Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
The Christian understanding of apostasy is a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christian truth. What is happening here is a rebellion against Christianity by society at large. The apostasy reaches the point where the “man of lawlessness” declares himself to be God.
We have witnessed a growing apostasy led by the Pope, who calls for a world religion. Essentially, the “Christlam” movement (a culturally designed combination religion of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism in the interest of peace) is a rejection of salvation by Jesus Christ alone.
The apostasy that is led by this False Prophet is followed by the coronation of the “man of lawlessness” as God. He is also known as the Beast. The False Prophet promotes him in every way.
Mideast needs two-state solution, Pope says in Christmas message / Reuters, December 25, 2017
“Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached, one that would allow the peaceful coexistence of two states within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders,” he said, referring to the Israelis and Palestinians.
Erdogan, Pope to discuss Trump’s Jerusalem move / Israel National News, January 18, 2018
Turkish president to visit Vatican, discuss response to US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Erdogan’s first trip to the tiny state will be on February 5, the Vatican said. It follows phone calls between the two leaders who share concerns over the recognition of Israeli rights to Jerusalem and agree that the status quo should remain.
The Argentine-born pope met Erdogan during his trip to Turkey in November 2014.
The return visit will be the first by a Turkish president since 1959.
Erdogan has expressed hope for a better relationship with the European Union after a fractious 2017, despite concerns over human rights violations in Turkey, particularly during the crackdown that followed a failed coup in July 2016.
Keep in mind that the future Antichrist will be a peace maker and will be very wise in the beginning of his rule. At first the Antichrist will solve many of the world’s problems and he will be considered great in the eyes of most in the world. The Antichrist will make a peace agreement in the middle east, especially with Israel. Through this peace agreement, the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
Through Recep Erdogan, Turkey has been perceived as a neutral power, a democracy with basically a secular government. Recep has positioned Turkey as a partner in peace with the United States and Israel. The country is applying to become a part of the European Union. Note from our previous messages that with fiscal and political union, we see the current European Union as the beginnings of the imperial power of a revived Roman Empire. The geographical area of Turkey was an integral part of the original Roman Empire.
The Beast is generating headlines that reveal his nature:
Merkel welcomes EU-Turkey meeting to improve ties / Al-Monitor, January 3, 2018
Bulgaria, which currently holds the EU presidency, is preparing a meeting between Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and EU leaders Jean-Claude Juncker, Donald Tusk and Antonio Tajani in the Black Sea city of Varna, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told reporters on Saturday.
“This meeting is a good chance to speak with the Turkish President on all issues,” Chancellor Merkel told a joint news conference with Borissov in Sofia, adding “we need orderly relations” with Turkey to solve the problems.
Erdogan’s Ottoman dream causes storm in Red Sea / Al-Monitor, January 3, 2018
Turkey’s unexpected military-cooperation deal with Sudan and leasing of Suakin Island have rekindled Ottoman fears in the region.
How justified are their concerns? Is there really a resurrection of Ottomans? Erdogan has established a pattern of loudly recalling Ottoman forefathers, claiming Ottoman relics and referring to the Ottoman heritage when speaking about the Middle East and Africa. He sees Africa as a region of opportunities and believes that he has more right than anybody else to be there. “More dangerous than a shark smelling blood are the imperialists who smell oil,” Erdogan said during his Sudan visit, while repeating that the Ottomans had no imperialist past.
Triumphant Erdogan swats away Western criticism of referendum / Reuters, April 18, 2017
Sunday’s vote ended all debate on forging a stronger presidency, said Erdogan, who argues that concentration of power is needed to prevent instability.
Opponents accuse him of leading a drive toward one-man rule in Turkey, a NATO member that borders Iran, Iraq and Syria and whose stability is of vital importance to the United States and European Union.
Erdogan, a populist with a background in once-banned Islamist parties, has ruled since 2003 with no real rival, while his country emerged as one of the fastest-growing industrial powers in both Europe and the Middle East.
He has also been at the center of global affairs, commanding NATO’s second-biggest military on the border of Middle East war zones, taking in millions of Syrian refugees and controlling their further flow into Europe.
