world is VERY real, and many peddle nonsense and fantasy about it. Yet the BIBLE reveals the truth of this realm. You need this information! Call or write for your free copy. It’s paid for and ready to ship—all you have to do is ask.

Then, come right back, as we explain what God’s word says about the CREATION OF THE DEVIL.

Welcome back!

So, just HOW did Satan come to exist? Ephesians 3:9 tells us that God created all things through Jesus Christ. If so, does that mean that God created Satan? Why create such a creature of evil?

The short answer is that God DID create the one who BECAME Satan the Devil, but He did NOT create him as a being of great evil!

First, we have to recognize that God created all the beings we now call “angels.” In the beautiful 104th Psalm, King David speaks of many glorious aspects of God’s creative work, and he names the angels among such works, saying of God in verse 4, “…who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.”

Of those angels, he speaks of some very specifically, such as Michael and Gabriel.

In the prophetic writings of Ezekiel 28, God inspires the prophet to record words for the king of Tyre, and, in doing so, uses the king as a type of a particular angelic being God had created. The king of Tyre is the type, and the angelic being is the antitype. Let’s read those words, beginning in v. 12:

Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ’You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.’”

The angelic being God is addressing in this portion of his prophecy against the King of Tyre was clearly a REMARKABLE creation!

God says he was full of wisdom and beauty. His clothing and apparel was resplendent. He was created an artist, skilled in music. He was the anointed cherub who covers and, according to God, was PERFECT IN HIS WAYS until iniquity was found in him. But that is getting a little ahead of our story.

Isaiah 14:12 names this being. Most English translations bear the name used in the Vulgate translation, calling him “Lucifer.” And it is in the angelic being Lucifer that we see the one who became Satan the Devil.

This is a vital point to note. Some heathen cultures have traditions that Good and Evil are somehow “balanced” in the universe, and that somehow, Good can’t exist without Evil. They will paint a picture of the Devil as some sort of “equal” to God or “counterpart” to God. Or if not an equal, some heathen religions and philosophies claim that God’s nature is a combination of both Good and Evil, and in such cases, the Devil its just sort of a manifestation of the evil side of God.

But all such ideas are hogwash!

God did not create an “evil Satan”! He created a GOOD and PERFECT angelic being who BECAME Satan the Devil!

In Revelation 15 and verse 3, we read of a song sung by the resurrected saints at Christ’s return, and notice the words:

They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!”

Yes, great and marvelous are God’s works! And the creation of Lucifer was no exception! We are told he was resplendent and beautiful, wise and talented. Indeed, he was created to be something good.

Yet, the future Satan’s perfect condition did not last. Ezekiel is clear that, eventually, iniquity was found in him, and the results are tragic—not only for the angel Lucifer, but also for all of the angels that were under his influence and authority, for the planet earth (as we shall see), and for those of us who live and toil here on earth, under his influence.

What iniquity was found in Lucifer that could bring him so low? What was able to cause a beautiful, perfect being of such wisdom and majesty—as this angelic being was—to become the bitter, demonic Satan the Devil, utterly corrupt and wholeheartedly intent on destroying, if he could, the plan of God and the people of God?

It is a cautionary tale, and the cause of the tragedy boils down to just one word. We’ll piece together the Bible’s explanation in our next segment.

But first, let’s take a very small break to give you another opportunity to request today’s free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World.” If you want the real truth about the dangers of the occult, the spirit realm, and how to OVERCOME the devil, then this is the DVD you’ve been waiting for. Call now, and I’ll be right back in just 15 seconds to explain the one fault that transformed Lucifer into Satan. Don’t miss it!

Welcome back.

When the Bible first introduces the Devil, he is the serpent in Genesis 3, who tempts our first parents to sin. We are told in Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made…” Personally, I prefer the old King James Translation for this, which says the serpent was more subtle than the rest of God’s creatures. As we’ll see, the Devil is a creature of subtlety.

For our purpose, I simply want to highlight that, the first time we meet the Devil, at the Bible’s beginning, he’s already the villain! How did he become that way? We read in the previous segment that God made him good and perfect. What transformed that perfect angelic creation into Eden’s serpentine tempter?

One word: Pride.

In the first century, the Apostle Paul advised Timothy concerning men the younger minister should consider ordaining in the Church. He recommended that Timothy choose “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil” [1 Timothy 3:6].

