Dictators have long recognized the importance of fear as a valuable tactic. Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1 and told him:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

Before the rule of the Antichrist, there will be a period where strategies are put in place to control the populace. These tactics are many, including fear, ignorance, temptations to pleasure and entertainment, confusion about truth and goodness.

In today's confusion we see all of these in play:

FEAR

The major drum beat now is fear of the weather. Proponents of globalism just concluded a world conference on climate change attended by nearly 200 national officials, called COP28.

Even the pope jumped in to help. The conference concluded with most of the countries of the world agreeing to a rapid switchover from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy.

Skeptics point out that these fossil fuels are essential to the level of prosperity that we have enjoyed since the industrial revolution. They predict mass starvation if the COP28 commitments are carried out.

IGNORANCE

Few parents take seriously their responsibility to broadly educate their families. Children are handed over to the academic world without a thorough investigation of the curriculum or the worldview of the teachers. We now are seeing Harvard-educated students protesting in ignorance of both history and current events.

DISTRACTIONS

One of the stated strategies of those working to install the anti-Christ is through entertainment. The marvelous digital world that we have invented has been largely captured by Satan. When people are focused on social media, TV, sports, pornography, or drugs, they are rarely doing something productive toward a better life or enhancing the Kingdom of God.

TRUTH & GOODNESS

These are casualties of the strategies listed above. When everyone does that which is right in their own eyes, chaos reigns (See Judges 17:6). When Israel got tired of the chaos, they demanded a king instead of repenting and obeying God. Reluctantly, God gave them Saul and predicted that high taxes and wars would follow.

As the world experiences similar chaos in these last days, people will also demand a human ruler. Satan will be ready with the Man of Sin and the people will become willing to accept a one-world leader. But Satan's solutions are never good.

But not everyone will accept Satan’s “solution.” And scripture shows us a pattern that when God has had enough and brings down His supernatural hand of judgment, He moves His people out of the way. That is the “blessed hope” that we have as we struggle to win as many into the Kingdom as possible before it is too late.

To help you be an effective witness for Christ in the coming year, Chick Publications is re-releasing another Jack Chick classic: THE GREAT ESCAPE!

The story has been updated slightly from the original printing in 1991, but it still shows clearly God's solution in calling His children home at the last minute.

Share this classic story, written by Jack Chick, with all those you meet so they can miss the coming nightmare on earth.