Erdogan Is Popular For The Same Reason Duterte, Modi And Putin Are Popular / The Huffington Post. April 13, 2017
Turkey represents one of the most fascinating ― and disheartening – cases of a reverse fairytale. A Muslim-majority country, Turkey kicked off this decade as a role model for the Middle East and beyond, combining the virtues of a booming market economy with the appeal of a vibrant Islamist democracy…
Under Erdogan’s watch, during the first decade of the 21st century, Turkey experienced an unprecedented period of economic prosperity and political stability. Relishing organizational coherence, a grassroots support base, a progressive political agenda and successive landslide electoral victories, the AKP was broadly seen ― even across the Western world ― as a harbinger of a new era of hope and freedom in Turkey…
Though Turkey seems to have left behind its best days under Erdogan, the charismatic president, by all indications, is set to win the upcoming referendum, which will decide the fate of the country’s democracy for decades to come. If victorious, the Turkish leader will likely join Putin as among the most powerful and durable populist-authoritarian leaders of our time.
Will Islamic world accept Turkey’s leadership? / Al-Monitor, April 19, 2016
Turkish President Erdogan’s ambition was not subtle as he stumped for himself at the Organization of Islamic States summit.
Ozturk, a columnist for daily Yeni Safak, which supports Erdogan, pointed to the collective assets of Islamic countries that could be harnessed under strong leadership and indicated that this is a task for Turkey to fulfill.
“We must not forget that Turkey is the largest OIC country, its natural leader and older brother. Therefore, the task of reviving the unity of this organization and strengthening it falls foremost on Turkey,” Ozturk wrote.
Germany bows to ’emerging Adolf Hitler of the Middle East’ / WND, April 23, 2016
The New York Times slammed Merkel for legitimizing what it called Erdogan’s “authoritarian drive.”
Yet even as Erdogan struggles to maintain his position at home, he’s flaunting his strength abroad. The Turkish president contemptuously dismissed criticism from the European Union earlier this week, denouncing a European Parliament report criticizing him as “provocative.”
“The European Union needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the European Union,” he said scornfully.
NATO Secretary General thanks Turkey for long-standing contribution to the Alliance / NATO, April 21, 2016
Mentioning the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July, the Secretary General said that the Alliance must step up support to regional partners to build up their forces and “project stability”. “We are grateful for Turkey’s long-standing contribution to our Alliance in so many ways”, he said.
Erdogan suggests name change for Arab League / Al-Monitor, May 3, 2016
The remarks of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the recent summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, where he urged unity among Islamic nations against what he considers to be a perfidious West, and the threat of terrorism from radical Islamic groups, left many with the impression that he was vying for the leadership of the Islamic world.
A dictatorship in the making? / Jerusalem Post, May 6, 2016
‘Erdogan is the most powerful leader in Turkish history,’ former lawmaker tells ‘Post.’
Recep Tayyip Erdogan maneuvered to force out Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, demonstrating that the powerful president does not need the strong executive presidency he seeks since he already wields almost absolute power.
How Recep Erdogan became the most powerful man in Europe / The Spectator, May 7, 2016
In private, Erdogan must be amazed at just how much he can wrangle. The worse his behaviour, the greater his clout in Europe. He can send German police to arrest German comedians whose jokes he dislikes. He can instruct the EU to delay its ‘progress reports’ on Turkey to a time that better suits his electoral purposes. A few weeks ago, a leaked transcript of a conversation showed Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, pleading Erdogan to consider that ‘we have treated you like a prince in Brussels’.
Erdogan reaffirms EU membership as Turkey’s ‘strategic goal’ / Reuters, May 9, 2016
“EU membership, a strategic goal for Turkey, will be a source of stability and inspiration for the region,” Erdogan said in the statement, released to coincide with Europe Day.
When the Holy Spirit is removed at our Rapture, the mystery of lawlessness (apostasy) increases, and the “man of sin” is revealed. This unleashes the Day of the Lord – the Tribulation.
Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this? And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed… (2 Thessalonians 2:5-8)
The time is running short. The accession talks to integrate Turkey with the European Union are being accelerated due to the Syrian refugee crisis. We believe that this “Beast from the Middle East” will soon help broker the Israeli-Palestinian land for peace treaty, which will begin the dark 7 year period called the Tribulation. We believe that the Rapture will occur before then.
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Rapture and End Times 