As mighty, powerful,  and beautiful as Lucifer was, he was subject to pride. This is explained in Ezekiel 28 and verse 17, where, speaking to the Devil, God says, “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor…”

Today’s free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World” goes into much more detail concerning angels and demons. Again, you can order this free DVD using the information on your screen. For now, I will simply refer you to that DVD and point out that God created the angels as free moral agents—with the ability to choose right or wrong. Various scriptures indicate that many angels defiantly left the assignment God gave them. One place we read of that is Jude 6:

And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

We learn more about this “proper domain” in another passage we will read in a moment. First, notice that the Apostle Peter refers to these angels, noting,

…God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell [or, in the Greek, Tartarus, a place of restraint] and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment… [2 Peter 2:4]

In Lucifer’s case, his pride brought him to sin—opposition to His own Creator. He chose to leave his assigned responsibility, and mounted an angelic rebellion against God Himself!

Let’s read of Lucifer’s rebellion in Isaiah 14, beginning in verse 12.  Again peeking into the realm of angels, God inspires Isaiah to write,

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

So proud of his own intelligence and capabilities, Lucifer sought to take God’s own throne, as if he could overthrow his Creator!

Notice, too, a glimpse of the “proper domain” to which Jude referred. When Lucifer decided to attack God’s throne, where was he at the time? Read verse 13 carefully: “For you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven…” And in verse 14, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds…”

If you ascend above the clouds to leave your responsibility, then that responsibility is below them, here on earth! Before human beings, this world was Lucifer’s!

That explains why he told Jesus Christ in Luke 4 and verse 6 that earth’s kingdoms were given to him by God. This was his assigned place, and it is the Devil whom Jesus will replace when He returns !

It also explains why Genesis 1 and verse 2 describes a world in disorder and chaos. Lucifer’s rebellion was devastating, and, as a result, he was no longer Lucifer, the light bringer, but Satan, the Adversary.

Is God going to allow evil to last forever? What will He do about the Devil—and what should we do?

We’ll answer that question in our last segment. First, let me take one more short break to recommend today’s free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World.”

You need the truth only revealed by the Bible. There is no charge for this DVD, and we will not sell your contact information to anyone. Jesus Christ said, “Freely you have received, freely give,” and unlike most religious television programs, Tomorrow’s World obeys that command. Just call, write, or click for your copy. It’s already paid for—we just need to know how to get it to you.

Welcome back!

We’ve explained how God created a remarkable angelic being named Lucifer, who was resplendent, glorious, and powerful. But we also explained how this being became overcome with pride, vanity, and ambition, and sought to overthrow God Himself and take the throne of heaven for himself. Some scriptures may indicate that one-third of the angels of God may have gotten caught up with him in his rebellion [Rev. 12:3–4], and now, he and those fallen angels are what we know as demons and evil spirits.

With the world under his spell, what is God going to do about it?

The Bible reveals God’s plan! At the return of Jesus Christ, the Devil will be removed from mankind for the duration of Jesus’ 1,000-year rule on earth, unable to influence mankind for evil purposes any longer! We read of this in Revelation 20, beginning in verse 1:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

During this time, the world will be turned into a paradise! As Isaiah describes this marvelous time,

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. [11:9]

Though, as Revelation 20 says, he must be released for a short time at the Millennium’s end, his ultimate fate is the Lake of Fire, never to influence another individual ever again. God will ultimately solve the problem of Satan the Devil.

So, if that is what God is going to do, what should YOU do?

Well, first, you should request today’s free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World”! One of our greatest weapons against the Devil’s deceptions is a firm understanding of the truth, and this DVD reveals to you the truth about the spirit realm and how to defeat the devil!

Jesus Christ said in John 8:32, speaking of His own teachings, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Yes, the truth can make you free, but you need to do more than KNOW it—you must put the truth to work in your life! The DEVIL understands the truth, TOO, but you must do the OPPOSITE of what He did and OBEY IT! To know the truth but to choose to ignore it and do what we want instead is the very PICTURE of what the DEVIL HIMSELF did in his rebellion!

You can also be on the lookout for his ministers—the ones that the Apostle Paul said were “false apostles and deceitful workers,” transforming themselves into “ministers of righteousness.”

How can you discern them? They are often very sincere and deceived, themselves! The Apostle Paul tells Timothy of such men, saying that they not only deceive others, but also that they are often deceived, as well. [2 Timothy 3:13]

Such false preachers can be discerned from the doctrines they teach and how those teachings compare to God’s word. Speaking of the great false teacher to come, the end-time False Prophet, the Apostle John noted how this individual appeared in prophecy. Let’s read it together in Revelation 13 and verse 11:

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

Notice that, in vision, the future False Prophet looked like a lamb. That is, just like these false preachers who claim to be ministers of Christ but who are ministers of the devil, he APPEARS like Christ, the Lamb of God! But the Bible says he SPEAKS like the dragon—the Devil! His teachings are those of Satan.

Ministers of the devil can be discerned in the same way. In many ways, they may look like Jesus Christ in their actions and attitudes! They may care for the homeless and give to the poor. They may quote Scripture, just as the Devil did in Matthew 4 and Luke 4 when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. But when you carefully compare the teachings of these preachers and ministers with the teachings of your Bible, they will show themselves to be false! And you must do so carefully and prayerfully! As we’ve already discussed, the Devil is a master of subtlety!

Still, when dealing with the father of lies, one of the greatest tools we have at our disposal is a passionate devotion to live according to the TRUTH.

Please don’t forget to request today’s free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World,” so you can begin diving deeper into that truth.

And please don’t forget to come back next week. I and my fellow presenters—Gerald Weston, Richard Ames, and guest presenter Rod McNair—will be here waiting, ready to share with you the good news of God’s coming Kingdom, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and awesome prophecies of your Bible. We’ll see you right here, next week!

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Who Are The End-Time Superpowers?

Our world has been shaped, in large part, by the superpowers that have dominated global politics since World War I and World War II. Nations such as the United States, Great Britain, and the then Soviet Union have been called “superpowers” and have shaped cultures and influenced history for decades, far beyond their own borders.

But things change, and the arrangement of powers is in flux like it never has been before. How will the power structures of the world be reconfigured in the years ahead of us? What superpowers will rule the world in the days leading up to the return of Jesus Christ?

Bible prophecy tells us in astonishing detail!

On today’s program, we are going to explain the configuration of world powers that will be competing before supremacy in the years just before Christ’s return, and we’ill do so out of the pages of your own Bible, so you can see the answers for yourself! We will also tell you how to get a copy of our new, free DVD titled “The Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation.”

So, join us for the next half-hour on Tomorrow’s World as we answer the question, “Who are the end-time superpowers?” You won’t want to miss it! 

What Does The Bible Mean, “All Nations Will Come Up Against Jerusalem?”

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World!

Today we are going to identify the end-time superpowers of Bible prophecy. We are also going to give you an opportunity to request a free DVD explaining the Antichrist and the coming Beast of Revelation. Be sure to keep an eye out for the order information you’ll need for this free DVD when you see it on your screen. 

Many national powers have come and gone across the world stage throughout the centuries. World War II left civilization with three national powers almost universally recognized as “superpowers”: the United States, the British Empire, and the Soviet Union. Then, as British influence declined, and the Soviet empire dissolved after the Cold War, the U.S. came to be seen as the last remaining superpower—able to project its influence and power to any location on the face of the earth and unquestioned in its military and economic might.

As the United States continues to be rattled by internal strife and divisions, other nations are seeking to contend for superpower status. China seems intent on extending its sphere of influence and taking up the mantle of superpower. Many look in the eyes of Vladimir Putin and suspect they see glints of hope that Russia may regain the power once held by the Soviet Union, and the European Union is increasingly having an impact on world policy that formerly only the U.S. was able to generate.

But that’s today. What of the future?

As the end of days and the return of Jesus Christ approach, who will be superpowers in the conflicts to come?

It doesn’t have to be a mystery. The Bible is truly unique among the religious writings of the world, not just promising to tell us how God wants us to live our lives and what our conduct should be amongst our fellow man, but revealing to us DETAILS OF FUTURE HISTORY! That’s all prophecy is—history written in advance! God tells us in the pages of the Bible:

Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure…” 

So, what does Bible prophecy say about the superpowers that will exist in the End Time, right before Jesus Christ returns? Will the U.S. be among them? What of the others currently vying for the top spot?

In World War II, the superpowers were easy to find. You only had to look for the global conflict that gathered them into one location: which was in Europe. There, the U.S., Great Britain, and the Soviet Union were all brought together in one of the greatest struggles in mankind’s history.

So, to identify the end-time superpowers in prophecy, we need only look to where the climactic future conflict will lie, and God’s word is utterly clear on that point: The Middle East and the land called Israel.

Situated on the east shore of the Mediterranean Sea, this tiny piece of real estate—and, in particular, the city of Jerusalem—is prophesied by God in His word to be the CENTER OF FOCUS for ALL NATIONS during the days leading up to the return of Christ. Let’s see just one mention of this fact in Zechariah 12:2.

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for ALL peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though ALL NATIONS OF THE EARTH are gathered against it.

The attention of the ENTIRE WORLD and EVERY NATION OF MAN will be focused on a small piece of land about the size of the American state of New Jersey!

So, if Israel and Jerusalem are center stage in the last days, who are the prophesied ACTORS God says will OCCUPY that stage? What will we see in the Middle East shortly before the return of the Messiah?

Many prophecies of the Bible combine to give us the details of the end time scenario. In the picture they paint, we see that a DOMINATING major economic and military power called by Daniel the KING OF THE NORTH will storm through the Middle East. It will be confronted by another RIVAL power identified by Daniel as the KING OF THE SOUTH. The King of the North will press against the King of the South, enter its territory conquering and pillaging, until it is troubled by NEWS it hears of incredibly MASSIVE ARMIES collecting to the North and East, on the other side of the Euphrates river. Eventually, the river Euphrates is miraculously dried up, allowing these two powers, the King of the North and the Massive Force from the East to meet on the hill of Megiddo—at what is called, in Hebrew, Armageddon—and gather there for what God calls in Revelation 16:14 “the Battle of that Great Day of God Almighty.” The power unleashed by these armies in their preliminary conflicts leading up to the final battle is prophesied to kill billions.

Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 24 that the times to come are unique in human history, and v. 22 warns us that unless they were cut short, NO FLESH ON EARTH would remain alive! ALL LIFE—on the BRINK OF UTTER COSMOCIDE!

Yet that time SHALL be cut short, by the return in power and majesty of Jesus Christ, to rule this world and usher in the Glorious Kingdom of God!

So, who are these three end-time superpowers? We will examine their identities more closely in just a moment.

Before we do that, let me pause to give you an opportunity to request our free DVD, “The Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation.” This new DVD will reveal to you these two mysterious figures of prophecy! “The Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation;” it contains these three, full Tomorrow’s World programs:

• Seven Signs of the Antichrist
• The Prophesied “Beast”
• [and] 666??? 

If you want to be able to identify these two individuals when they appear on the world scene and understand the meaning of the mark of the beast and the mysterious number 666, this new, free DVD is for you. Request your copy today, and in our next segment, we will identify the prophetic King of the North.

What Are the Three Major Superpowers of Armageddon?

Welcome back! Before the break, we summarized the END TIME SCENARIO in the Middle East as it would look right before the return of Jesus Christ. We saw three major world powers interacting, two in the Bible called the King of the North and the King of the South, and a third massive army from the East. Who are these powers? And do we see any evidence of their existence today?

The massive forces from the East are quick to identify. Revelation 9:16 describes the armies from that area that march over the dried Euphrates as being 200 MILLION strong! There are very few nations in the world that could muster such an army in the foreseeable future. Of them, there are two candidates: China and India—both of which LIE EAST of ISRAEL and of the Euphrates River! These two nations, alone, together contain more than 1/3 of the ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE WORLD… ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE HUMAN BEINGS ON EARTH!And they will likely be large contributors to that ultimate collective army from the East, as will other key nations. No doubt that other peoples east of the Euphrates River will contribute, as well—including the territories of Iraq and Iran, Russia, North and South Korea, and Japan. All are candidates as additional partners in this combined Eastern superpower.

Next, let’s consider the KING OF THE NORTH. This terrifying individual is more commonly known as “the Beast of Revelation,” and we discuss him in far more detail in today’s new DVD. Don’t forget to request your free copy! But for now, let’s look a portion of what prophecy says of this individual and his kingdom.

In Daniel 2, we read of a great prophetic image that symbolized four successive world powers, beginning with the Babylon of Daniel’s day. The fourth world empire pictured by the legs of iron in that image is the ROMAN EMPIRE and its various, successive revivals throughout history—such as the reigns of Charlemagne, Napoleon, and Mussolini. The feet of the image made of iron and clay, which are SMASHED in the vision by a stone picturing the coming Kingdom of God, symbolize the FINAL, END-TIME REVIVAL of the ROMAN EMPIRE. We read of these feet, beginning in Daniel 2:41…

Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

This end-time power will be “partly strong and partly fragile” because its component parts DO NOT NATURALLY ADHERE TOGETHER, just as iron and clay do not. Yet God tells us that a unifying element WILL be found, to bind these very different nations together, and that element will be a COMMON RELIGION. Notice in Revelation 17, we see that the Beast—that is, the revived Roman Empire in Europe—is being ridden by a woman, which symbolizes a church or religious organization.

As this Work has explained for the better part of a century, the beginning of this Revived Roman Empire—a mixture of iron and clay—is taking shape in the current EUROPEAN UNION.

Recent headlines have discussed the difficulties the leaders of the EU have experienced as it seeks to remain a united, cohesive political entity. With the U.K. voting to leave the bloc of nations, many have wondered if the EU will survive the nationalistic sentiment of its individual member states. Yet the passion for European unity remains high in many. As Chancellor Angela Merkel told a crowd in Munich in 2017,

“Europe is a union of peace and freedom and it is worth fighting for.”

A troubled unity of iron and clay—just as the Bible predicted.

Significantly, one of the biggest supporters of a united, religiously identified Europe is the Vatican. Before he retired, Pope Benedict REBUKED Europe’s leaders for purposefully neglecting to mention the unifying role that the Catholic Church has had in Europe—saying that such neglect represents, quote, “a peculiar form of apostasy.” And his predecessor, John Paul II, famously exhorted Europe to RETURN TO ITS ROOTS!—meaning its common RELIGIOUS roots!

The Bible predicts that the “iron and clay” nature of this European King of the North WILL BE BOUND AND UNIFIED by a powerful and deceptive FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM! Watch for it as the days ahead unfold!

Still, what of the King of the South? Can we know the identity of this third superpower of end-time prophecy? Yes, we can, and we will examine the Bible for the details we need in our next segment!

Before we do that, let me pauseand briefly give you another opportunity to request today’s free DVD, “The Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation.” This new DVD contains more than an hour of material, and answers such questions as

• What is the meaning of the number 666?
• How can you recognize the Antichrist?
• How does a person get the Mark of the Beast?
• Who is under the influence of the Antichrist today?

You need this free DVD! It’s already paid for and ready to ship. Just use the information on your screen to get your own free copy of “The Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation.”

Who Or What Is The King Of The South?

Welcome back.

We’ve discussed the armies of the East and the King of the North. What of the prophesied King of the South, who resists the King of the North and then suffers the consequences? Some commentators have tried to identify the King of the South with Iran, which is, admittedly, frequently in the news. However, we must avoid looking at the world today and trying to READ IT INTO THE BIBLE. Many have done this in the past—for example, declaring Saddam Hussein as the Beast of Revelation or former North Korea, Kim Jong Il, as Antichrist. Both of these men are dead, though I’m sure that false predictions will continue. 

We DO not and SHOULD not read current news events INTO the Bible—rather, we must let the BIBLE tell US what to expect of current events! 

In biblical prophecy, compass directions are determined from the vantage point of Israel and Jerusalem. And any school child with a map can determine that IRAN is EAST of Israel! NOT SOUTH! And  regardless of Iran’s intentions for the region, we can say authoritatively that it is clearly NOT the prophesied King of the South.

But then, where is he?

 A passage from the Psalms gives us a clue. Turn to Psalm 83, and let’s start in v. 3:

They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a CONFEDERACY against You: the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre…

These are ancient names for ARABIC nations. Bible prophecy indicates the future existence of a CONFEDERACY of ARAB NATIONS that will oppose Israel—even teaming up, for a brief time, with Assyria (or Germany and the future European power) as indicated in verse 8, before becoming at odds.

Interestingly, while Iran is NOT the King of the South, the rise of Iran in power and influence in the region MAY be spurring the very creation of the confederacy that will become the King of the South.

Let me explain. Not everyone realizes that Iran is an Islamic nation, but it is NOT an ARABIC nation! In Bible prophecy, Iran is called “Persia,” and is not counted among the Arabic nations as one of them. Iran practices Islam in the Shiite tradition, while much of the Arabic world generally practices Islam after the Sunni tradition. And history has demonstrated too often, there is DEEP & POWERFUL ANIMOSITY between these two traditions. And it is this animosity, coupled with the rise of Iran, that may act as a catalyst for the creation of the King of the South confederacy of ARAB nations.

Iran’s attempts to become an influential power player in the Middle East are the stuff of our regular headlines. But less well known is the antipathy other hopeful powers in the area hold against Iran, often—but not always—dividing along Sunni and Shiite lines.

A little more than ten years ago, the Wall Street Journal accurately summarized the situation that applies all the more truly today:

Shiites make up 15% or less of the world’s Muslim community, but in many Sunni eyes they hold outsize influence because of Shiite-ruled Iran, which now rivals and sometimes even eclipses Israel as an object of loathing.

In contrast, look at this map of the Arab League. Draw a line at Israel and Jerusalem, and notice how prominent Arab nations are below that line. Notice, too, that the collection includes Egypt—an interesting detail, since the book of Daniel describes the attack of the King of the North against the King of the South, and specifically mentions that

“…the land of Egypt shall not escape.”

Now, we’re not saying the Arab League IS the King of the South. Not at all! This region of the world is still very volatile and undergoing important changes. But students of prophecy will be watching that area for things to come.

Now, what you’ll notice in our discussion of end-time superpowers a conspicuous ABSENCE of some very important nations. Why are they missing? And what does all of this imply about the return of Jesus Christ?

We’ll answer those questions in the last part of our program.

But first, let me pause one final time to give you an opportunity to request our free DVD, “The Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation.” This new DVD dives deeply into prophecy to reveal more about these mysterious figures than you may have thought possible.

Will you recognize these two prophesied individuals when you see them? What is the meaning of the mark of the beast, and the number 666? “The Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation” will show you what you needto know in the pages of your own Bible. Request your copy today.

After the Rise and Fall of Nations

Welcome back. You may have noticed the absence of the United States or any of the British-descended nations in our discussion of end-time superpowers. That’s because at that time they will be superpowers no longer. In fact, in the times to come, those nations will find themselves subjugated by many of the global powers we have discussed on today’s program. If you’d like to find out more, I recommend a visit to our website, at TomorrowsWorld.org, where you will find a wealth of material available, free of charge. There, you can also order today’s free DVD, “The Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation.”

But let there be no doubt: God’s word is sure! These three powers—the King of the North, the King of the South, and the armies of the East—will rise! And we see pieces of their rise to power being put in place in today’s headlines.

Still, the fact that they have not yet come together teaches us something very important.

Bible prophecy says that there are significant developments that remain to be seen before Christ returns. And while they can happen quickly, they do demonstrate solidly that those preachers who say that Christ “could return tonight” have NO IDEA what they are talking about! Now of course, you or I could die before the next sunrise, and, if so, we would face our Creator at our allotted resurrection. And we certainly can’t afford to become spiritually lazy—on the contrary, these prophecies ARE BEING FULFILLED before our very eyes, and it is GOD—not the crafty, scheming, greedy governments of man—who controls the pace of these events!

But if you are being called by God, and your mind is being opened to His purpose, His plan, and His way—and you are RESPONDING to that call—then the terrible time that will be unleashed by THESE THREE POWERS soon to emerge on the world scene is not a reason to despair. Quite the contrary. Turn with me to Isaiah 19:24, where God speaks of a time AFTER all of this conflict—a time when Jesus Christ will be ruling the world with His saints in the Kingdom of God. Look at what it says of the ultimate state of these end-time adversaries:

In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

What a beautiful and inspiring contrast to the time pictured right before the return of Christ! And what a privilege the saints of God will have to work alongside the glorified Jesus Christ to make the world such a place in the magnificent—and soon-coming—Kingdom of God!

Please don’t forget to request the free DVD we are offering today, and please don’t forget to come back next week! Gerald Weston, Richard Ames and I—as well as our guest presenter Rod McNair—will be right here ready to share with you the inspiring teachings of Jesus Christ, the encouraging good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. We’ll see you right here next week!